Last Saturday, TGM attended their very first trading card show, and the experience was top-notch!

In our previous article, which you can find here, we discussed our return to the trading card hobby. While my brother and the Kid mainly focus on Pokémon cards, I delve into sports cards. So, you can imagine our surprise when we found a wide array of cards—from Presidential cards to Pokémon and sports—in abundance. It was truly epic!

The show took place at DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, the same spot where one of my favorite comic book shows is held. The location boasts ample parking and plenty of vendor space. The only downside is that it gets as hot as Alabama after a Saturday night Roll Tide victory, though I’m not much of a college football fan myself.

The cast of characters for this adventure included my brother, his nephew, and my daughter—it was a real family affair.

After paying a measly $2 entry fee (kids get in free, by the way), we pushed through the doors and were greeted by an overwhelming display of card vendors. It was packed!

My brother and I exchanged looks and both agreed: this was awesome, but overwhelming. Part of it was because we’re new to trading card shows. For me, as a Comic Con pro accustomed to larger items, adjusting to the smaller and more spread-out nature of trading cards was another challenge. Rifling through a long box is not the same as sifting through thousands of trading cards spread across tables. The value, the thrill of the hunt, and the sheer variety made it a more intense experience than comic books.

We were on the hunt for Whales!

As we navigated the vendor booths, examining each table like amateur detectives on a budget, it became clear that we were in for a blockbuster card show. We spotted original, cased Pokémon 1st edition booster boxes valued between $10,000 and $250,000, Babe Ruth relics, autographed Trump cards, and even the highly sought-after Michael Jordan rookie card, valued at over $500,000. It felt like strolling through a museum, except instead of priceless artifacts of historical antiquities , we were surrounded by cardboard treasures.

While my brother and his son focused on Pokémon, I set my sights on my personal collection—anything related to Shohei Ohtani. Unfortunately, the big “Sho-time” card I had my eye on slipped away because I hesitated—lesson learned: Buy, don’t wait.

Overall, our time at the show was nothing short of epic. It brought back memories of my first Mighty Con, with similar vibes but a lot more money exchanging hands on what my brother calls “bangers”. The show was well-organized and spacious. The highlight was seeing my nephew shift his focus from Pokémon to hunting for Messi and Ronaldo soccer cards.

If you’re interested in future shows, check out Premier Card Show’s website and social media channels. It’s worth it!

https://www.premiercardshows.com/

https://www.instagram.com/premiercardshows?igsh=dmpwemozaW00Ymlv

Happy hunting!