Ken Karrson's Memorabilia Column

Every decade has its moments or objects that are better off forgotten.

I'll have to take someone else's word on what was ridicule-worthy in the pre-World War II years, but plenty of things have qualified since then. Hairstyles and fashions are two obvious chuckle-inducing sources, regardless of time frame, although nothing ever seems odd when it's "in."

And let's not forget fads. Here are a few to make you cringe: pet rocks, have-a-nice-day "smiley" buttons, baby-on-board signs, mood rings and stubble razors.

But even those things with staying power often remain linked to their specific era. Beatles music, for example, always will be associated with the 1960s, while leisure suits immediately conjure up images of the '70s in people's minds.

The sports-collecting world hasn't been immune to such categorizing. That's especially true since Topps' unofficial monopoly ended in 1981 and other companies entered the trading-card fray.

More and more, card producers tried to one-up each other with flashier designs and whatever extra they could package along with the cards. Gum ceased being one of those extras.

While a market for cards still exists -- albeit an increasingly expensive one -- the hobby's heyday unquestionably was the late 1980s and early '90s. At least that's true if quantity was more important than quality.

Don't get me wrong -- much of the stuff produced back then was good, but most everything got overshadowed by excess. Fifteen years ago, that accurately described both products and the outlets at which to purchase them.

It seemed as if anyone who'd ever opened a card pack suddenly decided they were ready to open up a card store. Most of the enterprises turned out to be fly-by-night in nature, but collectors never had to search very hard to find a town with a shop in those pre-Internet days.

And there was no end to the cards. In addition to the major team sports, there were some made for golf, tennis, soccer, bowling, auto racing, horse racing, the Olympics and my two personal favorites, bass fishing and whitetail deer. Talk about bizarre.

To borrow from Groucho Marx, what interest a deer would have in trading cards, I'll never know.

The 16th annual Chicagoland Auto Racing Memorabilia and Collectibles Show will take place Sunday, March 18, at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and admission is $5 for adults and children over 12. Younger children will be admitted free.

Vendors from a five-state area will display over 90 tables' worth of items, including die-cast cars, trading cards, plastic models, programs, yearbooks and vintage photos. Some former racing champions are scheduled to be on hand as well.

For more information, call (219) 838-0737 or (219) 923-1475.

This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at kkarrson@nwitimes.com.