Published July 12, 2026

One of my favorite aspects of going to card shows is how different each one can be. When Eli Keen reached out and invited us to his show, we honestly did not know what to expect. What we discovered was that the Keen Kards Trading Card Show offers a unique and welcoming atmosphere, with vendors selling everything from the usual sports and TCG cards to custom accessories you do not see every day.

Located not far from the University of Louisville’s campus, the gym at Most Blessed Sacrament Church served as the setting for this unique experience on a sunny Saturday morning in July.

Upon arriving, the atmosphere felt noticeably different from other card shows. Keen, as he is known, stood near the front door greeting everyone who came in and handing out tickets for giveaways held throughout the show. Prizes included unopened Pokémon boxes and sealed boxes of Topps Chrome Basketball.

What We Saw

The first card that caught my eye was a rare 2024 Panini Select XRC Autograph Shedeur Sanders numbered to 99. The card has only a couple of public sales, both within the past three months. A raw copy sold for $253 on May 21, while a BGS 9 sold for $160 on May 10.

An asking price of $1,500 seems a bit lofty for the Sanders card, even as a population-one example. However, it could prove to be a solid value if Sanders can secure the Browns’ starting job coming out of training camp in 2026.

Another card that caught my attention featured Cam Schlittler, one of the hotter names in baseball right now. The 25-year-old right-hander has shown plenty of promise through the first half of the 2026 season, posting a 9-5 record, a 2.05 ERA that ranks second in MLB, and 137 strikeouts, the fourth-highest total in the league.

Schlittler’s 2026 Topps Finest Rookie Patch Autograph Green Refractor, numbered to 99, is certainly a desirable card for fans of the 25-year-old Yankees phenom. A $950 asking price feels like a fair starting point for negotiations, especially since only two others are currently listed on eBay. One is listed for $3,000 Buy It Now or best-offer price, while the other is at auction and has reached $255 through 13 bids with about three days remaining. Schlittler’s performance during the second half of the 2026 season will likely determine whether this proves to be a good short-term buy.

Another vendor who caught my attention took a much different approach. “I just bought every old card I could find on eBay for three dollars or less,” he explained. Honestly, it is an intriguing strategy. Older cards are becoming harder to find at fair prices, and while he chose a quantity-based approach, it also gives budget-conscious collectors a chance to pick up vintage cards. His table was also a set builder’s dream.

A binder filled with 1986 Fleer basketball cards certainly caught my eye. I looked through it hoping to find the elusive No. 76 Johnny Moore in mint condition, but had no luck.

The Lore of the 1986 Fleer Johnny Moore

Johnny Moore was a very solid point guard who played a decade with the San Antonio Spurs, who later retired his number. However, he was not a global superstar or a first-ballot Hall of Famer like his 1986 Fleer checklist peers Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon. In raw form, his card is technically just a standard common worth a couple of dollars.

Finding a copy capable of earning a Gem Mint grade, however, is nearly impossible. Only 69 copies have ever received a PSA 10, compared with 333 PSA 10 examples of Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer rookie card. The most recent PSA 10 sale of the Johnny Moore card reached $13,900 on April 22, a substantial increase from the $8,700 sale recorded on August 22, 2025.

Pokémon and Customized Items

The Magic Man, as he has come to be known, has carved out a unique niche selling Pokémon cards and customized Pokémon items.

Among the items he creates are these custom Game Boy-style cases for Pokémon cards, which the photos do not fully do justice. He also makes custom Pokémon-themed coasters, and other items can be created upon request. You can reach the Magic Man on Instagram if you would like to inquire about pricing.

Custom items are becoming more common at local shows, including these one-of-a-kind, hand-painted Pokémon binders and cards offered by another vendor.

I also came across one of the cooler Pokémon cards at the show, complete with a fun backstory. If the Ditto on your screen looks like something you could reach out and touch, that is because it is. The charming artwork was created by legendary Pokémon TCG artist Yuka Morii.

Rather than drawing or digitally rendering her cards, Morii hand-sculpts each Pokémon from polymer clay, builds a miniature real-world diorama using natural elements such as pebbles and leaves, and then photographs the model on location. The result is a beautiful piece of Pokémon history that brings the characters into the real world.

Overall, it was a fantastic afternoon at the Keen Kards Trading Card Show. The hospitality was second to none, and the crowd was friendly and welcoming. I left the show and headed to trade night at Key Cards in Southern Indiana feeling like I had just left a neighborhood cookout. Along the way, I also made a few new friends.

In a world where a true sense of community is becoming increasingly difficult to find, it was refreshing to see that it is still alive and well, especially at this show.

If you missed this edition of the Keen Kards Trading Card Show, you can follow Keen Kards on Instagram for information about upcoming events.