Sports Memorabilia Still Popular In Waukesha

WAUKESHA, WI — The pandemic hasn't slowed business for avid sports memorabilia collectors or buyers, a local dealer told Patch.

Add in the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA championship and the Milwaukee Brewers having a good season, and business can be expected to keep booming.

Chris Borkenhagen, a customer service representative at Waukesha Sportscards, 2120 E. Moreland Blvd., said the pandemic caused slow sales at first. As people began adapting, business began to take off, he told Patch.

"There has been a mixture of both selling and buying. People are looking into their man caves or she sheds and now want to fill it out a little more," he said.

Borkenhagen said people are unearthing some amazing finds. One person discovered sports cards from the 1950s hidden in an attic, he said.

"The card market is as hot as it has ever been," he said.

Borkenhagen is a keen believer in the cycle of nostalgia. People like to show their kids things from when they were children, and showing off memorabilia reignites the collecting spirit in the adults, he said.

Borkenhagen used to collect sports cards when he was a kid growing up in Waukesha County.

"Back in the day, we were chasing stale gum and rookie cards," he said.

Borkenhagen and his brothers would hit up different police officers who were handing out baseball cards.

"The cards from smaller police stations are actually selling for a decent amount of money right now," he said.

What's Hot Right Now

Popular items often change in the sports memorabilia market, especially when a team is doing well.

Sports cards may be popular one month; the next, it's mini sports helmets.

After the Milwaukee Bucks won its first NBA championship in 50 years, the brand became a hot item, Borkenhagen said. The team secured the Larry O'Brien Trophy in a 105-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals Game 6 in Milwaukee.

The excitement was building leading up to Game 6.

"Anytime the playoffs are back, and they [Bucks] are winning the games, you will see people really start to venture in," Borkenhagen said.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a 50-point game in the finals. Shortly after the game, all the Bucks jerseys with Antetokounmpo's name sold out.

"The price is going to increase the better he plays," Borkenhagen said.

Fans were buying unsigned sports jerseys; when the supply ran out, they bought signed jerseys.

"People were wearing autographed jerseys in the Deer District to wear the team color," he said.

It was shocking for Borkenhagen, as there was a potential of spilling beer or food on them.

"You can't wash it, because the autograph may fade. Once you purchase, it you can do whatever you want, but I think it is kind of crazy," he said.

The store also hosts public and private signings for sports fans. Private means the store will take your item to be signed, and then return it to you. Public means you get to meet the athlete and get something signed.

The store announced on Tuesday an autograph signing with Milwaukee Bucks 2021 NBA Champion and fan favorite Bobby Portis. The signing is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

For more information on signings and items, visit the store’s website.