From The Associated Press:
Michael Jackson’s glittery glove up for auction

In the on-again/off-again world of the Michael Jackson auction—it’s on again. Well, at least the sale of one of his gloves is on. It will be included in Julien’s Auctions November “Music Icons” sale. This isn’t the right-handed one with hand-sewn crystals. This is a left-handed one that Jackson wore for a TV special celebrating Motown’s 25th anniversary. Jackson was wearing it when he performed his famous moonwalk for the first time on television. Also up for sale are some Jimi Hendrix lyrics and a Madonna demo tape.

From The Huffington Post:
Top Ten: Celebrity Collectibles

A fun list of the celebrity collectibles that have brought in the most money at auction. They range from number 10, a Jim Hendrix guitar that sold in 2007 for $480,000; the ruby-red slippers Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” (number six); and the little black Givenchy number that Audrey Hepburn wore in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s (number five). And in first place? Let’s just say it went for $2.23 million.

From Bloomberg:
Vintage Bugatti Le Mans Racer May Fetch $3.4 Million at Auction

Vroom. Vroom. A 1912 Bugatti driven by the company’s founder, Ettore, in the 1912 Le Mans will be sold at a Bonhams auction next month. Antique auto auctions have been largely immune to the economic downturn. This 5-liter Type 18 is expected to have collectors drooling. A 1913 Type 18 went for €2.4 million ($3.4 million) in February.

From The New York Times:
Bidder Pays $34,900 for ‘Mein Kampf’

When Adolf Hitler was in prison in 1925, he got a prepublication copy of “Mein Kampf.” Being the wonderful human being he was, he signed it and gave it another inmate. This autographed copy was sold to an anonymous bidder for almost $35,000.

From Bloomberg:
Christie’s Offers $5.7 Million Saint Laurent Art in Second Sale

It’s designer Yves Saint Laurent art auction redux. Remember back in February when the YSL Christie’s auction brought in a whopping $485 million? Well, there’s more. In November, another 1,200 items will be on the block. The proceeds from this sale will go toward HIV research and the battle to stop AIDS.

From The North County (California) Times:
GAMING: After loss to rival, Upper Deck to stay in baseball card business

The Upper Deck card company may have lost its licensing agreement with Major League Baseball, but it still has one with the baseball players’ union. This means it will continue producing cards with players’ pictures. Upper Deck’s marketing director says there will be Upper Deck cards for 2010. The MLB now has an exclusive agreement with Topps, which can use team and league logos and show players in their uniforms.

From The Associated Press via Auction Central News:
Hurting Ohio historical society sells off old cars

Looking for some swell wheels? Cleveland’s Western Reserve Historical Society is auctioning off 19 classic cars to reduce a budget deficit. There’s a 1956 Gullwing Mercedes-Benz, a 1930 Belanger Indianapolis Racer and a 1930 Bugatti touring car. It’s believed the Bugatti may the only one in existence. And the ’56 Mercedes? It might sell for $450,000. The sale is not without controversy, however. The cars are part of the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum collection. Supporters contend that the auction will “dismantle” the museum.

From The Guardian (UK):
Room service: Berlin hotel tells artists to pay for stay with artwork, not cash

Picasso would pay for meals by doodling on a napkin. Van Gogh gave sketches to his pencil vendors. And now a five-star German hotel is continuing the tradition. Out-of-town artists can get a pricey room if they leave behind one of their works. Turner Prize winner Douglas Gordon was the first artist-in-hotel. He designed a neon sign. A couple used 400 pieces by their students and teachers to cover the room. And then there is the horse’s head. Hmm. Wonder if this includes the honor bar.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Join WorthPoint on Twitter and Facebook.

Then, the 2008 seasons happened. Not only did the Rays end their losing ways, but they also won their division—a division with both the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. As I write this article, the Rays are in the ALCS up on the Boston Red Sox 3-to-1, one win away from going to the World Series.

From worst to first—how did the Rays do it? Young players have helped give the Rays a new winning image.
Here are collectibles from some of the rising youngsters on this Rays team.

• Evan Longoria—If you’re looking for collectibles to invest in, Evan Longoria memorabilia might be for you. Since making his debut earlier this season, the youngster hit .272 over 122 games with 27 home runs and 85 RBI. In his first two postseason at bats, Longoria hit two home runs, becoming just the second player in MLB history to accomplish this feat.

An array of Longoria is still available at very reasonable prices. For instance, an autographed Evan Longoria baseball can be found for less than $100. A signed bat can be purchased for close to $150. If Longoria’s career stays on its current path, these collectibles will skyrocket in value. Invest now, and it could pay off later.

• Carl Crawford—Even though Carl Crawford has been playing since 2002 and is the longest tenured member of the Rays, he’s still fairly young at 27 years old. Every season, Crawford has improved considerably, and he’s established himself as a true MLB All-Star. His future is bright, and he seems poised to keep improving.

Like Longoria, Crawford’s collectibles can still be found at affordable prices. If you’re looking to invest in Crawford memorabilia, you can buy autographed baseballs for around $80 each. His rookie cards are still very cheap, and they could make for great investments. As the Rays continue to have success, Carl Crawford’s talent will no longer be a secret. Think about investing in his collectibles soon.

• B.J. Upton—At 24 years old, this center fielder looks to be at the center of the Rays’ future success. In 2008, Upton hit .273 and stole 44 bases over the course of 145 games. However, the youngster still has a lot to learn. On two occasions, manager Joe Maddon disciplined the center fielder for a lack of hustle. I expect Upton to get past these growing pains and to have a successful future.

Since B.J. Upton is less proven than others on this list, his collectibles can be found at very low prices. Admittedly, he isn’t guaranteed to be successful. However, he seems to have all the talent necessary to have a great career. Pick up his rookie cards now while you can still get them for a few bucks at your local collectible shop.

Eric Brantner is a baseball fan and freelance writer living in Houston.

Other stories by Eric Brantner:
Chicago Cubs Collectibles

Antique Baseball Gloves

Red Sox Collectibles

Brett Favre Collectibles

Honus Wagner
Sports E-cards

Olympic Baseball Collectibles

Sports Collectibles Memories

Yankee Stadium Legacy Cards

Brett Favre collectibles

Sultan of Swat Collectibles

Mannings Spawn NFL Collectibles

The grading of sports cards has become a widely accepted method for verifying a card’s condition and authenticity. Grading was first introduced to the hobby in 1991 by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) of Newport Beach, Calif. PSA is a company spun off from Professional Coin Grading Service. It was first thought having an independent firm grading sports cards would do more damage to the hobby than help. However, by now, many have found it to be the basis for trading all sports cards of value.

To grade a card, you send it to a third-party company for authentication and state its condition. This company does not buy or sell cards as a business and is independent and credible.

Grading has many aspects. If any type of alteration to a card is evident, the card will be either rejected or placed in a holder without a number grade. In the second case, it will be noted that while authentic, there is “evidence of trimming,” that it has been “altered” or something similar. Unlike other hobbies, where cleaning or restoration of the collectible is widely accepted, in the sports card area, there is no allowance for any type of modification to a card. It must be exactly as issued to be graded.

The sports card industry has four accepted grading companies and in order of recognition, are usually ranked PSA first, then Sportscard Guaranty (SGC), Global Authentication Inc. (GAI) and Beckett. All are independent companies that strictly grade and authenticate sports cards, other types of cards and sports memorabilia. PSA is the oldest and most widely known. They are experts in all areas of the field, but it is SGC that is widely recognized for its special expertise in 19th-century cards and collectibles. This isn’t saying the other companies aren’t good, but SGC is considered by many to be the most knowledgeable in 19th-century material. Beckett is popular for grading newer (1980-present) sports cards, and GAI is very reputable in all areas.

These companies vary in their philosophy, history and approach. PSA was the first on the market. Many people collect just PSA cards, so the company has that edge. Beckett was the first to use true half-point grading ranging from 1-10 and is one of the last to enter the grading market. New card collectors seem to like the half-point grading. SGC uses a 1-100 scale that is equal to the half-point system, though I just feel it took people a while to get use to that system, thus giving Beckett the edge in new-card gradings. PSA, because of its longevity, and GAI have strong expertise in pre-1969 cards. To go one further, if choosing 19th-century cards, SGC would be first, PSA second, GAI third and Beckett fourth.

Grading a card can add great value to your collectible. At first, most people assume that one would grade just the star players, such as Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and so on, but there is great potential for grading the common players in each set, too. Each of these companies have what they call a set registry. Collectors can register their sets and compete against others for top spots (highest-graded cards) in each year. Card sets have been produced since the late 1800s, so collecting everything would be extremely expensive. Some collectors pick a year and set out to get the best card in that set.

How does grading increase sports card value?

You may ask how can a card increase significantly if graded? Well, with all the online auctions, major auction houses and very strong prices of rare sports memorabilia and cards, third-party grading gives buyers confidence that they are getting what they are paying for. I notice a significant difference in prices realized when selling a graded card in comparison to a similar ungraded card. The reason, I think, for grading midgrade cards is that cards on a 1-10 scale will grade 3-6 because a buyer doesn’t have the card in front of him or her when bidding. But if the card is graded a 5 by a reputable company, the bidder would know what to expect condition wise and be confident there are no hidden faults with the card. In other words, peace of mind is usually why cards in these grades bring higher money at auction.

Meanwhile, for cards graded 7-9, especially 8s and 9s of cards pre-1969, the card grade adds value in that the buyers know they are not only getting a high-quality card, they are also buying cards that are considered investment grade and have potential to increase in value.

Cards graded 9 and 10 bring top prices because they are usually the best of the best and the population (another factor in prices) is very low. The population is the number of cards in a particular grade in comparison to all the cards being graded. One example is if there are 2,000 of a certain card graded, and there are 3 graded 9 and 2 graded 10 and the rest are 8.5 and lower. When a 9 goes up for auction, it is not only being sought after by investors, but by people seeking to get the highest graded for their set in that year.

Ultimately, though, it comes down to supply and demand. I have seen common players from 1955 (and many other years) that would have a value of $15 if not graded, sell for as high as $4,000 graded as a 9 or 10. It isn’t because the producer made fewer such cards, it is just because getting one in a high grade is very difficult.

The most popular example of this I can use is a 1952 Topps Andy Pafko, card #1. Usually cards #1 and the last card of a set are tough to find in good condition because they are damaged from being on the top or bottom of a pile, have rubber-band marks and so forth. This particular card is worth about $500 in midgrade condition, and if graded up to the equivalent of a 4.5 grade, would sell for about the same price of $500. It’s when you get into high-grade examples that the price soars. Recently, this particular card graded an 8 sold for $81,000. It is a tough card in high grade, and set collectors along with investors are aggressively after it.

There are many cards that sell for 20-100 times their value when graded and in high grade. I could list hundreds of cards, but the main factors in determining high values for cards of players that aren’t major stars is the population of the card in the grade desired, along with the number of people collecting that set or player. You can have a very low-population card in high grade that won’t necessarily get a very high price if the set the card is from is one that is not popular with collectors. In that case, even though there is a low supply, there is just as low, if not lower, demand for it.

Again, while many star players in high grade bring high prices, it isn’t just the major stars that are increased in value by grading. The same is true for many common player cards. As with all hobbies and investments, investing in sports cards should be thoroughly researched before jumping in with two feet. Pick the areas of collecting and having your cards graded that suit your needs and desires.

Grading has many variables

To sum it all up, grading has many variables—the card, population of the card once graded and credibility of the grading company. I am not saying any one company is better than any other. Still, overall results show that if you take a pre-1970 card in the same grade but in the four different holders, chances are the PSA would get the highest price, SGC second highest, GAI third and Beckett fourth. Meanwhile, on post-1970 cards, it would be a close call between PSA and Beckett for top prices, SGC would be next and GAI last. I think this is just a matter of grader preference.

I have included pictures of miscellaneous cards that have been graded by the top four grading companies so that you can see what they look like in the various holders. There are more than these four companies, but the value of other companies’ high grades in comparison to these vary greatly. These four are considered the most credible companies in the industry. So saving a couple bucks and getting cards graded elsewhere will reflect greatly on the prices you can realize.

I noted the ratings by era not to confuse people but to show the different types of collectors and their preferences. This is an arbitrary rating, but I feel most would agree with the order I placed them by era.

While grading your cards can greatly increase your collection value and give it much more appeal to a potential buyer, it can also be very costly if you don’t get the grades you expect. So as noted above, proceed with caution, and always consult a professional for assistance so you don’t end up spending money on grading and not get any benefit from the service.

While prices for the basic living necessities keep rising faster, the market for high end baseball cards seem to be growing more and more. Unlike when times were tough back in the early 1980’s when high end sports cards prices were at their lowest, this time around the baseball card market is just the opposite.

Then and Now

In the early 1980’s, when economic times were tough, prices of the highest valued cards fell and caused many dealers of that time to go out of business, or not see enough profit to afford to stay in business. The market right now in comparable economic times is booming. Recent major auction house prices for some of most recognized baseball cards continue to set record prices. To use 1 prime example, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card #311 (see image); back in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s, this card in near mint/mint condition sold for $1,500. It wasn’t easy to find a buyer at that price either. Recently a PSA graded near mint/mint 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle sold at auction for $98,177.13 , passing one previously sold for $96,000.

A Sound Investment

The market for high-end baseball cards has grown to the point of being a sound investment and I think that is why we are seeing the opposite effect from the early 1980’s in the sales of quality cards. Back in the 1980’s it was almost impossible to name three cards that would sell for over $10,000. Today, you can come up with thousands of cards that would sell in excess of $10,000 in this market.

Of the cards for players that are recognizable (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, etc), all have cards of value in excess of $10,000. There are many other cards that are not recognizable by most that come from early production, such as various tobacco cards produced in the late 1800’s where you got a baseball card in a pack of cigarettes or chewing tobacco. Many of these cards have not survived the course of time, thus making them rare.

Paying Top Prices

Collectors and investors have been paying top prices to obtain the rare and big name player cards in the best condition possible. In my opinion, this is part of the reason for the sound investment in baseball cards. Their track history of value has proven to increase, plus the fact that you have a hard asset in your hand. If you invest in 10 shares of a companies stock you have a piece of paper that says you own 10 shares, not really something you would want to display in your house, but if you have Babe Ruth card (see image), it is something you not only invest in but take pride in showing to others. Aside from the investment factor having cards of favorite player’s fuel interest in the history of the game, it may bring back childhood memories, and keeps an ongoing interest in the current players for future investment.

Collecting Types

Many people do not see how collecting high-end baseball cards are an investment, but as long as there is some type of sentimental value attached with certain cards/players, the desire to own their favorites will never die. True card collectors who want to own many cards usually steer more toward mid-grade cards, by that I mean they buy cards that would rate 3-6 on a scale of 10, that way they still get a reasonably nice looking card and can afford more of them. Generally, the true collector is not looking for investment, then the true collectors with the ability to own the best will buy cards from the 7-10 range, but more likely the 9-10 range if such cards are available to them. It is the collectors that love the hobby, but just can not afford to buy much due to everyday living costs eating up their budget, they usually buy the cards graded 1-3 range, they still have the card they desire and surely not looking for investment purposes.

The investor on the other hand strictly is looking for the highest graded cards of the best sets on the market, for example a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card (pictured PSA 4) would be an investment card but more so in grades 8-10, they are very hard to find in that condition and highly sought after. The one pictured is a nice clean card, still has investment potential but will not see huge increases in price as would one graded 8 or even a 9.

As economic times get tough I see collecting cards to be a good solid investment because of the emotional attachment to the hobby/sport, the fact that you have an item you can display and still holds a good value. You will know that a particular card, what ever it may be, will not be filing for bankruptcy. The board of directors will not be producing more of them, and as time progresses other copies will be destroyed due to natural disasters and people not knowing what they have and discarding them. Just like in other collectibles markets like coins, comics etc. baseball cards produced in 1933 are just that, from 1933 and not reissued as authentic, as more and more disappear from circulation, the value has kept rising and given the track history of the last 20 years baseball cards have seen major increases in value far exceeding that of most stocks, bonds, and commodities.

With the investment history being sound and the fact that you have an original card in your possession when the stock market or economy is not allowing investors to increase their portfolio’s investing in hard assets has become very popular. As stated above, when a specific card is destroyed the value of the surviving ones increase, when a stock certificate is destroyed, another original can be obtained, additionally any board of directors can vote for more shares to be made available, sports cards are only replaceable by purchasing another copy but it still leaves one less available in the market

Any Market is a Good Market for Collecting

I am not saying for everyone to go out and buy baseball cards and look to get rich or that they all go up in value, like all hobbies and investments the card market has its ups and downs. Thorough research and education should be obtained to insure you are buying items that meet your needs, if for investment be sure you consult with experts to assist you, if for collection purposes an experts assistance is always good, collecting cards in both booming and staggering economic times can still be fun and rewarding, you just need to proceed with caution and enjoy the hobby. My next article will focus on grading sports cards and what it has done for the hobby, till then enjoy the hobby.

There’s a smell in the air on certain Spring mornings which reminds me of an ice cream truck that used to roll by my Grandparent’s house in the late 70′s. The other kids poured out of their homes for ice cream, but my Dad always treated me to a pack of ’78 or ’79 Topps cards.

I remember the fateful morning at my other Grandparent’s house when my Dad and my Uncle completed a “deal” whereby my Uncle claimed all of the baseball cards from when they were kids, my Dad got all the Stamps. Dad became a pretty extensive stamp collector through the 1980′s, while Uncle Rick became a baseball card dealer at the start of that decade–man, those were fun times to be involved with baseball cards!

By the mid-80′s my Uncle paid me a wage to help work his tables, and soon after he gave me a couple of feet of space to sell my own cards. I used to help him out at a monthly live auction held in hotels on Long Island as well and I’d get to insert 8-10 lots myself.

I started doing card shows myself in 1989, graduating full-time in 1991 before throwing in the towel in ’93. I was vintage, though little by little I found I had to add some new items to get sales. After that I disappeared from the selling circuit for awhile, finished college, got a job, and discovered eBay in early 2000.

The competition with sports collectibles on eBay was pretty hot at that time, so I can now say it was with a bit of luck I won a mixed lot that included some movie star fan photos from the 1920′s.

Movie collectibles have been my area of specialty since about 2003. My site is filled with Photo Identification Guides of rare and collectible movie cards and collectibles, especially ephemera. I also have a section on my site dedicated to magazine collecting, an area which allowed me to deal with both sports and movie items as well as other items of interest such as literary appearances and coverage of historial events.

I’m a full-time dealer again since 2004 when I left that post-college job. In that time it’s been all early movie collectibles and magazine back issues. It’s been fun.

But I digressed quite a bit there. Anyway, my roots were relevant during that interview with Will Seippel because I found myself smiling at mention of card number 311 and then started shouting “Eddie Mathews!” at my computer screen as he tried to recall card number 407.

That’s the kind of involvement I like! I signed-up for WorthPoint recently on the tails of the initial GoAntiques announcement. I must admit I was intrigued. After listening to the interview tonight I found myself both inquiring about an item for sale here as well as requesting more information about being a Worthologist. Hopefully I can see both of those inquiries to fruition.

Looking forward to hanging around here a lot in times to come!

Cliff Aliperti
things-and-other-stuff.com

It is my pleasure to announce after blogging here and the consistent unabashed plugging of my podcast, that I’ve had the honor of interviewing your very own CEO here at Worthpoint, Will Seippel.
Covered in the show are the GoAntiques merger, plans for Worthpoint’s future, the state of the market and a segment on 1952 Topps Baseball cards.
I hope you get a chance to listen to the show and remain part of the ongoing conversation here.
Click here to listen to the show.

PLEASE NOTE, you won’t be able to hear the show until 2pm Sunday afternoon Eastern Standard Time. It will be archived so the link will go directly to that episode anytime after Sept 6, 08 @ 2pm

Thanks Will!

One of the first questions that might come to mind is “if the cards are virtual and accessible to everyone, how do they get their value?” Topps solves this problem by offering certain collectibles for a short time and in a limited number. This prevents the market for cards from becoming flooded with too many of the same piece. After all, if an unlimited number of Joe DiMaggio rookies could be created, why would anyone pay more than a few cents for it? Limiting the number of downloads preserves the market for Internet baseball cards.

Collectors wishing to sell their virtual baseball cards can do so through online auctions. Of course, potential buyers must have an account at eTopps so the card can be sent to their online portfolio after purchase. All eTopps auctions are monitored by the staff at Topps, and the final prices are averaged to determine the current value of each card.

If owning a card that you can never physically touch doesn’t sound good to you, eTopps has a solution. For the price of shipping and handling, eTopps will physically print your cards and send them to you in plastic sleeves. Printing is typically done at the end of each season. Of course, after you have the physical card, you can no longer sell its virtual version online.

As far as investing in eTopps cards goes, it can be a dicey proposition. (My story on baseball-card collecting as an investment is filled with useful information.) The online market hasn’t quite found its footing yet. There was a period when Topps was producing too many e-cards, and the market fell flat on its face. Recently, eTopps corrected this problem by limiting the run of cards. Some rookie cards, such as that of Albert Pujols, have seen dramatic increases in value. Other cards, such as an Alex Rodriguez eTopps, have flattened or declined in value.

It’s difficult to tell the future of virtual card collecting. I think it’s certainly a novel idea and a fun hobby, but until the market finds itself, I’ll probably stay away from investing in it too heavily.

What do you think of these collectibles? Do you think virtual card collecting is the future of sports memorabilia? Or will this idea fade away in the upcoming years?

Sure, factors such as a player’s statistics, team popularity and the card’s age all play a role in determining a collectibles’ value, but sometimes cards become hot for other reasons. Collectibles may go hot because of media hype. For one reason or another, the media gets in a frenzy over certain cards (typically error or rare cards), and the market for that card goes through the roof. Here are a few examples of cards that have benefited from the media attention.

1. Derek Jeter—How would you like to have Mickey Mantle and George W. Bush watching you to see if you can deliver that big hit? Thanks to the pranksters over at Topps, that’s exactly what the 2007 Derek Jeter baseball card depicts. Jeter is taking a swing while President Bush is standing in the crowd and Mickey Mantle is watching intently from the Yankee dugout. When this collectible was released in early 2007, it seemed as if every news outlet ran a story on it. As a result, it became the hottest card around, and eBay users went crazy for them.

2. Alex Gordon—It’s the card that should have never been. The 2006 Topps set jumped the gun on issuing hot prospect Alex Gordon’s Royals rookie card. There is a rule in place that prevents card manufacturers from issuing a player’s rookie card unless he made the 25-man roster or played in a major league game in the prior season. Alex Gordon didn’t qualify on either count. Topps caught the mistake and pulled the print from production. However, a few of the cards still made it out to the public. The media caught on to the story, and the card skyrocketed in value. Collectors got caught up in the media hype, and they were paying thousands of dollars for this rookie card.

3. Yuki Saitoh—The most recent card to capture the attention of journalists around the country is the 2008 Upper Deck USA set Yuki Saitoh card. Yuki Saitoh isn’t in major league baseball. Nor does he play for an American team. He is a member of the 2007 Japanese Collegiate All Star squad. The media is painting him as the next Dice-K, and collectors are hopping on the bandwagon. Some of his cards are fetching nearly $2,000.

What about you, the reader? Have you seen any collectibles rise in value because of the media attention given to them? Let’s hear about it in the comments.

In past blogs, I have talked a lot about baseball card collecting as a hobby for example my post about starting a baseball card collection. We all know how exciting it can be to start a collection and grow it over the years. However, not everyone views baseball card collecting as a hobby. Some see their card collections as investments that will one day earn them a substantial amount of money. They choose the cards they purchase carefully. In fact, collecting cards for investment purposes is similar to playing the stock market.

• Know the Next Big Thing- We have all heard the success stories of individuals who bought stock in Microsoft or Apple back when almost nobody knew who they were. If you’re collecting cards as an investment, you’re always on the lookout for the next big thing flying under the radar. Recently, I blogged about some rookie cards I believe could be valuable down the road. They may not earn you as much as buying Microsoft stock 20 years ago, but you could earn a pretty penny if you get lucky. According to our own Worthologist Howard Lau, “The current market can be good for investors if they can pick the right players. For example, Jay Bruce & Josh Hamilton would have been a good investment had they been purchased back in 2005.”
• Buy At the Right Time- Just like playing the stock market, collecting baseball cards for investment purposes requires you buy at the right time. You don’t want to get caught up in the hype surrounding a baseball card only to find the card drop in value after the trend is over. Instead, you want to be the person who buys the card when it’s low in value so you can sell it once the frenzy hits. Which brings me to my next point:
• Sell High- Baseball cards are similar to stocks in the way they rise and fall in value. A lot of times, companies will release gimmicky error cards when they publish their new sets. Some of these cards become very hot for a short period of time, selling for large sums of money. However, a year later most of these cards won’t be worth the cardboard they’re printed on. If you see what you believe to be a short term trend, you should sell the card at its peak to get maximum value for it. Always be careful, because the bottom can fall out very fast, and the card will plunge in value. The rule is simple- buy low and sell high.

If you are collecting cards as an investment, you need to know how to store them properly. Read my post about storing baseball cards.

The 1909 Honus Wagner antique card is a 2½-by-2 inches tobacco card issued by the American Tobacco Co. The card stopped being produced in 1911 when Honus Wagner demanded the company cease its production. To this day, it’s still unclear exactly why production was halted. Whether it was because Wagner didn’t like children buying cigarette cards or because he wasn’t being compensated properly, the result is his card is more rare than any other.

During its lifetime, the most famous Honus Wagner card has seen an array of owners. A few baseball collectors and even hockey great Wayne Gretzky have owned this card for a short time before deciding to sell it. Most recently, this piece of baseball history sold for well more than $2 million making it the most valuable baseball card by a long shot.

In recent years, more T206 Honus Wagner cards have come to light. Of course, some of them are forgeries by con artists looking to make a quick fortune. However, some of them have been real, but they weren’t in as good condition as the most popular one. Even still, these less-than-mint cards have sold for several hundred thousand dollars each.

Exceptional card, exceptional player

Beyond its rareness, another reason the Honus Wagner tobacco card is so valuable is Wagner was an exceptional baseball player. He and Ty Cobb were the two best players of this historic era of the game. During his career, Wagner won eight NL batting titles. He averaged over .300 for his entire career, and he hit .344 during his rookie year. Additionally, Honus Wagner was one of the first five players inducted into the Hall of Fame. In short, Honus and his antique tobacco card are legends in both the world of sports and collectibles.

Here are some tips for starting a collection although you shouldn’t count on ever having a Honus Wagner in it.

Still, by taking the right steps, investing in sports collectibles can prove profitable.

Eric Bratner is a baseball fan and freelance writer living in Houston.

Baseball relic cards are essentially the same as a normal card with one major difference. The card contains a piece of game-used memorabilia. For instance, the card may have a tiny square of the player’s uniform affixed to it. Or perhaps the card company will place a piece of a game-used bat on the card. These relic cards come packaged in with a normal set of cards, and they have created a new trend in card buying. Go to any store that sells baseball cards, and you will probably see some card enthusiast feeling up packs of cards. They do this because the packs containing relic cards are slightly different in weight than the typical packs.

Personally, I enjoy relic cards not just for their value, but also for the fact that they’re like owning a piece of baseball history. If the card companies truly are placing game-used memorabilia on the cards, then you own a piece of material that was used to shape a portion of the game’s great history. Sure, it’s not the same thing as owning an actual jersey or a pair of game-worn cleats, but for the modest collector, it’s pretty close.

While most relic cards are fairly similar to one another, last year a set of three cards was issued that stood apart from the rest. Three George Washington DNA relic cards were issued by Topps Allen & Ginter. These DNA cards contained pieces of the first president’s hair. If you can get past the creepiness factor of having a dead person’s hair on your baseball card, the idea is actually pretty cool. In fact, I’m surprised Topps took the chance of some unknowing kid throwing the card away when it issued them to the general public.

At last check, the first of the three cards had been discovered by a collector in Arizona. It was placed in an online auction where it was set to fetch thousands of dollars. With the mainstream media frenzy this card received, you can rest assured Topps Allen & Ginter will have some interesting collectibles cards coming out in the future. Let’s hope the company doesn’t go with anything too creepy.

If you are just beginning your collection, you might want to start by reading my earlier posts:

“How to Start a Baseball Card Collection”

“Where to Find Baseball Cards”

“How to Store Your Baseball Cards”

Identifying the Cards
The first step to cleaning out your baseball-card collection is identifying the cards that don’t suit your needs. Whether it is a duplicate or perhaps a card that just doesn’t flow with the rest of your cards, you should set all of these items aside. Keep in mind, a few good cards surrounded by a bunch of filler is not a worthwhile group. Much like the exercise programs we all start at the beginning of each year, the goal of your spring-cleaning should be to trim the fat.

Know the Price
After identifying the items you no longer need, it becomes necessary to research their value. The Worthopedia guide helps collectors identify the worth of all of their collectibles. Just because a card doesn’t fit into your collection doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get full value for it. For this reason, you should make a list of all the cards you no longer need and the value you expect to receive for them.

Trading Baseball Cards
One popular method of cleaning out a baseball-card collection is trading the unwanted cards with friends or other collectors. It’s like the old saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” In other words, the cards that you no longer want might be the perfect fit in another’s collection. Likewise, the person you are trading with could have some cards that are more suitable for your set. For instance, I prefer collecting older cards, so I could trade my newer cards to someone whose collection focuses around modern items.

– Find Your Desires When beginning the trading process, the first step is to identify cards in the other collector’s set that you desire. These should be cards that you can incorporate seamlessly into your collection. You don’t want to acquire more cards that you will end up not wanting in a few months from now.

– Negotiate Until You’re Happy Trading baseball cards is a long process that involves a lot of negotiation. It’s similar to the trading procedure that takes place in the sport. Teams bargain with one another until they arrive at a deal that satisfies both parties. This is why it is necessary that you research the value of your items that are up for trade. You want to ensure that no one takes advantage of you. Both traders must add in the right pieces to sweeten the deal for the other because negotiation is a two-way street. You have to be willing to give to receive.

– Finish the Transaction After you arrive at a deal that you are happy with, it is time to finish the deal. Exchange the cards, and make sure that you and the other collector are both satisfied. Take the steps necessary to store your cards in a safe manner. You should also organize them in a manner that is consistent with the rest of your collection.

Enjoy Your New Collection!

Doesn’t it feel good to have a nice, clean collection? I always enjoy sprucing up my collection by trimming the fat and injecting some new life into the set. Trading cards really makes the whole collecting process much more fun, and it can create some new bonds with other collectors.

The first step to beginning a baseball card collection is determining the amount of money you want to devote to the cause. Children obviously have much more limited funds than adults, so the scope of their collection might be a bit more limited. The good news is that a collection can be started with even the smallest sum of money. Baseball cards can be found at very affordable prices, if you know where to look. For instance, I acquired the bulk of my collection from a local flea market and from trading cards with my friends at school. Baseball cards are everywhere; you just have to keep your eyes open.

As a child, the growth of my baseball card collection was directly proportional to the allowance I received from my parents. Take note parents- a good way to teach your child the value of money is to give them an allowance and encourage them to pursue a hobby. If they are passionate about that hobby, they will go to extraordinary lengths to protect their valuables. While I was taught the importance of financial prudence at a young age, as all children should be, my parents also understood the significance of being devoted to a hobby. A hobby requires commitment, teaches children the value of money, and provides an alternative to mind numbing video games and troublesome friends.

Therefore, every week, whether it was at a flea market, a garage sale, or a card shop, I sought out baseball cards, within the boundaries of my budget, that I could use to supplement my collection. Access to a pricing guide is a good thing because you want to ensure that you don’t overpay for a card. If a dealer thinks you are a novice who has no concept of a card’s value, he will try his best to get a large amount of money out of your pocket. Purchasing baseball cards is a process that requires knowledge and the ability to negotiate. Don’t ever be intimidated by one of these so called expert dealers. Remember, they are trying to maximize their profits. If you don’t feel comfortable with a price, let them know.

This leads to the second step of beginning a baseball card collection, choosing a focal point. Rather than sporadically acquiring baseball cards that have no relation to one another, most collectors prefer to build their collection around a central theme. Sometimes collections are focused on individual players, teams, or time periods. My collection began with a strong focus on Nolan Ryan. Since I lived within walking distance of his hometown, it was only natural that he was my favorite player.

Anytime I saw a Nolan Ryan card that I didn’t already own, I would do everything in my power to acquire it. I would trade cards with my friends, do extra chores around the house, and beg for advances on my allowance so that I could get that card bearing Nolan Ryan’s image. Whether it was cards from his early days, special editions commemorating a no-hitter, or the Nolan Knows Bo series, I slowly acquired everything I could. Note the word “slowly.”

Baseball card collecting is a slow process that takes a long time to develop. Just keep your eyes open and remain committed, and you will find the right cards to enhance your collection.

Part 1 “How to Start a Baseball Collection”

Part 2 “Where to Find Baseball Cards”

In this third part of “Starting a Baseball Card Collection,” I want to discuss how you can store your cards in a way that will preserve their integrity and keep them organized.

Many of my cards are stored in baseball card albums. These albums are similar to photo albums, and are popular because they provide an easy way to display your collection. These binders are full of plastic sheets that hold 9 cards a piece. You can simply turn through the pages and view the cards in your collection.

It is worth noting that I do not keep my most valuable cards in these albums. I use the baseball card albums to hold my lower/mid-level cards. The reason for this is that the pages are handled and flipped through so often that you run the risk of a card being damaged from excessive handling and overexposure. Maybe I am a little overprotective, but I don’t like to take chances with my more valuable cards.

I also have a large number of cards stored in individual plastic sleeves. There are 2 main varieties of these plastic sleeves: soft and hard. I like to place my more expensive cards first in a soft sleeve and then into a hard plastic covering. These hard plastic sleeves, also known as top loaders, are an excellent choice for protecting your mint cards because they protect the fragile corners from getting bent.

Serious collectors may wish to take their protective measures even further by using screw down cases. These cases are typically reserved for the most expensive baseball cards as they can be fairly expensive. A screw down case consists of 2 thick plastic sheets that screw together to hold the card firmly in place. If you have a rare, pricey card that you want to make sure no one ever touches, a screw down case will provide you with the security that you require.

Using all of these plastic sleeves leads to the obvious question: What do I do with all of these cards in sleeves? In order to best protect your investment, you need to buy special baseball card storage boxes. These boxes come in a variety of sizes to meet your collection’s storage demands.

In addition to providing protection for your collection, these boxes also help you keep your cards organized. You can organize your cards by year, team, brand, or price range. What is important is that you organize it in a way that makes sense for you. An organized collection is easier to preserve and manage because you always know where all of your cards are.

There are a variety of ways to store your baseball cards. The method you choose is determined by the value of your collection, the space you have for storage, and your budget. The main thing is that you do not leave your cards exposed to damage from outside forces. Store your investment in a cool, dark place so that they do not lose their value from heat and light damage. Remember, an organized collection is a happy collection!

Online supply sources:

BCW Supplies – online source for purchasing albums

Pro-Mold Direct – online source for purchasing screw down cases

Richard Gossage, better to known to baseball fans as Goose Gossage, played Major League Baseball over 22 seasons for 9 teams. Many baseball enthusiasts credit him as the individual who paved the way for the closer in baseball. He pitched in over 1,000 games, had 310 saves, and 115 wins in relief. In short, his career was outstanding. He became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2000, but he was not elected until this year, 2008. He is the only player represented in the 2008 Hall of Fame class. As a celebration of his induction, I thought it would be fitting to discuss some of my favorite Goose Gossage baseball cards.

• 1973 Topps Rookie Card- Card #174 from the 1973 Topps set shows the rookie Rich Gossage on the Chicago White Sox. I always enjoy rookie cards, and although this card doesn’t fetch a high price, it’s still an important part of the Goose Gossage baseball card collection. This is where his Hall of Fame career began.
• 1984 Donruss- Goose Gossage is commonly recognized for his time spent with the New York Yankees. These were some of Gossage’s greatest years as a pitcher. He had a consistently low ERA, and he began to collect numerous saves. This card was also from his last year as a Yankee(during that stretch, he did go back in 1989.)
• 1999 Fleer Sports Illustrated- The 1999 Fleer Sports Illustrated Goose Gossage autograph card has become very popular among Gossage collectors. Some estimates suggest the card is worth around $30 in mint condition. The card shows Gossage in his Yankees uniform pitching off the mound, and it contains the signature along the bottom. This card was issued years after his legendary career ended, and it’s a great commemoration of a Hall of Fame career.

Click here to read my post about starting a baseball card collection

Click here to read about storing antique baseball cards

1. Flea Market/ Antique Village- Growing up, I did the majority of my selling at a local flea market and antique village. I would go with my parents who would rent out a booth to sell some of their own items, and I would put the cards I wanted to sell out on the table. In the days leading up to my trip to the flea market, I would conduct diligent research determining the value of my cards and how much I wanted to sell them for. It is important to know what you want for each card and to make sure you don’t settle for a lesser price. For the most part, the customers at antique villages tend to provide a good selling experience. Sure, there will be some negotiation, but they typically respect you as a collector and don’t try to undervalue your collection.
2. Auction- Local auctions provide a great avenue for baseball card collectors to sell their valuables. Many auction houses have weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly events. The clientele are typically knowledgeable collectors that are looking for pieces to supplement their assortment. Auctions that have good sized crowds can help you get good value for your items. The reason for this is that the larger the crowd is, the more bidders there are to drive the price up. Additionally, selling your baseball cards this way is beneficial because it’s a hands-off experience for you. The auctioneer does all of the work, and you get to sit back and collect the reward.
3. Online- In a market that is shifting online, sellers can adapt by selling their baseball cards on the internet. In the past, some sellers, such as me, have been wary of selling their items this way. You had to deal with buyers that would back out of the deal, complain about the condition of the items, and make the whole experience a nightmare. However, WorthPoint makes it easy for baseball card specialists to sell their items online.

Selling your baseball cards is an important step in maintaining your collection. It helps you eliminate the cards you no longer need and raise some money for future card purchases.

Additional Resources:

WorthPoint Buy & Sell Board

Part 1- How to Start a Baseball Card Collection

Part 2- Where to Find Baseball Cards

Part 3- Storing Baseball Cards

With the spring season fully in swing, there is no better time to do some cleaning of your baseball cards collection. Admit it, you have a few cards in your collection that you don’t like, don’t want, and don’t need. Remember, the best collections are the ones that are focused and organized so the occasional spring cleaning is necessary for the appearance of your set.

Part 1- How to Start a Baseball Card Collection

Part 2- Where to Find Baseball Cards

Identifying the Cards

The first step to cleaning out your baseball cards collection is identifying the cards that don’t suit your needs. Whether it is a duplicate or perhaps a card that just doesn’t flow with the rest of your cards, you should set all of these items aside. Keep in mind, a few good cards surrounded by a bunch of filler is not a worthwhile group. Much like the exercise programs we all being around this time of year, the goal of your spring cleaning should be to trim the fat.

Know the Price

After identifying the items you no longer need, it becomes necessary to research their value. The Worthopedia guide helps collectors identify the worth of all of their collectibles. Just because a card doesn’t fit into your collection doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get full value for it. For this reason, you should make a list of all of the cards you no longer need and the value you expect to receive for them.

Trading Baseball Cards

One popular method of cleaning out a baseball cards collection is trading the unwanted cards with friends or other collectors. It’s like the old saying goes “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” In other words, the cards that you no longer want might be the perfect fit in another’s collection. Likewise, the person you are trading with could have some cards that are more suitable for your set. For instance, I prefer collecting older cards, so I could trade my newer cards to someone whose collection focuses around modern items.

• Find Your Desires- When beginning the trading process, the first step is to identify cards in the other collector’s set that you desire. These should be cards that you can incorporate seamlessly into your collection. You don’t want to acquire more cards that you will end up not wanting in a few months from now.

• Negotiate Until You’re Happy- Trading baseball cards is a long process that involves a lot of negotiation. It’s similar to the trading procedure that takes place in the sport. Teams bargain with one another until they arrive at a deal that satisfies both parties. This is why it is necessary that you research the value of your items that are up for trade. You want to ensure that no one takes advantage of you. Both traders must add in the right pieces to sweeten the deal for the other because negotiation is a 2 way street. You have to be willing to give to receive.

• Finish the Transaction- After you arrive at a deal that you are happy with, it is time to finish the deal. Exchange the cards and make sure that you and the other collector are both satisfied. Take the steps necessary to store your new cards in a safe manner (click here to learn more about storing your baseball cards.) You should also organize them in a manner that is consistent with the rest of your collection.

Enjoy Your New Collection!

Doesn’t it feel good to have a nice, clean collection? I always enjoy sprucing up my collection by trimming the fat and injecting some new life into the set. Trading cards really makes the whole collecting process much more fun, and it can create some new bonds with other collectors.

References: James Beckett, “The Official 2000 Price Guide to Baseball Cards, 19th Edition,” House of Collectibles, 1999; James Beckett and Theo Chen (eds.), “Beckett Baseball Price Guide, Number 20,” Beckett Publications, 1998; Allan Kaye and Michael McKeever, “Baseball Card Price Guide, 1997,” Avon Books, 1996; Bob Lemke (ed.), “1999 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, 8th Edition,” Krause Publications, 1998; “Sports Collectors Digest, 1999 Baseball Card Price Guide,” 13th Edition, Krause Publications, 1999.

– Harry L. Rinker

“Official Price Guide to Collectibles”