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The Best Episodes of American Pickers

Every episode of American Pickers ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of American Pickers!

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Pickers like Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are on a mission to recycle America, even if it means diving into countless piles of grimy junk or getting chased off a gun-wielding homeowner’s land. Hitting back

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    American Pickers Season 1 Episode 4 - Invisible Pump
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Invisible Pump

    S1:E4

    Mike and Frank stumble upon a potential mega-pick in Northeast Iowa, but will it yield any treasures? Danielle has a lead on a rare, 15-gallon antique gas pump. The guys explore an 1879 Illinois opera house that hasn’t been touched since the 1930s. And, Mike introduces Frank to a 94-year-old master collector. Can they pick the picker?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 6 - Mole Man
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Mole Man

    S1:E6

    Mike and Frank bet on who is the best picker. The loser gets to wash their filthy van. Working against the clock, the guys try to strike a deal in a savvy seller’s jam-packed barn. They meet master picker “Mole Man” Ron and tour his 26-room underground lair. Danielle introduces the guys to a professional farm scavenger. And, John’s closed-down Illinois museum is full of Americana, but will he sell them anything?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 7 - Frank's Gamble
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Frank's Gamble

    S1:E7

    Mike and Frank stumble across an amazing family junkyard in Maryland. Frank offers big money for a 1939 Plymouth coupe but the collector doesn’t seem to want to part with it. The guys luck seems to be taking a positive turn when they get a warm welcome and a shot of tequila at Warren’s New Hampshire home before finding the mother lode of rare bikes and motorbikes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 8 - 5 Acres of Junk
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - 5 Acres of Junk

    S1:E8

    Leaving Iowa in the dead of winter, Mike and Frank head south to New Orleans. There they stumble upon a quirky antique dealer with a sprawling collection. But after digging through his treasure-filled outbuilding, they begin to wonder if he’s ready to make a deal. The guys meet a unique relic hunter whose collection includes dinosaur fossils, and then visit his quirky neighbor–a compulsive collector who’s rarely in the mood to sell. But when Mike spots a pair of rare visible gas pumps, the Picking game is on. With over 2,000 motorbikes and piles of twisted metal, Vic’s automotive graveyard is a picker’s paradise. And, Danielle finds a local buyer who might make the day a total success.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 2 - Buddy's Booby Trap
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - Buddy's Booby Trap

    S2:E2

    Mike and Frank visit a local legend in North Carolina. After picking through an accumulation of school busses and a burned down storage house, they come across an item the guys have never seen before, place bets on what it actually is, and get surprised by what the appraiser says about it. Frank goes into picking-turbo-mode when he finds a gold mine of signs on a 20 acre farm. Also, a mother/daughter team catches the picking bug and gives the guys a run for their money as they dig through their grandfather’s garages and outbuildings.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 3 - Gordon's Gold Mine
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - Gordon's Gold Mine

    S2:E3

    In aptly named Pickens, South Carolina, the guys scour the sprawling inventory of a father-and-son picking duo. They uncover plenty of rare and unusual items… But can they make a deal with the two pro collectors? Next, the guys meet Mary who has inherited a 300-acre property, home to a huge untouched collection. After warming up with a few impulse purchases, Mike and Frank get serious. Plus, while trying to convince the guys to take her on the road, Danielle leads them to an inconspicuous cement factory. It’s the “Holy Grail” of picking–Gordon’s collection includes a jam-packed vintage general store, and building after building of unbelievable retro treasures.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of American Pickers

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  7. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 1 - Big Bear
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Big Bear

    S1:E1

    While hunting for collectables in Central Iowa, Mike and Frank meet 88-year-old WWII veteran Leland and buy the Japanese sword he brought back from the war. Mike takes a chance on an old saddle and ends up with a big surprise. The guys head over to Danny Beans’ — a man whose dozen barns are packed with junk but is reluctant to sell them anything. Office manager Danielle tracks down a retired carnie named “Bear” who’s sitting on an awesome collection of vintage rides.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 2 - Super Scooter
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Super Scooter

    S1:E2

    Flying solo in Northern Iowa, Mike comes across the “Goat Man” and combs through his amazing, hidden-away property of junk-filled fields and buses. An Illinois couple’s home proves to be a collector’s paradise. The boys work on a prolific car collector who’s reluctant to sell. Danielle uncovers a pricey, one-of-a-kind Vespa passenger scooter. And, following their instincts, the guys meet a gracious 84-year-old woman who opens the doors to her untouched collections.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 3 - White Castle on the Farm
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - White Castle on the Farm

    S1:E3

    Mike and Frank spot a White Castle burger joint on an Ohio farmer’s front lawn and discover his extraordinary collection of vintage buildings and vehicles. A promising Iowa home reportedly packed with antiques yields everything but. And, the guys hit pay dirt when they visit a sprawling 880,000-square-foot former factory home.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 5 - Back Breaker
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Back Breaker

    S1:E5

    Mike’s hurt his back but can’t afford time off to recuperate. The guys dive into a 92-year-old Iowa farmer’s unbelievable collection but make a huge mistake in the process. Mike and Frank counsel a prolific Ohio collector reluctant to part with his magnificent jukebox. And, after kicking it into high gear in Charlie’s motorcycle-packed outbuilding, Mike’s back takes a turn for the worse.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 9 - Bigfoot in Alabama
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Bigfoot in Alabama

    S1:E9

    While picking their way through the South, the guys meet up with John, a Mississippi motorcycle collector who has plenty of cool stuff, but his prices are through the roof. Then Mike spots a rare 1969 Kawasaki muscle bike, but can he wrestle it out of the mud? While in Alabama, Mike and Frank visit a prolific car hobbyist whose yard looks like a vintage parking lot. After driving down Poorhouse Road, they scour the bizarre collection at the Alabama Museum of Wonder where everything–including a gigantic head from a Piggly Wiggly mascot–is for sale. And finally, the guys catch a lucky break at a Birmingham vintage scooter shop.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 10 - Know When to Fold
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Know When to Fold

    S1:E10

    The guys are in the South and running low on cash. They’re desperate for a good pick when they happen upon a massive old junkyard and closed-down family flea market. The location is promising but its nostalgic owner is reluctant to part with his treasures. Then, Mike and Frank tour an amazing collection of rare, retro automobiles. Mike is thrilled about discovering a famous cartoonist’s sketchbook that could be the jackpot they’ve been waiting for. But before they start laying out the cash, they have to make sure it’s the real deal. And, after taking a big gamble on buying a huge pottery collection in Atlanta, the guys find out what their new thousand-dollar pottery collection is really worth.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 11 - Fill'er Up
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Fill'er Up

    S1:E11

    After a couple of days without a decent pick, Mike and Frank look up a Georgia collector they’ve heard about. He’s got a storage shed that’s jam-packed with curios and movie memorabilia from his family’s drive-in theater. Also, during a record cold snap in rural Florida, the guys tour Wayne’s awesome collection of vehicles. But is anything for sale? And, on a property full of tractors and signs, the guys scour a treasure-filled outbuilding that seems too good to be true, then hatch a plan to get the owner to sell.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. American Pickers Season 1 Episode 12 - Leland's Cafe
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Leland's Cafe

    S1:E12

    Danielle has a sketchy lead. She’s found an incredible collection but the bad news is it’s owned by a reluctant seller. However, once inside the man’s jam-packed barn, Mike finds two very rare bikes. One is a turn-of-the-century wood rim bicycle and the other, an even rarer 1880s high-wheeler. Can he keep a poker face and strike a deal? Also, Mike and Frank return to pick from Leland, the WWII vet in the Big Bear episode where they bought a sword and saddle. Leland and his daughter invited them back. Mike and Frank bring him a special gift they picked up earlier…and find more treasures at his place.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 1 - Art of the Deal
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Art of the Deal

    S2:E1

    Mike and Frank comb through a master collector's untouched outbuildings in North Carolina. After getting past a few petrified hams they find a true gem, a 1950 Studebaker that Mike falls in love with. But can Mike negotiate a deal at a price that makes sense? Mike then becomes obsessed with a 1934 pre-Airstream trailer and the negotiation becomes a classic in its own right. Next, hoping to sell a choice vintage sign, they pay a visit to friend and NASCAR champion Ryan Newman, who has a surprise of his own for the guys.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 4 - Smooth Operators
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Smooth Operators

    S2:E4

    As the guys are winding down their trip through the South, Danielle finds them the mother lode of rare motorbike parts in an old warehouse packed with new vintage Harley stock. Can they convince the sentimental and savvy owner Billy to part with some choice items? The guys make an incredible discovery guaranteed to impress their friend and NASCAR champion Ryan Newman. Plus there's plenty more finds on the 11-acre property littered with racecars and jam-packed outbuildings. And, back in Iowa, Mike and Frank have a field day scouring an incredible collection of one of their decorator clients. But will they spend all their money before coming across the real treasure?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 5 - Getting the Boot
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Getting the Boot

    S2:E5

    While in Kansas, the guys comb through a promising farmyard littered with stuff but are frustrated when they find nothing at all to buy. Their luck changes when they meet demolition expert Johnny Walker. His collection is staggering. But will he agree to part with a rare grave marker and giant 300-pound boot? The next day, Johnny refers the guys to his collector neighbors. Junior’s magnificent oilcan collection leaves Frank speechless, but unfortunately so does his sky-high prices. Morris on the other hand proves to be in a wheeling and dealing mood when the guys pull into the old service station that now houses his sprawling collection of automotive memorabilia.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 6 - Easy Riders
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Easy Riders

    S2:E6

    Mike and Frank are in Missouri, heading towards an inherited old farm with plenty of promise. But then Danielle calls with news about an ultimate prize. She’s tracked down a prolific collector with a rare 1937 Harley Knucklehead. Close to their target, and revved up about the classic bike, the guys agree to speed pick the old farm before moving on. But once there, Mike gets lost in multiple outbuildings filled with possibilities. Everything is for sale–but anything of value? Down the road, their next pick is with a self-made man who keeps his incredible collection of “mantiques” in a 1920s Ford dealership and theatre from the same era. The guys are in pick heaven…and when they spot the Harley Knucklehead, high-roller negotiations begin. Can they seal the deal? And finally, in spite of the unwelcoming sign on her sprawling property, Darlene is anything but.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 7 - Psychic Pickings
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Psychic Pickings

    S2:E7

    While picking in Missouri, the guys stop in at Sam and Stan’s steel yard where the father-son duo takes them on a high-speed golf cart tour of their massive hangar and outbuildings, loaded with heaps of metal and rusty junk. But can Mike and Frank uncover anything worth buying? The team goes freestyling and comes across an old farm where the owners are about to have an auction and badly need Frank and Mike’s help. And, in Illinois they come across Greg, who claims he’s a psychic picker. He’s filled his mammoth home, a former prison, with rare objects and cultural artifacts. But is anything for sale? Plus the guys challenge Danielle to sell an old Studebaker they had picked. Does she rise to it?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 8 - One Pony Town
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - One Pony Town

    S2:E8

    Thanks to his vast collection of stuffed animals and weird curios, lifelong picker and yard sale aficionado Lester is known by his neighbors as the “spooky collector.” Tension builds between Mike and Frank over the value of the animals, but both are thrilled to comb through his jam-packed outbuildings. Later on, the guys visit a hard-core Illinois collector who says he wants to downsize. But although his overcrowded building is technically for sale, he doesn’t seem ready to part with anything. Missing family and friends, the guys pay a return visit to their “picking mamma,” Judy. While scouring her mammoth former factory home, they have a great time, do great business and get a surprise. Plus an appraiser gives Mike some impressive news about a tiny stuffed horse.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 9 - Hobo Jack
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Hobo Jack

    S2:E9

    Concerned about slow sales and high expenses, Danielle tells the guys they need to step up their game and make some serious money. Mike and Frank feel the pressure. They uncover lots of great stuff in Tony’s sprawling Illinois collection, but not the big-ticket item they’re looking for. It doesn’t get much better in a small town they come across. There, they spot some great vintage garage signs, and although they’re not for sale, Ken has room after room of unusual items, including an early bicycle and rare Victorian-era erotica. But their luck really changes when Danielle calls with a lead about Hobo Jack. When the guys walk into his hidden, heavily wooded overgrown property, they are surprised by his incredible collection. But will they find the mother lode they’ve been looking for?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 10 - Laurel and Hardy
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Laurel and Hardy

    S2:E10

    Danielle has asked for a raise, but Mike and Frank delay a decision until they see how successful they are with the next trip she sends them on–through Kentucky. First they visit a serious collector who, after a life-altering incident, is definitely in the mood to sell. They also then stop in at the geodesic dome home of biker couple Tracey and Paul. They only have an hour to scour the massive collection but that’s more than enough time for Mike and Frank to find their most unusual items. They also visit two spunky retirees who live in a former honky-tonk spot that’s complete with a stage and a sprawling toy collection. Their eventual haul includes a KISS pinball machine, a vintage steam-powered corn popper and massive Laurel and Hardy costume heads. Finally, Frank and Mike “interview” Danielle to discuss her raise….and torture her a little more.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 11 - Frank Flips
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - Frank Flips

    S2:E11

    The guys are in Kentucky, and they’re driving Danielle crazy. Whenever she comes up with a new lead, they toss a coin to decide whether or not they’ll go. At their first stop, the guys pick the storage locker of a fellow picker named 2D. He not only has an eclectic collection but enjoys it from the comfort of his own hot tub, right in the middle of the storage unit. Also in Kentucky, Mike and Frank visit a woman who hopes to clear out some of her late father’s collection. And finally, they end up at a Wisconsin farm caught up in the weird world of “Hippie Tom” where they find themselves in one of the oddest haggling sessions of their careers. Meanwhile, Mike and Frank invent their own hilarious behind-the-wheel dance moves while Danielle plots some revenge for the guys’ coin toss antics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 12 - Mike's Breakdown
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Mike's Breakdown

    S2:E12

    Mike dives into an amazing Michigan collection but Frank seems to have lost his picking mojo. The guys visit an incredible Wisconsin property that features a reconstituted vintage town. And, the only thing better than Ted’s quirky small town gas station is his one-of-a-kind home where everything is for sale. Frank senses engine trouble with the van while Mike ignores the signs and ends up on his hands and knees.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. American Pickers Season 2 Episode 13 - Pint-Sized Picker
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Pint-Sized Picker

    S2:E13

    Danielle is jealous when the guys take Mike’s young nephew on his first pick instead of her. But 12-year-old Rhesa is thrilled, especially when the trio starts exploring Danny Bean’s sprawling property. The pressure is on. And with junk piled to the rafters, and with expert tips from Mike and Frank, Rhesa dives in to prove his mettle. Later, after a ferry ride across Lake Michigan, the guys visit packrat Tim and his 10,000 square feet of junk. And although he says he wants to make room for his grandkids, it doesn’t seem like he’s ready to part with anything. And finally, the guys scour a 14-bedroom 1890s home and barn that used to belong to a famous opera singer. There’s plenty of old stuff on the sprawling property. But are there any treasures hidden among all the vintage junk? Meanwhile, back at the shop, it’s payback time for Danielle.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Invisible Pump" is the best rated episode of "American Pickers". It scored 8/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/8/2010. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Mole Man".