There are simply too many kinds of sports memorabilia stores to count.
But there is a way to narrow down your search.
You can go about this in two ways: look at different online forums about the topic (which can take hours of reading) or you can simply do an easy Google search based on "interest" or "category".
That's right- the online stores can easily be differentiated from each other based on specific "interests".
You might be surprised to find that the already narrow range of sports memorabilia is further subdivided based on time period and interest.
This was necessitated by the fact that many collectors have specific, quirky interests that will only be satiated if they are shown the goods that they really want to see.
1.
Antique sporting goods & memorabilia- there are three types of sports memorabilia: those from the "past" (well, everything here is from the past, but when we say antique we mean three or five decades back), "lukewarm" sports memorabilia (from not-so-well-known sporting events) and of course, those that are currently being mass produced ("limited edition" sets of sports memorabilia).
When you see the term "antique" in a store, expect that the stuff you'll see there are really old- at least ten years old.
Don't purchase antique sporting goods and memorabilia unless you know the significance or the value of the goods that you're going to buy- do some research first.
2.
Baseball memorabilia- a large region of the online mass market dedicated to sports memorabilia specializes on the well-loved sport of baseball.
There are simply too many types of memorabilia- we have baseball cards, caps, uniforms, shoes and even signed baseballs and bats.
Be careful though- make sure that you are given proof that something really came from a particular time period before you buy it.
Have someone "accompany" you when you buy online to get a second opinion.
3.
Golf memorabilia- many golfers like mixing fun, practicing and style when they feel the "itch" to swing.
Specialized golf memorabilia stores provide fans and collectors of the game with vintage plaques, putts and balls that came from different tournaments and time periods.
Appraisals are also done by these stores- this is wonderful since you can actually sell online that pristine (yet old) set of golf putts you've been eyeing in your basement for the past year.
When you get appraisals for the stuff you want to sell, make sure the figure that they come up with is higher than the amount you will pay when buying brand new ones.
If your vintage set is in mint condition, make sure you get a good price for it before you close the deal with the online merchant.