(Seguin) — Ed Flores and Dr. Valdamar Cevallos have known each other since their middle school days at Saegert here in Seguin. However, after going their separate ways, the two have since reconnected as adults thanks to their shared interest in card collecting.
Flores started collecting baseball cards as a child and eventually became a vendor, while Cevallos discovered the hobby later in life through his children.
Since the two reconnected at a San Antonio card show, Cevallos says it has been more than just reestablishing an old friendship. He says it’s been about working together to host “Seguin First-Ever Card Show.” The event, featuring 54 vendors, will be held this Saturday at the Columbus Club of Seguin Hall (KC Hall) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cevallos says the idea to bring a card show to their hometown began with Flores.
“It was Ed’s idea. Ed and I have been friends since middle school. So, I’ve known this guy forever. And we both love cards, love collecting cards, and I was at a card show one time in San Antonio, and you know, I have a very odd name. I heard my name called and I turned around and it’s Ed. So, we kind of reconnected and started collecting cards. He said, you know, we’ve never had a card show in Seguin. What do you think about that? So, it was a great idea from him,” said Cevallos.
For Cevallos, he says collecting cards began as a way to connect with his children.
“For my passion, it was with my son, my kids, and we started, gosh, he was probably 12 at the time, now he’s 21, so we started collecting cards. He was very into sports and so to connect to my kids, we went to card shows. And then it just grew from there, and as he got older, he had other interests. I was left, you know, holding the bag at the card shows by myself,” said Cevallos.
While baseball cards were Cevallos’ original passion, his collection has since expanded to include both football and basketball cards.
As for Flores, his interest began much earlier as a child.
“I started collecting baseball cards as a kid and kind of just been collecting baseball cards, football cards over the years and then accumulated like a pretty vast amount of cards,” said Flores.
Meanwhile, he says his interest to become a vendor came years later.
“One day, my wife was like, ‘hey, what are you going to do with all these cards?’ And I was like, you know, maybe I should set up somewhere as a vendor and sell them. And so, I started doing that,” said Flores.
In fact, it was Flores’ first card show as a vendor when he and Cevallos again reconnected.
Flores says since that time and after having attended even more card shows, the more the idea of having one in Seguin made sense.
“I was sitting there one day and kind of thinking like, man, I’m not traveling everywhere to go sell these cards. Sure, it would be convenient if there was just one in Seguin to where we could just kind of go there,” said Flores.
Both men say they hope the Seguin Card Show illustrates just how popular “the collecting hobby” is and how it’s expanded beyond those baseball cards many people remember from childhood.”
While the event is intended to be a place to buy, sell and trade, Cevallos says they also want to introduce newcomers to the hobby and help people understand how collecting works.
“I think it’s going to be slightly different because again, you know, we’re going to have an educational instrument to it. When you speak of sports cards in this day, Pokémon cards comes hand in hand with it. And so, there’s going to be a lot of Pokémon, which is something that has boomed over the years — bringing in the kids and whatnot. Our show is going to cater to the community area, and the surrounding small areas, to try to educate, get people into the hobby. You know, of course, sell, buy and trade cards, but that’s where it’s more of a community-type basis that we can get to know everyone around here. And you’d be surprised how many people in the area are collectors and hobbyists,” said Cevallos.
Flores says vendors will also be available to help people understand everything from what cards are currently popular to how much a card may actually be worth.
“We can leverage some of the vendors there that are on the different sides of the house, right? From Pokémon and on the sports card side of the house and just have some of those vendors provide educational format as far as, hey, you know, this is the latest release, when you’re looking to buy sports cards, you know, this is what you want to chase after,” said Flores. “Also just educate them as far as like the selling the cards and the value of cards and what that looks like selling to a vendor. A lot of times people will not know the value of the cards and what they can sell to a vendor. And so that educational aspect really helps the seller and the buyer negotiate better deals at the end of the day.”
So, for those who newcomers who want to stop by for their first card – Cevallos offers some simple advice.
“I always tell kids, especially, collect what you love, because that, you’ll never go wrong that way,” said Cevallos. “If you do it for an investment standpoint, that’s a different scenario, which we don’t do, but collect what you love, and you will always value your card collection.”
While sports cards and Pokémon will be the main attraction, Flores says the event is designed for everyone.
“For every guy that comes in the door or every one to two guys that comes through the doors, there is a girl that’s with them, you know, or just shopping along, and a lot of these shows don’t have anything for them to shop,” said Flores. “And so, I kind of took care of that and invited a few craft vendors to the show to provide that variety at the show for everyone to shop.”
At the end of the day, Cevallos says the friendship involved in putting all of this together makes this weekend’s venture even more meaningful.
“I’m ecstatic about it. He’s a great guy to go into this type of a situation with. We’re both grown. We both have made our roots here in Seguin and it’s exciting to have at least the opportunity to bring something like this to our community,” said Cevallos. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Admission is $5, with children 12 and under admitted free.
Vendor space is also still available. The cost is $100 for an 8-foot table, with a second table available for $75.
Those wishing to be a vendor are asked to call Flores at 830-491-2048.
The KC Hall is located at 1015 S. Guadalupe St.