7.2/1074 votes#1 - Big Bear
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/18/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/1057 votes#2 - Super Scooter
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/25/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/1057 votes#3 - White Castle on the Farm
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 2/1/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/1058 votes#4 - Invisible Pump
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/8/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/1052 votes#5 - Back Breaker
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/15/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/1051 votes#6 - Mole Man
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 3/1/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1051 votes#7 - Frank's Gamble
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 3/8/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.0/1053 votes#8 - 5 Acres of Junk
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/15/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/1040 votes#9 - Bigfoot in Alabama
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/29/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/1041 votes#10 - Know When to Fold
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 3/29/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/1043 votes#11 - Fill'er Up
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 4/5/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/1042 votes#12 - Leland's Cafe
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 4/5/2010
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of American Pickers Season 1
Every episode of American Pickers Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of American Pickers Season 1!
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...
Genre:Reality
Network:History
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Big Bear" is the best rated episode of "American Pickers" season 1. It scored 7.2/10 based on 74 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 1/18/2010. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Super Scooter".