Slater kicks off card shop

Underwood, Rayl, Levingston featured at Kokomo Card Show Jan. 22

Imagine being born with a passion for both nostalgia and an investment all wrapped up in one foil package. Mark Slater, owner of Slater’s Sports Cards & Collectibles, has that passion, and he has brought it to Kokomo.

From the age of 13, Slater has been buying and selling sports memorabilia. Along with the passion and the opportunity to hold his own card shows, Slater has opened his own store.

“I’ve been setting up at card shows and thought it would be something really neat to bring to Kokomo,” said Slater.

Hundreds of sports cards line the glass cases near the entrance. The feel of a sports bar comes to mind as Slater stands behind the counter with a customer on the other side, conversing about cards and the good old days.

“Me and Jerry like to sit and talk about the old players and the vintage stuff,” Slater said with a laugh. “I’ve always been into cards since I was a little kid, so part of it is the nostalgia factor.”

While some customers are there to shoot the breeze and trade vintage cards, others are looking for a financial investment.

“But then there are guys coming in with new stuff and getting cards graded and will sit on it a while to get that investment.” Slater said. “There are also guys that open up a new pack, hit that new rookie, and send it off immediately. So, people get into it for the investment or the nostalgia. I like it for both. I like to have what I like, then I sell off the other stuff to pay for my collecting habit.”

Slater’s Sports Cards, 150 S. Reed Road, is holding its grand opening in a big way with The Kokomo Card show on Jan. 22, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Thirty-two vendors will be onsite selling sports memorabilia, which brings Slater’s childhood dreams to reality.

Aside from vendors, there also will be three celebrity athletes available for meet and greets, as well as signatures. The grand opening signers include:

·       Pat Underwood, a retired Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers 1979-1983 and Kokomo High School graduate;

·       Jimbo Rayl, Kokomo High School basketball stand-out featured in the movie, “Hoosiers,” and son of KHS legend Jimmy Rayl;

·       Cliff Levingston, retired power forward for the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. Livingston retired from the NBA in 1995 with career totals of 5,888 points, 4,307 rebounds, and 593 blocked shots. Livingston has coached professional basketball since 2000, with the Harlem Globetrotters and currently as the head coach for the Kokomo Bobcats.

Slater said the card shows will be a monthly occurrence.

“And each show will have a different group of signers,” said Slater. “Ranging from MMA fighters, to boxers, to current players, it will be an eclectic group of people, so each month will have something for every fan.”

Slater’s Sports cards is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Check its Facebook page for updated inventory and event details.