Baseball cards are valuable because of the history of the sport and the different stars that have played the games. Some of the most valuable cards belong to Babe Ruth who died in a plane crash in 1948. He is the all-time home run champ and still ranks in the top ten in all-time hits.
This video takes a look at the market of baseball cards, how many cards are in the hobby, the different types of cards, and the value of the cards.
When Did the Baseball Card Market Begin in the United States?
It’s no secret that sports teams use players to make money. Traditionally, the team pays for player services using money and then hopes that they develop into stars. In order to pay for these players, teams have relied on advertising dollars to cover the costs of the services they pay for. That strategy hasn’t changed much in recent years, but at least one company is betting on a new medium to be a game-changer.
What Makes a Baseball Card Valuable?
Generally, new baseball cards are worth less than old baseball cards. The primary reason new baseball cards are worth less is because they are made for mass appeal. Therefore, the baseball card is in the center of the pack and a majority of the cards have some kind of flaws.
What Old Baseball Cards are Worth Money?
Most baseball cards are very cheap to own and collect. The rarest cards are the ones with a high price. There are very few cards with the name Honus Wagner on it. This is what makes it valuable.
The Honus Wagner card was initially created as a promotional card that was given out with a pack of cigarettes, but Honus did not smoke himself, so he asked for his card to be taken off the lineup. The decision to take Honus off the cards was a major factor in the decreased print runs with his name on the cards. The value of a Honus Wagner card is worth millions today, so anyone who collects baseball cards should look to see what cards they might have in their collection.
Trading cards have been around for around 120 years. The very first card was given out for free at the World’s Fair, and the first major professional sports teams started giving trading cards out during the 1940’s. It was not until the 1970’s that trading cards really started taking off.
Baseball Cards Worth Money from the 80’s and 90’s? (Most Valuable Baseball Cards)
A Baseball card can be a really great investment. Some cards from the 80s and 90s can bring quite a return. A rookie card from a player who goes on to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame could be quite valuable. Below are some of the most valuable cards from these decades.
Is There Still a Market for Modern Cards?
This is the reason why the number of active players in the major leagues has been decreasing over the past two decades. The main reason for the decrease is that fewer and fewer high school players play baseball today. Because of this, the market for baseball cards has shrunk.
Will Baseball Cards Go up In Value?
Nowadays, it’s hard to gauge when a new generation will become the next big thing. However, the market is more concentrated with the growth of online platforms that have popped up in the past five years.
The market is very competitive and the barrier to entry is high. Many collectors were not exposed to the hobby until they got older and can now be active players in the market.
This has created a niche market for collectors. You would need to be an expert in baseball cards before selling them. A beginner collector will need to know all aspects of the industry and have the patience to wait for the right product to come along.
Not only that, but it has evolved into a hobby that allows collectors to share their experience and expertise as they share their sets with others.
Nowadays, the amount of information shared through social media and the number of cards for sale on eBay has increased exponentially. This will allow more people to become educated in the hobby, and find ways to create a business out of the hobby.
How to Determine Your Vintage Card Value?
There are various grading companies, and the grading system is one of the most important parts of the hobby. The grading system sets a price for a card and tells if the card is in mint condition. PSA, SGC, and Beckett are the three most widely used grading companies. One of the most important things that I think people need to understand is that a baseball card can hold a range of values.
Can You Make Money Selling Your Major League Baseball Card Collection?
– This can be done by buying boxes of baseball cards and selling them individually online
– Buying boxes of cards and selling them at your local card show or garage sale
– Buying at a bulk discount store or bulk flea market and selling them on a card site.
In short, you could sell a box of cards for $5 and sell a card for $40 if you are lucky.
The downside of the above method is finding cards and packaging them in a professional way. A site like Ebay will allow you to list your cards as such.
Collectible trading cards are protected in a sleeve. Keeping them in a sleeve will prevent any discoloring on the cards so will not affect the card price.
In a case of a broken card, and it is still very readable, you can glue the broken part back on and use to re-sell. Just make sure that the glued back is on a smooth, clean surface.
Where Can I Sell my Major League Baseball Card Collection?
First, you should visit a card shop in person. The owners will be interested in checking your card collection and seeing what is of value.
Second, you can go through a site like BaseballCardBuyer.com which offers free quotes if you are looking to sell your cards.
Finally, fans can use a platform like eBay or Craigslist for auctioning specific cards to individuals interested in purchasing the cards.
Are Baseball Cards Worth Anything Recap
Some people think that trading cards are not worth a lot anymore. The ’70s and ’80s are long gone. However, there are some baseball cards that are worth a lot today. People trading cards that have a hall of fame player can be worth a lot of money.