Elite Sports Cards Celebrates a Timeless Hobby
For the past 19 years, through the eras of Michael Jordan and Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas and Jonathan Toews, John Merkel has been Northcenter's go-to guy in the world of cards and collectibles. Merkel, the owner and manager of Elite Sports Cards & Comics on Montrose Avenue, began as many collectors do, as an "avid sports fan and a novice collector." He got into it as a hobby, and after an early retirement, took over a previous incarnation of Northcenter's sports card and collectible shop.
The value of sports cards and collectibles, Merkel notes, changes with the sports market itself. When he began operating the store in the '90s, the popularity of basketball, especially in Chicago, was exploding. With the Bulls' six championships and Michael Jordan dominating the city, everyone was into basketball cards. He even sold a few limited-edition Jordan cards.
Overall, the primary sport of choice for collectors has been baseball, but sometimes, local trends can change quite quickly. For years, Merkel says, there was little-to-no interest in hockey merchandise, save for a 1997 appearance from Chicago Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull at the store, commemorated by a hand-painted, autographed mural on the wall. Now, in the wake of the Hawks' two recent Stanley Cups, more and more fans have come in to scope out hockey collectibles. His oldest regular customer, who is in his seventies, is a hockey enthusiast.
Merkel says many veteran or former collectors, or people who inherit parents' or grandparents' collections, come to him and ask him to appraise the value of a certain card. He says he can and is happy to help determine whether or not a card has value, but advises collectors to look to the Internet and price guides for specific appraisals.
Although there are still a few sports card collectors, old and new, many who begin the hobby as a father-son bonding activity, the core of Merkel's business can be found on the shelves behind the cash register. Elite has become a haven for young adult fans of collectible card games such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon and his most popular selection, Yu-Gi-Oh! He says the whole collectible card industry is shifting more towards the gaming side, and he welcomes this new fan base. "They're more passionate and energetic than my customers who come in for sports cards," Merkel says of the Yu-Gi-Oh! enthusiasts. "It's a whole different arena; a very unique and fun group."
"I can't really get this stuff anywhere else," customer Jeffrey Garcia says, picking up a stack of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards in shiny foil. "I come down here all the time from Rogers Park to check out the cards and play." Merkel even started a weekly tournament for fans of the game on Saturday mornings.
Whether Topps baseball cards or Magic: The Gathering, Merkel does have a few words of wisdom for collectors just starting out--to take care of the cards, in boxes or binders, not to let pets get at them, but most importantly, to have fun. "You're not going to make a lot of money doing this, I tell kids all the time," he cautions. "There's no monetary value in this anymore. But it's fun, and it's a great hobby. It should be fun. If it's something that you enjoy, then you'll get something out of it."
The Elite Sports Cards & Comics Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament takes place Saturday mornings. Registration begins at 11 a.m.; play begins at 11:30 a.m. All experience levels welcome.
