Sports Memorabilia Shop in Batavia A Collector’s Dream

Editor's note: The photo gallery above has 15 images. To view all the images in full size, place your cursor on the main photo above and continue clicking to move through all the photos.

Looking for a signed D-Rose picture? They’ve got it in Batavia.

Signed Chicago Blackhawks pucks? They’ve got that too.

Baseball cards from the 1950s to the present? They’ve got this by the thousands.

in Batavia has plenty to choose from for the avid sports collector, or those who are looking for a great sports-related gift. The store is located at 8 S. Van Buren St. on the city’s east side.

“I’ve been a collector my entire life, and I truly mean my entire life,” said Carl De Leo, store owner and Batavia resident. “I’m a specialty store for special Chicago teams.”

De Leo constantly keeps the store filled with authentic autographed items. He can also replenish the number of available trading cards at the store from his lifelong collection of over 250,000 cards.

When De Leo is not working as a Fire Captain in Lisle, he is at All-Stars. The Batavian wanted to open up a store in his town to offer sports items and become a resource for kids and the community.

Since the store opened on Feb. 25, De Leo says people have stopped by to thank him for opening the shop. He welcomes fans of all ages to sit back and price their cards with a Beckett’s guide at a table near the back of the store. He keeps the store friendly to customers and has ESPN running on a mounted TV in a corner.

“You have to know the passion that I have for this,” De Leo said. “When I get out of the firehouse, I’m here the next morning.”

Giving Back to Batavia

In addition to competitive prices on autographed items and cards, De Leo does a number of promotions and giveaways with the community.

De Leo provided some autographed items for a Batavia elementary school Fun Fair earlier this year. He wants to continue helping Batavia youth.

“Children are the future,” said De Leo, himself a father to five children. “If they are raised with good morals and good hobbies, I think that this store adds to their remembrance of their childhood in a clean way.”

De Leo began collecting cards as a hobby when he was a kid. Later on, he expanded to collecting autographs and meeting a host of sports legends, including Mike Ditka, Bobby Hull and more.

“While most kids put them in spokes, I put them in boxes,” De Leo said of his baseball cards.

De Leo eventually decided to make a business out of his passion. Batavia seemed like a perfect place to do it.

“I have lived here for over five years,” De Leo said. “It has a small-town feel that I really enjoy.”

Done Deals

De Leo hopes All-Stars can become a destination from sports fans all over the Tri Cities and beyond. In the future, he hopes to have autograph-signing sessions at the store.

The store has no shortage of autographed items. Items are available for several sports, including baseball, football, basketball, hockey and NASCAR.

Every person who spends $25 at the store is entered into a prize drawing. In April it was for an Ernie “Mr. Cub” Banks autographed bat.

Many items line the walls, but all you have to do is ask De Leo for a closer look.

“I feel that our products are unique, and people need to see them, touch them and hopefully buy them,” De Leo said.  “I don’t want to do the eBay thing here.”

For more information on the All-Star Cards store in Batavia, visit their Facebook page here.