Meet a French baseball card enthusiast who inspires us to explore the hobby and shares all the tips in a book set to release in early October.
BTVF: Who are you, Gregory?
I’m Greg, 37 years old. I live in Brittany with my family and have been passionate about American sports, particularly baseball, since 2001. I played baseball in the early 2000s for the Rennes Redwings. With several consuming passions, I didn’t continue, but I’m thinking about playing again in a few years.
BTVF: How did you become a sports card collector?
It’s true that baseball and card collecting are relatively unknown passions in France. As I explain in my book, a series of events led me to become an unconditional collector—especially of Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. In June 2001, my maternal grandmother gave me an incredible opportunity to visit Canada for nearly 15 days. I discovered a culture and a country. I had already held a few baseball cards as a child (a friend had been to the U.S. and brought some back), but every evening in the motels, I turned on the TV to watch games or highlights. We were in the middle of the Major League season, the perfect time in a country where hockey leaves little room for other sports. I’ve always been drawn to this sport without knowing much about it, and the internet wasn’t developed at all back then.
During an excursion to Toronto, we went to see the CN Tower. I knew in advance that the tower was at the foot of the Sky Dome, the Blue Jays’ stadium. Once the visit was over, I rushed into the stadium’s official store and bought my first Toronto team cards, which I still own! A set of Upper Deck Victory. As soon as I returned to Brittany, I had only one idea in mind: to discover and learn about this sport and, of course, trading cards.
*A few months later, my sister found me a pack of 1998 Topps Finest at a Rennes flea market. A manga store called Planète Loisirs was the spot for selling American sports trading cards in Rennes, and many Breton collectors were regulars there. I was lucky enough to find a stunning Derek Jeter card. A rarer card than the others, and I never stopped. More than 20 years later, I own over 2,000 cards of the Yankees’ captain and an entire universe around him: jerseys, figurines, posters, photos… *
BTVF: Can you explain the term ‘Hobby’?
The hobby is the term used by Americans to define a passion, particularly that of collecting cards. It’s a strong culture, developed throughout the country. There are stores, card shows, or websites dedicated to this passion. There are even TV shows, podcasts, and books. I actually return to several chapters on the history of the hobby, which is linked to baseball, far from the idea people might have about these small pieces of cardboard.
BTVF: Tell us about the adventure of the book you’re re-releasing?
In 2021, just before the lockdown, I had started writing and translating articles. I accelerated because I got into the game. I was able to conduct interviews with athletes, writers, collectors, store managers… Not being a writer and the subject being very selective, I chose to self-publish. But that has a cost, and I launched a crowdfunding campaign. The most complicated part was knowing how many copies to print in addition to the partial success of this campaign. The goal wasn’t to make money but just to cover my costs. I sold about fifty books. The biggest surprise was the numerous positive feedback, and word of mouth did the rest. The 150 copies sold out, and since then, I regularly receive requests. Lack of time with the Potes Cartes podcast, my collection, my personal life meant I was delaying this project.
On October 22nd, the Paris Card Show will take place in the 13th arrondissement. It will bring together card collectors and everything related to American sports. The organizer, whom I know very well, suggested I come to sign the book, so I had to reprint it. There are therefore 100 copies available (well, a bit fewer now) because the price of paper has skyrocketed, and on small print runs, it adds up quickly. It is also possible to receive it at your home. It is available for pre-order and will be delivered in early October.
BTVF: What are the events and particularities of this type of collection?
As mentioned earlier, there are major card shows in Europe and France. Recently, I went with my friends to Germany where there were over 1,000 collectors in a single day, it was incredible. Then, there are more local meetings of collectors. Many exchanges or sales are done over the internet. The advantage is that there’s something for everyone and every budget.
BTVF: In France, how does the collection of these foreign and French cards work?
In the 1990s, Upper Deck and Fleer invaded the French market. Far from our Panini football stickers. With the rise of Jordan, American sports exploded. The hobby became democratized as even newsstands sold packs of cards. A few stores then opened, and collector forums emerged. There was a lull in the early 2000s, but since the lockdown, it’s booming. People have gone back to their basements, their attics, and rediscovered their childhood treasures. There’s been a real enthusiasm for trading cards.
Today, in France, everything happens mainly online, but collector meetings are becoming more and more numerous, and initiatives are plentiful: collector groups, podcasts, YouTube channels, virtual and even physical stores with Geek Factory, Magic Collector…
By the way, with my friend Adrien, we did, in partnership with Glenn Gervot, the Sénart club, and the French Baseball Federation, special cards for the CEB CUP. It’s one of my best memories. Beyond the incredible welcome we received, the craziest part was the speed at which the children and even the adults snatched up the cards—it was magical.
BTVF: What can we wish you?
That more and more people become interested in the hobby. Don’t hesitate to come on October 22nd in Paris, it’s going to be great!
Interview by Didier Cannioux
