Collecting sports cards isn’t just a hobby. For some, it’s an investment opportunity.
At Moore Sports & Trading Cards, located on Pinehurst Avenue in Southern Pines, buyers seem aware that spending money on the cards could provide significant financial benefit.
Owned by Kayle Salter and Keith Sneeden, Moore Sports & Trading Cards opened for business in March. The launch took place after Kayle and Keith spent several months doing business on the live-selling platform, Whatnot. An absence of face-to-face interaction was one reason the pair opened the store.
“I didn’t like to talk through a chat room,” Kayle, who’s originally from Cary, said.
Having a physical location allows the owners to build a stronger connection with purchasers, whether they’re local or vacationing.
“Most probably come from a 30-mile radius,” Kayle said. “We’ve also got a lot of vacationers.”
Many of the vacationers are in the area to golf.
“We’ll have groups of golf guys,” Kayle said. “Golfers are just passionate about trading cards.”
Once associated with childhood, collecting cards today isn’t limited to a particular age group.
“It varies from kids to older adults,” Keith said.
With school being out, there’s an expectation that the number of younger visitors will increase.
“We expect to see more kids in the summer,” Keith, a baseball player and golfer during his days at New Bern High School, said. “But we don’t have a typical customer age.”
One reason for the expansion of the ages normally associated with collecting may be the possibility of a return. Certain cards appreciate with time.
“They perform better than stock markets,” Kayle said.
As a player’s performance improves, so does the price of his/her sports cards.
According to demand for his card, Shohei Ohtani is the most popular baseball player.
“His market is on fire right now,” Kayle said. “You always understand the value of those cards.”
A rarity in contemporary MLB, Ohtani – of the Los Angeles Dodgers – is a position player who’s also a starting pitcher. So far this season, he has 50 runs, 14 home runs and 51 walks as a designated hitter. For his career, the Japanese star has 758 runs, 207 doubles and 294 homers. He’s won two World Series titles with the Dodgers.
On the mound, he’s 6-2 with 73 strikeouts in 2026. Overall, he’s 45-22 in 111 starts. Ohtani’s been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year four times.
While the card with the greatest demand may feature a baseball standout, it’s not the diamond that has the strongest pull for collectors.
“Football is king,” Kayle said. “It can vary geographically, but, as a whole, football’s usually consistent.”
Cards for NFL legend Tom Brady and Kansas City’s quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, rank highest for football fans. For basketball, Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant top the list.
Irrespective of the sport or a purchaser’s motivation, Moore Sports & Trading Cards is primed to be a go-to spot for those interested in collecting.
“There isn’t anything like this around here,” Kayle said. “It’s absolutely exceeded our expectations.”
Given how things are going, Kayle and Keith are already thinking about future plans.
“Our goal is to be in a larger space,” Kayle said. “That all happens with support from the local community.”
For more information on Moore Sports & Trading Cards, go to: https://moorecards.com. Visit their store at 375 Pinehurst Ave. in Southern Pines.
Feature photo: Moore Sports & Trading Cards owners Kayle Salter (left) and Keith Sneeden.
~Article and photos by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Dave Lukow. Dave has been honored as both a lyricist and screenwriter. Among other publications he’s contributed to are the Buffalo News, JD Journal, Beckett Hockey, Seminole Player’s Life, Poker Pro, Walmart World, and All In.
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