You don't have to win a championship in pro sports to be considered among the greats. Yaz never brought a World Series trophy to Boston. Barry Sanders never cuddled the Lombardi trophy. Was John Stockton mediocre because he played during perhaps the greatest era in NBA history? Even winning one, though, isn't a ticket to stardom. Not even for players who had a major … [Read more...]
Case Breakers and the Value Cycle
Editor’s note: What follows is an edited excerpt from The Modern Baseball Card Investor. When talking about new card issues, one thing that should be clear is that secondary market values drive the entire value/supply chain. When supply is favorable and demand is relatively high, then secondary market values are high, and thus box demand is high; collector-investor … [Read more...]
W517 Baseball Set Offers Value
They may not be as colorful as the gum cards that would be issued in the next couple of years, but the 1931 W517 baseball card issue is one of the few relatively major issues that might still be a bargain for collectors looking to start a new project or build a small stash into a set. The W517 is believed to have been produced by the Exhibit Supply Company, maker of the many … [Read more...]
Rodgers Rookie Cards Have Doubled in Value Since Start of NFL Season
Winning a Super Bowl did good things for the value of Aaron Rodgers rookie cards. Continuing that success in 2011 has made them the Apple stock of the modern football card market. The average price for a Rodgers rookie card from August 5-September 5, the period just before the start of the 2011 NFL season, was $23.40. Over the last 30 days, that average price has more than … [Read more...]
eBay Will Offer Sellers Break on Final Value Fees
Looking for a break from seller fees on eBay? You’ll want to be active during the holiday shopping season. eBay will offer a 20% discount on seller’s final value fees from Thursday, November 24 at midnight through Christmas Day. To qualify, the listing must be new and meet the following criteria: A Fixed Price or Auction-style listing Listed by sellers whose accounts … [Read more...]
Time for Teams to Stop Pretending Home Run Balls Have Little Value
Editor's Blog At the end of August, Chipper Jones hit his 450th home run. 450 isn't 500. Beyond Atlanta, there wasn't much of a countdown. Heck, even a lot of Braves fans didn't realize he was one home run away when he came to bat against the Houston Astros August 31. Ashantenay Cotton and members of her church group who were sitting in the bleachers that night apparently … [Read more...]
How Does Death Really Affect The Value of An Autograph?
Some well-known sports personalities sign as many autographs as they can to keep the value low and, they hope, keep the opportunists to a minimum. Others don’t sign many at all to keep the price up so they can make more money in their next private signing deal or card company autograph contract. One factor that neither philosopher can control is how long they have … [Read more...]
Eye for Value: Dealers See Potential in Nice, Old Sets
"Break up value" is a term tossed around a lot in the world of vintage sports cards. Buying a set with the intention to invest the time necessary to turn a bigger profit by selling the cards individually or in small groups. It's why successful dealers keep a close eye on other dealers' auctions. Inventory leads to profit potential, especially when you've got a customer … [Read more...]
Baseballs Signed by Hall of Famers Still Focus for Many
by Paul Davis Autographed baseballs, especially those signed by Hall of Famers, continue to be one of the most collectible pieces of sports memorabilia today. One of the major reasons for their sustainability is the uniqueness and value of each and every baseball. Some of the factors that contribute to this include the player who signed the ball, how many signatures … [Read more...]
Shaffer: Marketing to Kids an Industry Must
Victor Shaffer, who ran the company that began changing the sports trading card in the mid-1990s, has plenty of advice for card companies, dealers and others trying to earn the business of youngsters. Shaffer, EVP at Cartamundi USA and the one-time founder/CEO of the Press Pass trading card company, presented a 60-minute keynote address April 14 at The Industry Summit in Las … [Read more...]