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How to Determine
the Value
of Your Sports Card Collection
Baseball, Basketball
& Football Cards
The first
step -- determining a sports card's value
First,
look up the specific card in a sports card price guide, such as Beckett
. Cards are listed by year, set and number. The "set" would be listed
as "Topps Gold Label" or "Fleer Ultra." The year is listed either on
the front near the brand label, or on the bottom of the back
side.
This applies to all card whether they are baseball cards, basketball
cards or football cards.
When you locate your specific card in the
price guide, it may have an arrow pointing up or down. The arrow
pointing up means that the card went up in value since the last edition
of the price guide. The arrow pointing down means that the card went
down in value since the last edition of the price guide. No arrow
indicates that the value did not change.
In Beckett, there
will be two numbers listed as the value, a lower number and a higher
number. This range of prices signifies the lowest and highest value of
the card. It can be worth anywhere within that range. Note that the
value listed assumes your card MT-NRMT (mint-near mint)
condition. Bad
corners, rough edges, faded color and centering will all lower
card
value. Beckett provides multipliers for the various card
conditions.
Beckett
price guides can be found at www.beckett.com . Not all sports card are
listed by name in a monthly price guide. Price guides, such as Beckett,
often go back decades, as early as the 1940's. However, not every card
can be listed by name. The card may be included in these categories:
"Unlisted Stars," "Semi Stars" or "Minor Stars" or "Common Cards." If
you know what category your card fits into, you can determine its value
through these listings.
Sequentially
numbered sports cards
This
is a card where the entire print run is limited, and the card is
assigned a number in that print run. For example, if there are 500
cards printed, you may get number 128 out of 500.
Usually number 1
is worth more, and the player's number is worth more. For example, if
you had a Derek Jeter sequentially numbered card, and you had number 2
out of 25 it would be worth more since Derek Jeter's jersey number is 2.
Graded cards
A
graded card is a card that has been graded by a professional grading
company. Some grading standards are: PSA 1-10, or BCG 1-10 with
half-grades (.5), SGC 1-100. The higher the grade, the more valuable
the card. Graded cards are often available for sale at card
shows,
hobby card shops, and on-line from dealers who carry hobby boxes and
sets for baseball, basketball and football sports cards.
Selling
sports cards
Cards
can be traded or sold at specialty card shops or card shows. Card shows
are held in most cities and towns throughout the United States.
(Although they are becoming few and far between.) Many card collectors
sell their cards on-line on auction sites such as ebay, www.ebay.com.
What price will dealer pay for
sports cards?
It
is common for card dealers to offer half of book value, although this
depends on the card. It is your decision whether or not to sell.
How many kinds of card boxes are
there?
There
are two kinds of card boxes -- "Retail" and "Hobby." Retail boxes are
sold at large stores, such as Toys R Us or Target, or sometimes at card
shows. The word "Retail" or the letter "R" is usually at the top of the
package label. Hobby boxes are sold at hobby stores and on-line by
dealers who specialize in hobby boxes and sets for baseball, basketball
and football cards.Hobby boxes have the word "Hobby" or the letter "H"
on the label.
Hobby vs Retail boxes
Retail
boxes usually cost less, and may have fewer packs, with fewer special
cards randomly inserted. Hobby boxes usually have more packs and come
with a greater variety of special randomly inserted cards.
Which boxes have a better chance
of containing a rare card or good insert?
I n most cases, there is a greater chance of
getting a more rare card in a hobby box.
Information
provided by AD Sport Cards Etc.
Baseball and Football Boxes & Sets
Ultra Pro Card Supplies
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