About the NTCA
One Association. One Community. A Shared Future.
The National Trading Card Association is a national membership and industry organization created to unite, support and advance the trading card community. We bring together collectors, hobby shops, dealers, manufacturers, grading and authentication services, distributors, auction companies, content creators, event organizers and other industry partners through a shared commitment to the hobby's long-term success.
Members take the hobby into schools — donating cards in bulk just for the fun of it, and using trading cards as a real-world example of how a business works.
Our mission
The mission of the National Trading Card Association is to support, educate and connect trading card collectors, hobbyists, investors and industry professionals. We promote knowledge, integrity and responsible practices while celebrating the history, excitement and community that make trading card collecting a lifelong passion.
Through trusted information, helpful resources and meaningful connections, the National Trading Card Association seeks to strengthen and advance the trading card community. We welcome collectors of every interest and experience level as we work together to preserve the hobby's traditions and encourage its continued growth.
Our vision
Our vision is to build a trusted, inclusive and connected trading card community in which collectors and industry participants can learn, collaborate and thrive. We seek to preserve the hobby's history while developing the programs, standards and relationships needed to protect and strengthen its future.
- A common voice for the whole hobby
- Trusted resources and education
- Programs built to last for generations
Why we exist
Why the NTCA exists
The trading card hobby has grown into a global community of collectors, businesses, creators and organizations, yet no single national association brings every part of that community together.
The NTCA was created to help fill that role—providing a common voice, trusted resources, stronger connections and programs designed to support the hobby for generations to come.
Join us to preserve the history of the hobby
History and future of the hobby
For more than a century, trading cards have captured the imagination of collectors of all ages. What began in the 1800s as colorful advertising cards and simple inserts placed inside tobacco packages soon developed into a worldwide hobby celebrating sports, entertainment, history and popular culture.
Over the decades, trading cards have evolved alongside the people who collect them — from early baseball cards and chewing-gum issues to autographed cards, game-used memorabilia, fantasy games and modern digital collectibles. While some cards have become valuable treasures, their greatest appeal often lies in the memories they preserve, the stories they tell and the connections they create among collectors.
What we stand for
Our values
The principles behind every NTCA program, partnership and decision.
Community
Bringing the hobby together.
Integrity
Promoting transparency and responsible practices.
Education
Helping collectors make informed decisions — and taking the hobby into classrooms with card donations and real-world business lessons.
Preservation
Protecting the history and traditions of collecting.
Innovation
Supporting the continued evolution of the hobby.
Outreach
Sharing the love of our hobby with youth and new potential collectors.
Showcase
Spotlighting new products, innovations and leaders within the hobby.
Building together
Shaped by the people who participate in it
These focus areas will be introduced in phases as the association develops its leadership, membership and programs. Each initiative will have a distinct purpose while remaining connected through the broader mission and values of the National Trading Card Association.
From local card shops and first-time collectors to established businesses and international partners, everyone has a role in the future of trading cards. Together, we can preserve the hobby's history, strengthen trust in its marketplace and build a more connected community for generations to come.
Who is behind this?
People of the NTCA
Craig Lloyd
Craig Lloyd founded the National Trading Card Association out of a lifelong passion for collecting and a belief that the trading card community deserves a strong, independent national organization representing collectors, businesses, professionals and the hobby as a whole.
Eric Garrison
Eric Garrison started his corporate career at Impel Marketing / SkyBox Trading Cards in Durham in 1993. Back then CEO Frank O'Connell, VP Jay Ladd and CFO Tommie Smith were a dream team of growth.
Jay Dudley
Jay Dudley started out collecting when he was 6 years old. He is now 54 and loves collecting more than anything. He has been a police officer for the last 27 years and will be retiring next year.
From the gallery
