‘Legends’ is Cameron Park sports collectibles shop

Steven Fereria has been collecting sports memorabilia since he was a kid and he's got a lot of stuff.

Fereria, 50, recently relocated from the Bay Area to open Legends Sports Collectibles and More in Cameron Park.  He's not doing it for money—just a good time. "I'm not concerned with getting rich off this I just wanna have fun. This is my retirement," Fereria explained.

Legends specializes in collectibles from 1990 and earlier.

"These guys are legends," Fereria said. For $24 you can pick up a 1981 Topps wax pack. The packs have never been opened. but inside there could be several valuable cards issued that year like the Joe Montana rookie card that sells today for about $130 or more. If you're lucky one of these might be in your wax pack.

"One of the reasons I did this is because I want my collectables to still be around in 100 years from now. In the future some kid will enjoy this stuff. I won't be here but I think it's neat," Fereria said.

When Fereria was 12 years old he sold newspapers door-to-door. He was a big baseball fan back then, played on his local little league team, and was never seen without his lucky baseball cap.

"One day I was out selling papers and this man asked, 'Hey kid, you like baseball?' and he threw me a baseball," Fereria said. That baseball was the 1972 Cincinnati Reds team ball with greats like Pete Rose's autograph. Today that ball is worth over $700.

Fereria had a similar shop in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the Bay Area. It was more like a place for collectors and sports fans to hang out than a business.

"I like to build relationships with my customers; they can come in and just talk sports. I'm just as happy if you buy something or not," Fereria said.

"All this stuff is my stuff and it hasn't been passed around. This has all been taken care of and I don't have processed collectibles," Fereria said in reference to collectors who have jerseys or posters signed with the intention of selling them as collectables.

At Legends you'll find sports publications, novelty items, flat art and prints, Pepsi collectables, schedules, buttons and pins, Coca-Cola collectables, Hot Wheels, ball park collector cups and much more. There's something for every fan of any sport from hockey and horse racing to boxing and golf.

But Fereria doesn't have a favorite team or sport. He likes it all. His favorite trading card is worth a measly 75 cents compared to some of the more valuable cards in his collection.

"Billy North; that's one of my favorite cards because I lived it. He's the guy I would watch on the field," Fereria said of North who played for the Athletics, Giants and Dodgers in the 1970s.

"I have things in here that will excite collectors whether it's a $1 item or a $100 item," Fereria said. "It could be a card that completes a set, old Slurpee cups, Hot Wheels or pennants from the 1960s. My grandfather took me to see a lot of games and everytime I went he would buy me a pennant," Fereria said, pointing to the rows of pennants hanging in his shop. "Everything here has a story to it."

And if you're a collector looking for something unique, Fereria can help with that too, "There's a good chance I have it, and if I don't, I have all the avenues to find it."

Fereria has Sports Illustrated issues back to 1986, and possibly even earlier if he can locate those storage boxes after his recent move. He's also got unopened classic Wheaties boxes and thousands of trading cards.

How about a 1934 Detroit Tigers team ball signed by the entire team including famous players like Schoolboy Rowe, Mickey Cochrane and Icehouse Wilson? "You will not be able to find some of these items anywhere else; they are off the wall things," Fereria said.

For Hot Wheels fans, Legends has limited sets and older cars. "When I was a kid I was very meticulous with my cars. I would go play with the kids and when we were done I would wrap each car in tissue before putting it away," Fereria said.

The store's been open for about a month now, but the grand opening for Legends will be Jan. 8, so stop by, complete your collection and have a little fun. Legends is located at 2999 Alhambra Drive Suite C in Cameron Park near the airport. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday. For more information call 530-306-2126.

Krysten Kellum

Krysten Kellum has worked for the Mountain Democrat since 2006. She currently is the Photo Editor at the newspaper. Her Australian Cattle Dog Penny is the Mountain Democrat newshound.

View all my stories Email Me krystenkellum