St. Joseph Mustangs enjoying trading card nights

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Within recent years, trading cards have been trending yet again. The St. Joseph Mustangs are joining the hobby with their trading card nights on Thursday home games.

"It's for kids 14 and under. You can't buy them. They're free, and that's how we think it should be. Kids should be able to get baseball cards for free," St. Joseph Mustangs owner and general manager Ky Turner explained.

Up until right around game time, kids who enter the gates get a pack of three cards. It's not only recognizable players from the field, however, but different members of the team staff, mascots, and more.

The fun doesn't just stop once a young fan finds out who they got; two specific cards each Thursday make that fan eligible for a limited-edition card you can't find in circulation. Like the card on July 2, which was a rare card from when 'Abraham Lincoln' visited Phil Welch.

This isn't just fun for fans who want a copy of their favorite St. Joseph ballplayer, but also something for the players themselves to look for.

Especially for players like shortstop and pitcher Chris Coy from St. Joseph, whose card was in packs on Thursday evening. Coy is always thrilled to sign a card or a ball and takes pride in and responsibility for being someone young fans can look up to.

"Having all the kids, coming up, want my autograph, you know, sign their card and stuff, it's pretty cool," said Coy. "It just makes the experience better, you know, all the fans are great and it just kind of adds, uh, icing to the cake."

The next St. Joseph Mustangs Thursday home game will be on July 16, when they take on the Clarinda A's. Mustangs card packs can be picked up at the schedule table at the main entrance after fans present their ticket for entry.