Sports Cards: Trading and Selling

There are many men who have baseball and football cards and have an overload of them. When I was younger I actually knew a couple of different guys that had boxes and even dressers full of these little trading cards. I laughed only once and realized right then just how important it was to them. Then the famous line that seems to be a creed among all collectors was shouted, "Go ahead and laugh someday I'll be rich! Do you have any idea how much these rookie cards are, this is my early retirement."

Of course, I still didn't believe them but nodded and smiled hoping to defuse the situation that I was sure would lead these fellows straight into a heart attack.

So, if you know a guy like this or if you are one this article may be able to help you discovery the history behind the hobby, how to find out how much they are worth, and assessing the condition of your sports cards. This is definitely your one stop for information on this widely cherished pastime.

Trading and Selling Baseball and Football Cards

The history behind this much enjoyed activity is very interesting. Although there is much debate about which card was first developed it seems to have been the hockey card in 1879, which is one of the most ignored of all the cards. The top ports cards that are traded baseball, football, and basketball.

So, with that said, the first baseball card ever printed was in 1887 by a tobacco company called Allen & Ginter. This company produced many sports cards from boxers to wrestlers with hopes that it would soon catch on as hobby for father and son. Little did they know that it would catch on and people the world over would take part in the leisure movement. Because it took off so well and popularity of these sports card was evident they decided to make more cards and eventually made some with Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill.

Other companies decided to get in on this trend and so Goodwin & Co. from New York produced a "Champion" set which featured weightlifters, wrestlers and virtually every kind of athletic individual of the late nineteenth century. This tobacco company placed the cards inside of the packs of cigarettes, Old Judge and Gypsy Queen to be exact. These two brands are still extremely popular in the sports card marketplace today.

In the early 1900's, the American Tobacco Co. had produced legendary sets of sports cards referred to as the T206 and T205 collections. These are worth a fortune in mint condition and are the most sought after cards to this very day. It is perhaps one of the most talked about because one player had the audacity to object to his picture being used, you might know him by his nick name of the Flying Dutchman. His real name was Honus Wagner and he played for the Pittsburg Pirates. He took on the tobacco companies because he wanted some of the money they got on athletes behalf. He did try for a short time to pretend as though he cared about promoting tobacco to young boys through the cards in each pack of cigarettes but that just wasn't the case. He was not only a tobacco user but had appeared in many ads directed at new and young smokers throughout the years. He revealed that his intentions were to collect on the Dutchman card so as a result the card was pulled leaving only a few in circulation. Today this specific card is worth over a million dollars in excellent condition.

More sports cards hit the scene in cigarette packs, magazines and candy. When the Great Depression came in effect a certain bubble gum company continued producing baseball cards after the rest stopped. In 1933, Goudey Gum Company kept the good times rolling by introducing to collectors of all ages the "bubble gum card" which featured some of the best heroes of the sports card world like Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, etc.

How Much are Your Sports Cards Worth?

This is the question that plaques the mind of every collector of sports cards. To determine this aspect of the collecting process you must acquire the right information. James Beckett created a masterpiece in 1979 that can help you understand the pricing of your sports cards. The book is entitled 'The Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide.'

If you would rather, there is a magazine entitled 'The Beckett Baseball Card Monthly'. It is a treasure trove in information regarding new and old cards and players and what makes them worth so much and/or little. It can show you what the current market value is along with a wealth of other information about ports cards and their worth.

If you want a little more information and knowledge of all the ins and outs of pricing then you may wish to obtain the "Standard Catalog" of whatever sports you collect cards in. There are "The Standard Catalog of Baseball", football and even basketball so the choice is yours. They are updated annually so make sure that you get the most recent edition for your sports cards needs.

Card Grading

To get your ports cards graded to maximize the most amount of money that your card is worth you will need to go through the grading process. So, what is the grading process? This is when the highest in sports cards authority looks over your card in the present condition and closely determines its worth. This high authority is none other than the PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator).

After you mail your cards to this organization they will grade its worth based on a variety of characteristics and conditions. This numbered grading scale is a very involved ritual and can mean the difference in price by hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars. The sports card scale goes from 1-10, 10-being the highest (mint condition).

To have your sports cards graded usually costs around $20 or so per card. This means that if your cards are not in top condition, rare cards, or sports legends, then you may not want to spend the money.

Assessing the Condition Without Paying For It

If you don't have the money to get your sports cards professionally assessed then you can do it yourself if you follow the general rules thereof. Each and every aspect below is a serious way to assess your sports card's worth.

Centering- this is a very important element to evaluating the value. If a card is not centered absolutely perfectly then no one wants them. You might have thought that this would make it a rarity and improve the value but it is simply not true. Sports cards must not have any production flaws of this type.

Chipping- the card's edge may be slightly damaged that is called chipping. Chipping is common and more so in some types and brands than in others.

Corners- This is the most common flaw and so the value has a lot to do with it. There is fraying that goes on with normal wear and tear. There are many degrees of fraying from minor to extensive but all can still drop the price dramatically.

Creases- when bending or folding a card you make it worthless. Although there are slight creases, long and short all are bad but some are not as bad as others. Make sure that you never fold or bend your ports cards if you want to sell them later. If there is even a slight crease that barely even reflects light then it can not and will not ever be considered to be in mint condition or any where near it.

Dings- these things are substantial corner damages on any sports card.

Gloss- Throughout time the gloss that is on the outer surface of the sports cards may diminish. If the gloss is shiny and fully intact (which can be observed with light and a magnifying glass) then that fact alone can raise the value largely.

Notching- These are tiny indentions made by rubber bands, scratching, nail marks, etc.

Remember, the best thing to do is to keep all of your sports cards safe and sound inside protective items that are sold in every hobby story.