Back when John Graham and Ken Rogers came up with the idea for a cube-shaped, stackable display case for baseballs, they were just trying to find a way to make John’s wife happy and keep his collection of autographed baseballs from heading to the auction house. But that soon changed when they realized that their idea met a huge, unanswered need in the sports memorabilia world. Baseballs, along with plenty of other assorted memorabilia, weren’t exactly easy to organize and display. The stackable, durable, and clear BallQube cases changed all of that.
John and Ken came up with their idea in 1983. Since then, BallQube has grown to be the premier case for baseballs and practically any other type of sports memorabilia that you can think of. It’s also spawned a host of competitors who want in on the business. Maybe you’ve seen a few of these copycats, and maybe you’ve even been tempted to buy from one of them. But before you do, maybe you should take a look at what really sets us apart from our competitors.
THE AMERICAN ORIGINAL
The square sports display case got its start on a cold October evening in 1983.
The Orioles played the Phillies in the World Series that year. Happily, Ken Rogers and his buddy John Graham had a couple beers and watched a game. John mentioned over the course of the evening that his wife no longer cared for his collection of over one hundred autographed baseballs.
Save the collection.
The collection itself didn’t cause the problem. His wife didn’t like that the baseballs overwhelmed the den. John only had round globe holders to protect his baseballs, and while they worked, they each needed their own space. That meant John's baseballs simply couldn't be kept neatly. If he couldn't figure out a better way to display them, his precious baseballs had to go to the auction house.
John needed a way to display his collection in a space-saving manner and protect the baseballs. So the two friends set out on a quest to build the best case possible for his treasured autographs. What they ended up with changed the way people all over the country protect their memorabilia.
And, just like that, they created the BallQube square sports display case.
Both accountants, John and Ken spent a lot of time thinking about rows and columns. That night during the World Series game, they had a flash of inspiration: why not bring the rows and columns into the collecting world? In fact, cube-shaped cases could be stacked in those rows and columns, saving an enormous amount of space. One shelf on the bookcase could now hold several times as many balls encased in square sports display cases. They sketched out their two-piece case idea on a paper napkin. And, just like that, they created the BallQube square sports display case. Soon after, Ken and John decided to leave the numbers game behind. The founders devoted themselves to making their dream a reality. They made prototypes and began taking them to baseball conventions and shows across the country. These men created another chapter in the American dream-start a business from the ground up and pursue your passion against all odds.
Superior logic and quality.
Collectors across the country quickly realized the superior logic and quality behind the BallQube cases. As the operation grew larger, Ken started looking to bring the manufacturing in-house. Notably, we’ve kept BallQube cases American-made since their inception in 1983. In fact, we've stayed in Texas since the very beginning. We even recycled presses from an old Ford plant in Detroit to use in making the cases.
They passed it down.
As years went by, the second generation of the Rogers family joined the team. This added BallQube to the long history of American multi-generational family businesses. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey are all deeply rooted in tradition. The experienced elders pass down wisdom, and memorabilia, to the young. Thus, we pass it all down: the stories, the legends, and the collections. And we're here to help you preserve your memories for all the years to come.
Today, we still live our family's American dream of providing sports lovers with the quality sports display cases and service they deserve.
Made in America
BallQube is the only memorabilia case company that we know of that is, and always has been, manufactured entirely in the U.S.A. Since our start in 1983, BallQube has always been based in Texas. When Ken wanted to learn about the equipment he would need to manufacture on a large scale, he found an expert in California who walked him through the process and what he would need. The very first machines we used actually came from a Ford plant in Detroit. Think of it as recycling for American manufacturing.
The Highest Quality
And that equipment we just mentioned is one reason BallQube products are of such high quality. Today we use Van Dorn machines, a company with impeccable standards and quality – the BMW of their industry. Our track record speaks volumes, as well. Collectors trust BallQube cases because we’ve painstakingly built that trust over the years-case by case, purchase after purchase. Dedicated collectors know that the first thing they need to do after getting home from the auction is to order one of our cases.
Dedicated Employees
Owning a company is a two-way street-you have to show your employees respect and treat them well if you want them to stick around. Part of the reason our product is so great is because we have such a knowledgeable staff. That only happens when your employees have the time to build up that expert knowledge of the product. We have folks who have been with us for years, and that’s part of the reason why you can always count on a quality case from BallQube.
We Hold The Patent
And yes, we literally invented the two-piece display case. There are plenty of those copycats we mentioned earlier who are trying to copy the patent, but there’s only one BallQube.
American-made, trusted, and proven-that’s the BallQube brand. So, sure, there are always going to be competitors that want your business, but we’ll always be the original.