About
Do you remember a time that your dad or grandpa took you to see your first ball-game? Do you remember the smell of the freshly cut grass, the sounds of the crowd, and the smell of hot-dogs and cotton candy? I sure do! These are such fond memories for me, as I look back on my childhood. Sports became a way for generations of our family to come together. It was a common source of conversation and camaraderie. We could put aside our differences of opinion and root for our favorite team (St. Louis Cardinals). My dad’s favorite player was Stan Musial, as a youngster, mine was Ozzie Smith, and I am sure that the next generation of our family will grow up with Albert Pujols. That is what makes sports great. It is a common thread that is woven into the fabric of our lives and bridges the generation gap.
A Favorite Pastime
Like most of you, our family was not able to attend more than a few games a year. Although we watch many games of all different sports on TV, and played ball for hours on end, we needed a way to carry that ballpark feeling home with us. When I was five years old my father decided that a Baseball Card Collection might be a great way for us boys to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon. Little did he know that some 25 years later that collection would be nearly a millions cards and counting and the way I paid for my college education and a car or two.
Two Types of Fans
I am very blessed to have been able to turn my passion and collection into a way to support my family. With my wife’s blessing we set out to open a premiere sports store that catered to fans and “fans of fans” alike. What I mean by “fans of fans” is simple… Do any of you ladies think that the man or boys in your life are impossible to shop for? Let me tell what my wife learned very early in our time together. She found that the way to connect with me (and therefore me connect with her) was to show interest in the thing that I liked. For us that was sports. This became an easy way for her to shop for holidays and anniversaries. She may not have known which card I needed to finish off my 1972 Topps baseball set, but she did know that the St. Louis Cardinals were my favorite team. This meant that a new ball cap or a nice photo plaque for my office was a lot better received then a new dress shirt that I didn’t want or another neck-tie. This has translated into me being more observant to what she likes and her interests. In this case my wife is the “fan of a fan”. I walked into On the Ball Sports as a customer, I would most likely focus my attention on the sports cards and memorabilia section. This is where I would most likely spend the majority of my time (and money), where my wife could find tons of items that I would like though out the rest of the store. This is what makes our store unique. We cater to both fans and “fans of fans”.
These same principles apply to mothers and grandmothers looking for the perfect gift for their children or grandchildren. As a “fan of a fan” you only need to pay attention to what your sports fan says and you will never have a hard time buying them the perfect gift again.
