Go To Town

Shop Like a Fan

Sports memorabilia stores let you own a piece of your favorite team

Here’s a nice party fact for you: There are fewer surviving baseball uniforms worn by Babe Ruth than paintings by Vincent van Gogh. And although the laws of supply and demand for old sporting garments aren’t quite the same as those for art masterpieces, anything that Ruth touched evidently turns to gold: A uniform jersey worn by the Sultan of Swat in 1933 fetched $657,250 at auction in 2006, and a cap he wore in the 1920s sold for $328,000 this past July.

The market for sports memorabilia and collectibles has boomed over the past decade. More than 20 million people collect, according to some estimates, and the practice goes far beyond baseball cards stashed in a shoebox and forgotten for decades. Even dirt — collected from the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, or Wrigley Field — is a commodity. For instance, one dealer recently offered for sale a collage featuring a photo of Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and some Fenway soil.

If you find sports artifacts similarly enticing, let the following list of great sports cities be your guide.

1

New York: Babe Ruth hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium on opening day in 1923, the same year the Yankees defeated the New York Giants to win their first World Series. But after 85 years in one of the most iconic stadiums in sports, the team is moving. Before the House that Ruth Built meets the wrecking ball, you can pick up an official souvenir at the sprawling Yankees Team Store, located at Gate 4 (near the big bat). Elsewhere in the Big Apple, you’ll find Last Licks (245 E. 93rd St.; lastlicksicecream.com), which bills itself as a “sports bar for kids.” In addition to the ice cream, the shop sells collectibles and also hosts autograph signings by athletes. Last Licks is a partner of Steiner Sports, the mega memorabilia dealer, so you know the collectibles are authentic.

2

London: Of course, the British call soccer “football,” but Soccer Scene (soccerscene.co.uk), a chain with stores in Covent Garden and on Carnaby and Oxford streets, is the place to go for that Manchester United T-shirt (a best seller) and much, much more. Jerseys, collectibles, and equipment on sale range from Juventus shorts to a red Liverpool wallet to a blue and white Tottenham alarm clock.

3

Boston: Boston has laid claim to the name Title Town for the past decade, with the Patriots winning the Super Bowl three times, the Red Sox winning the World Series twice, and the Celtics taking the 2008 NBA title. Walk through the city on a game weekend and it’s bathed in red, blue, or green, depending on the season. The mecca for Boston sports collectors is the Yawkey Way Store, steps from Fenway Park (19 Yawkey Way; yawkeywaystore.com). In addition to every imaginable piece of Red Sox clothing, the store features collectibles, including autographed balls and photos. A short cab ride from Yawkey Way, Fenway Sportszone (306 Newbury St.; fenwaysportszone.com) carries autographed baseballs and merchandise from other Boston teams, including the Patriots and Celtics.

4

Green Bay: Like Yankee Stadium, Lambeau Field is a bastion of memorabilia that no visitor should miss. Built in 1957, the stadium (1265 Lombardi Ave.; lambeaufield.com) has undergone significant renovations in recent years. It now features a five-story atrium on the east side, home to the Packers Hall of Fame and the Pro Shop, which offers everything from a Packers steering wheel cover to authentic team jerseys. If you’re hunting for vintage goods, head to Green Bay Sports, Gambling & Antiques (705 Potts Ave., Ashwaubenon, Wis.; 866.860.0700). Owners Lisa and John Carpentier are longtime Packer fans, and John literally wrote the book on Green Bay collecting, The Price Guide to Packers Memorabilia.

5

Louisville: Mint julep glasses commemorating the Kentucky Derby were first produced in 1938.It wasn’t until 1953, however, that the Derby tradition of selling an official mint julep glass bearing the names of past winners began, and so did the collecting. Now, the rare early glasses may sell for as much as $6,000. To get your glass and browse other collectibles, stop by the Finish Line Gift Shop at the Kentucky Derby Museum, next to Churchill Downs (704 Central Ave.; http://giftshop.derbymuseum.org). For more esoteric items, drive an hour to Versailles and see the wide range of horse memorabilia at Racing and Riding Collectibles in the Versailles Flea Market & Antique Mall (racingandriding.com).

6

Houston: Field of Dreams in the Houston Galleria (5085 Westheimer Road; fieldofdreamskiosk.com) is one of a chain of memorabilia stores in upscale malls that allows franchises to offer a wide range of goods, including autographed items. In Houston, you can pick up a photo of the Super Bowl trophy signed by 20 Super Bowl most valuable players — it will set you back $4,249. An autographed photo of Cowboy great Bob Lilly and a mini helmet autographed by Texans quarterback Matt Schaub require smaller investments: $70 and $325, respectively.

Getting There: All the destinations covered in “Go to Town” can be reached by flying Continental Airlines. To book your trip, visit Continental Airlines Vacations at covacations.com.