Every year a RI 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. 

A little about the demographics; just under 1,500 attendees from as far away as Seattle, WA, 145 dealer tables representing dealers from 11 states, and the only card show known in the USA 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 there was one charity benefitting from the show which was the original promoter Tom McDonough’s church being The Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston, RI providing new clothing for those that can’t afford it. When Mangasarian took over responsibilities for Tom he continued the same traditions and he added his church, St. Vartanantz Armenian Church for expenses to their athletic endeavors on a National basis and further expanded charity to the hosting school athletic fund and a shelter for the homeless called Sisters of the Poor in Pawtucket RI.

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. Our raffle is bigger and better with all proceeds going to the charities as one ticket for a dollar gives you a chance for all the prizes on the table which is normally 20-plus chances depending on donations. When you win you don’t get handed a prize but you pick your 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 and gather as many as they can and when the contest is over there will be three gift certificates to spend at a dealers booth. This year the search will be “Find the 1915 Red Sox”. This is an eight-card set that 8 different dealers will get one card to display at their table. 

When a collector sees it on a dealers table he will ask for the card and gather as many as he can on the show floor. When the time is over for the search the cards will be brought to cash out and the top three gatherers who spotted the cards at dealer tables will each be given cash certificates to spend at dealer tables in different value amounts for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place and can go shopping with them at the 2024 show only.  Said Mangasarian, “The kids have fun searching, they can win a shopping certificate, and the dealers make a little money and not by just the certificates but by collectors looking closely for the hidden prizes and maybe spotting something else they would like to purchase from that dealers table. Everyone wins. The tradition continues to be different than other card shows.”

We don’t want to forget our special dealers that come from 13 states and many which attend the National giving us an unprecedented quality of dealers not available anywhere but at the Cranston Sports Card Show™.  For them we put a ballot in the back of our program and as collectors drop their ballots for Best Customer Service they can win a free table to our next show. What you can expect to see our dealers selling are modern and vintage sports cards, RI Reds hockey memorabilia, incredible autographs, vintage equipment in all sports, graded cards, Pokémon, pennants, non sports cards, tobacco cards, wax boxes and packs, hobby supplies, vintage photo’s, yearbooks, programs, ticket stubs, figurines, 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 our hockey rich state who will be returning again as other guests will continue to be added as they become available.

 Entrance to the show, Trade Night, and show hours are as follows; 

Date: Sat. Feb 3 & Sun. Feb 4, 2024.

Time: Saturday 9-5 (Early Bird admission 8am) Sunday 8:30-3:00 

Where: Coventry High School, 40 Reservoir Rd, Coventry, RI 02816

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, Military, and children 12 & under is $3.00, & Discounted 2 day admission tickets are $5 for both days.  Children 5 and under are free.  $20 Early Bird admission @ 8am on Saturday.

Trade Night: Saturday at the Coventry VFW Post, 29 S. Main St., Coventry 02816, 7-10pm as scheduled now but subject to change

Email:

MikeMango1@gmail.com                                  

Promoter phone, Mike: 401-601-5703