Published June 14, 2026
This weekend brought me back to the local card show scene in Louisville, Kentucky, offering a perfect break between the Midwest Monster and next weekend’s Nashville show. The short drive was enjoyable, and it was a pleasure reconnecting with familiar faces from past events while meeting some new vendors I hadn’t had the chance to meet before.
If you haven’t heard of this local show, it’s worth checking out. With over 100 tables, it’s a great spot for Pokémon fans to explore. Held at 774 Eastern Parkway, the show is leaning more toward Pokémon, with this week’s mix estimated at 65% TCG and 35% sports cards.
Here are a few of the things that stood out during Saturday’s show
The very first table upon entering featured a new vendor with a truly unique product. Ian Nemeth, owner of ICo Engraving based in Bourbonnais, Illinois, creates custom-engraved binders, primarily appealing to the Pokémon crowd. However, he mentioned that he can also engrave sports-related images upon request. If you’re looking for an eye-catching binder and a great way to protect your cards, Ian is your guy. You can reach him by emailing ICoprints@outlook.com
After chatting with Ian for a few minutes, I wandered through the show and came across another vendor I didn’t know, a father and son duo whose table stayed busy for most of the event. What really caught my attention was a raw 1996 Bowman’s Best Picks Kobe Bryant Refractor rookie. Considering the last raw copy of this card sold for $1,225 on June 7, the $1,200 asking price seemed fair, but with PSA options being limited right now, it’s hard for me to justify buying raw cards.
Still, it’s a beautiful card and one of the rarer Kobe Bryant cards from his rookie season.
Another vendor who had some really nice sports cards was the folks over at The Happy Guys cards. The owner, Malachi, informed me that it’s actually only the second show they’ve set up at, but you wouldn’t know it by the inventory and amount of action around their tables all day. They had a really nice 2025 Topps Chrome Patrick Mahomes Game Genies for sale that would make a nice addition to any Chiefs fan’s collection.
With only 12 cards graded by PSA and a gem rate of 100%, it highlights the superb quality of modern print runs and the value of collecting PSA 10s in the ultra-modern card market.
One of the friendliest dealers I met for the first time was AJ from Basset Auction House. He had a great selection of mostly ultra-modern football and basketball cards, priced at or near recent comps. If you’re interested in any of the cards pictured below, reach out to him through eBay.
Justin Brown, founder and organizer of the Derby City Card Show, has been regularly attending local events to chat and promote his upcoming show at the Kentucky Expo Center. Running from October 8-11 in South Wing C, the event will feature over 700 eight-foot vendor tables. Brown shared that reservations are going strong, with vendors expected from across the country for this inaugural show. He’s also invested in upgraded Wi-Fi to ensure everyone can easily access the latest comps during negotiations. With the spacious venue, attendees can look forward to wide aisles that make browsing and conversation easy without blocking tables or disrupting traffic. A full feature on the show will come closer to the date, but for now, more details and VIP ticket purchases are available at derbycitycardshow.com. You can also follow the Derby City Card Show on Instagram.
Saturday, June 13, was a beautiful day in Louisville, Kentucky, and the J&J All-Star Show on Eastern Parkway was well worth the trip. The next show will be on Saturday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.