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Did you know that the latest reality show to plunder the hidden-treasure theme is filmed right here in Baltimore? ABC’s Ball Boys, which revolves around the Lutherville sports memorabilia shop Robbie’s First Base, airs its season finale this Sunday on ABC. Check out the trailer below
Ball Boys is somewhat in the vein of Storage Wars, American Pickers, and Pawn Stars, with the twist of only dealing with sports-related objects. The series follows father and son owners Robbie Davis Sr. and Jr. along with their colorful staff as they wheel and deal with stragglers off the street, looking to cash in on all manner of memorabilia ranging from the awe inspiring (Jackie Robinson’s bat!), to the downright perplexing (an ancient mason jar full of decaying grass from Cleveland Municipal Stadium).
Besides the white-knuckled appraising, bargaining, and hustling, there’s also the usual loafing around and incidental banter that distinguishes these shows from, say, PBS’s Antique Road Show. As one of the worker’s remarks in the Ball Boys trailer, “You can’t ask for a better job than sitting around talking sports with your friends all day.”
Just tuning in? No worries—the entire first season begins its rebroadcast June 23 at 3 p.m. on ABC. The network has yet to announce whether they will launch a second season, but storeowner Robbie Davis Sr. coolly speculates, “I think they may be waiting to see how the show’s second run does.” Check it out!
—Lowen Howard, Baltimore magazine intern
