A theft involving rare baseball cards valued at $2.1 million has led to the sentencing of two men in Strongsville. The incident, which occurred earlier this year, left a significant impact on a well-known vintage sports card dealer.
Jacob R. Paxton, a 28-year-old Brunswick resident, pleaded guilty in October to aggravated theft. On Monday, he was sentenced to four to six years in prison and ordered to serve two to five years of community control upon release. Additionally, Paxton must pay over $89,000 in restitution. A second charge of tampering with evidence was dropped.
The stolen baseball cards were shipped by Memory Lane Inc., a vintage sports card dealer, to the Best Western Plus hotel on Royalton Road. The cards were intended for display at a sports card expo at the nearby Brunswick Auto Mart Arena. According to prosecutors, Paxton, a hotel employee, rifled through packages delivered to the hotel on April 17 and took the valuable collectibles.
In court, Paxton expressed remorse for his actions. “I just want to say that I’m very sorry to the victim, and this doesn’t show who I am,” he said. “I have a 2-year-old … it’s just me and him. I wasn’t honest with the detectives at first that I had [the cards]. I should have been. I was just scared.”
After stealing the cards, Paxton brought them to Jason Bowling, a 51-year-old Cleveland resident. Bowling’s attorney argued that Bowling believed the cards were found in a dumpster and had no knowledge of their true origin.
Authorities searched Bowling’s home on May 23 and recovered all but two of the stolen cards. Investigators used phone records, surveillance footage, and other evidence to connect Paxton and Bowling to the crime.
Bowling pleaded guilty in October to receiving stolen property and was sentenced to one year of community control.
The theft caused significant financial harm to Memory Lane Inc., which reported losing a $2 million loan, $100,000 in interest, and enduring reputational damage.
Two cards remain missing:
- A 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card (PSA grade 5, certificate No. 90586922)
- A 1941 Play Ball No. 14 Ted Williams card (PSA grade 8, certificate No. 05159693)