Cranston Sports Card Show
Sat. Feb 3 & Sun. Feb 4, 2024
Saturday 9-5 (Early Bird admission 8am) Sunday 8:30-3:00
Coventry High School, 40 Reservoir Rd, Coventry, RI 02816

COVENTRY, R.I. — On Saturday and Sunday, February 3-4, the Coventry High School will be the venue for the Cranston Sports Card Show. Every year a Rhode Island tradition of affordable family fun and entertainment comes back and continues to amaze all as the Cranston Sports Card Show emerges once again as North America’s oldest charity run sports card show. How have the times changed you might ask? Jack Nicholas was the PGA Tour money winner for 1976 with earnings of $266,439. This year in 2023 Scottie Scheffler of the USA has earned $26,400,000, which is 100 times what the great Jack Nicholas had earned 48 years ago. In the baseball world on April 17, Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies hits four consecutive home runs in a game against the Chicago Cubs to get his season off to a good start in his fourth professional year and Sparky Lyle of the New York Yankees breaks Hoyt Wilhelm’s American League record of 154 career saves. My, how the times have changed, you say except that the Cranston Sports Card Show had its premier debut and is still pretty much the same 48 years later creating a fun experience for collectors and dealers.

A little about the demographics; just under 1,500 attendees from as far away as Seattle, Wash., 145 dealer tables representing dealers from 11 states, and the only card show known in the United States with more than 1,000 in attendance and an under $10 admission which is $5 when you submit an address. “We’re coast to coast in our trade show exposure and it only costs you $5 to get in. How’s that for value” boasts promoter Mike Mangasarian.

At the time when the show was in its infancy, there was one charity benefiting from the show, which was the original promoter Tom McDonough’s church being the Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston, providing new clothing for those that couldn’t afford it. When promoter Mangasarian took over responsibilities for McDonough, he continued the same traditions and he added his church, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church for expenses to their athletic endeavors on a national basis and further expanded charity to the athletic fund of the hosting school where the show was being conducted and a shelter for the homeless called Sisters of the Poor in Pawtucket, R.I.

The February 3-4 show will be the 50th and a celebration of the milestone is in the works. Some of the planned events will be a door prize every 30 minutes after the show opening crowd settles in until closing and continuing on Sunday. The raffle proceeds go to the charities as one ticket for a dollar gives one a chance for all the prizes on the table, which is normally 20-plus chances depending on donations. Winners are not handed a prize but pick their own gift off the table.

Besides the staple features that have become part of the evolution of the new two-day event such as the Silent Auction and heavily discounted dealer items announced periodically over the PA system during the show, there is a new child-friendly event called “Find the Collectibles. Every show we will feature certain sports items in multiple quantities that we will hand to dealers to display at their table, and collectors 13 and under will search the show floor at dealer tables for these items, gather as many as they can, and when the contest is over there will be three gift certificates to spend at a dealer’s booth. This year the search will be “Find the 1915 Red Sox.” This is an eight-card set that eight different dealers will get one card to display at their table.

What you can expect to see are dealers selling modern and vintage sports cards, R.I. Reds hockey memorabilia, historical autographs, vintage equipment in all sports, graded cards, Pokémon, pennants, non-sports cards, tobacco cards, wax boxes and packs, hobby supplies, vintage photos, yearbooks, programs, vintage sports magazines, bobbleheads, ticket stubs, figurines, vintage sports games, regional issues, comic books and a whole lot more.

At the show in attendance will be the R.I. Reds Heritage Society, a favorite with fans in this hockey rich state who will be returning again as other guests will continue to be added as they become available.

Entrance to the show and show hours are Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm (Early Bird admission 8 am) Sunday, 8:30 am to 3 pm.

Admission: $5 when you say, “Put me on your mailing list” or regular admission fee of $6 applies; $8 for a two-day pass. Discounted admissions for seniors 65 and older, military and children 12 and under is $3 and discounted two-day admission tickets are $5 for both days. Children 5 and under are free. Early Bird admission at 8 am on Saturday is $20.

For information, 401-601-5703 or www.facebook.com/cranstoncardshow.

Our 48th Year as North America’s oldest Charity run Sports Card Show featuring:
– 100+ tables of prominent dealers from 11 states and many that attend the National!
– Over 1,000 collectors from 13 states will be attending on February 3 & 4 including the west coast!
– An absolutely amazing $5 admission!!!!
– Door prizes on the hour
– Our incredible silent auction
– Our famous raffle where one $1 ticket gives you more than 15 chances to win!
– Free contest for the children 12 under
– Modern cards, vintage cards, non sports cards and Pokemon, autographs, memorabilia, programs, magazines, & more!
– Have dinner with the dealers! $24 6pm February 3 Coventry VFW Post, 29 S. Main St., Coventry 02816
Dinner includes Baked Fish, Meatballs & Sauce, Italian Sausage, Rotates Peppers & Onions, Chicken in Wine, Eggplant Parmesan, Baked Ziti Antipasto Salad, Rolls & Butter, Mini Pastries & Coffee. There is no pay at the door for this dinner. All dinners must be paid for in advance. Contact promoter for payment options
150 seats so don’t wait to participate!
Admission: $5 when you Say, “Put me on your mailing list or regular admission fee of $6 applies! $8 for a 2 day pass! Discounted Admissions for seniors 65 & older and Military, are $3.00, & Discounted 2-day admission tickets are $5 for both days. Children 12 and under are free. $20 Early Bird admission @ 8am on Saturday.
TRADE NIGHT: Free Saturday at the Coventry VFW Post, 29 S. Main St., Coventry 02816,6:30-9:30pm
Promoter Contact: Mike Mangasarian MikeMango1@gmail.com 401-601-5703
Sponsored by Renewal by Andersen