Replay Sports Cards aims to give back

As the popularity of sports trading cards rises around the country, so has the cost, pricing many children who are potential collectors out of the hobby.

It’s an issue that Replay Sports Cards co-founders Mike Martin and Mike Weinberger, who lives in Denver, recognized and wanted to help with, which led to the launch of “Replay Gives Back,” an initiative to collect sports cards to donate to organizations around the country.

“The coolest thing in the world would be in five years, 10 years, we get a job application and we hop on the phone with the kid and he’s like ‘Yeah, actually, it started by you guys dropping off some packs at our charity. That’s how I got started in the industry,’” Martin said. “I think we’ll hear a lot of those stories as it comes about.”

When the Replay Gives Back initiative launched in December 2024, the team at Replay Sports Cards set out to collect 1 million cards by the end of 2025. The idea was popular among customers at the various card shows they would attend, and the team hit their goal in April, but then they set out for a loftier goal of 3 million cards.

The team at Replay Sports Cards attended the Denver Card Show from Aug. 29 to Aug. 31 at the Stockyards Event Center, hoping to collect 500,000 cards, which Martin was confident they would meet.

“Our goal here is 500,000 and I think we’ll hit it,” Martin said. 

Martin said even their competitors donate cards. Weinberger encouraged other card shops to do the same thing.

“I hope other people do it,” Weinberger said. “It doesn’t have to be a Replay thing. They call it the ‘Replay Way,’ but the reality is it should be a part of this hobby.”

Replay Sports Cards aims to donate to cities nationwide, including Denver. Weinberger said the company collaborates with organizations like the Gold Crown Foundation and Colorado Uplift to return the cards to the kids. It also donates to larger organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House and Boys and Girls Club. Martin said charities are always appreciative and great to work with.

“They love it because…where charities a lot of times focus on the necessities, we’re able to add that fun component,” Martin said. 

While the program has had much success, Weinberger said this is just the beginning of what they want to do with it.

“We’re at the beginning, but it’s snowballing in a very good way, very quickly,” Weinberger said. “We’re known in the hobby as…the group that gives back kind of reputation, which we want.”