The Gem City Card Show kicks off with steady participation and local Tri-State vendors

QUINCY (WGEM) – On Saturday, there were not only avid sports fans and memorabilia collectors at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall on S. 36th Street, but also families captivated by a new first for Quincy: the Gem City Card Show.

The show’s host and promoter, Brian Kroeger, said he fell in love with card collecting as a child. Ultimately, he wanted to share this passion with others. Kroeger said he had wanted to put on a show for over a year, and once K of C Hall was booked as a venue, it was a three-month planning process to make it a reality.

“I think the thing about a card show is two things. Community. We see a large community of people who enjoy collecting cards and bringing their children. That’s the second thing. It’s definitely something families can do and I think that’s what’s special about it,” Kroeger said.

Kroeger said he introduced his children to collecting cards.

Everything from autographs from artists like Michael Jordan and Caitlin Clark to signed baseballs to rare sports and Pokémon cards was up for grabs. Every half hour there were prizes to be raffled off for the participants.

All card and memorabilia sellers were located in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Kroeger said he plans to bring the show back in January and a quarterly show every year after that.

Participation was constant and many visitors came to the K of C hall in the morning.

“I would say the first show was a success,” Kroeger added.

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