Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for over a century and the popularity of collecting cards shows no signs of slowing down. With the rise of online marketplaces like eBay, it has never been easier to buy, sell, and trade baseball cards. Here is an in-depth look at the baseball card market on eBay in 2020.
eBay has become the premier online marketplace for collectors to find virtually any baseball card they want. With millions of new and vintage cards listed at any given time, eBay offers collectors access to a massive selection of cards from every era of the sport. While local card shops and shows are still a great way to find deals, the reach of eBay allows collectors to cast a wider net in their search for cards.
One of the biggest draws of eBay is the ability to potentially find extremely rare and valuable cards. High-end vintage cards that could fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction are regularly listed on eBay. In 2020, mint condition cards of legendary players like Mickey Mantle, Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth and more can be found. Competition for these elite vintage cards is fierce and they usually sell for top dollar.
Modern rookie cards of current MLB stars also command high prices on eBay. Cards of young superstars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and others set rookie card records in 2020 as the new generation of players takes over the sport. Upper deck rookie cards and autographed parallels can sell for thousands on eBay. The prices fluctuate greatly depending on the player’s performance and longevity in the league.
While the high-end vintage and modern rookie cards get the most attention, eBay remains a haven for collectors of all budgets. Complete base sets from the past 30+ years can regularly be found for just pennies per card. Insert sets, parallel cards and oddball promotional issues also populate eBay listings at affordable prices. For collectors looking to fill out team or player collections inexpensively, eBay browsing is a must.
In addition to individual cards, completed vintage sets and team lots are also popular listings on eBay in 2020. Entire complete runs of classic sets like Topps, Fleer and Donruss from the 1950s-80s can be acquired for reasonable prices. Team lots divided by decade offer an easy way to build up a player’s card collection without hunting singles. Vintage team lots are also ideal for those who enjoy the aesthetic of displaying complete uniforms of cards.
Graded and encapsulated vintage cards have grown exponentially in popularity over the past decade. Third party grading companies like PSA, BGS, SGC and others slabs protect and authenticate cards, assigning numerical grades based on condition. Graded vintage cards dominate the high-end auction scene on eBay. While the protective slabs add value, they also drive up prices compared to raw vintage cards of similar condition. In 2020, mint PSA 10 cards from the 1950s routinely sell for thousands more than raw counterparts.
While vintage cards attract the biggest spenders, modern issues remain the bread and butter of the eBay card marketplace. Complete flagship sets from the past 30 years can usually be acquired for under $100. Insert sets, parallels, autographed and memorabilia cards fill out team and player collections at affordable prices. For collectors who enjoy building modern sets year to year, eBay is an essential resource.
When it comes to selling cards, eBay’s large audience and buyer base provides collectors the opportunity to potentially earn back money spent on the hobby. Whether it’s a valuable vintage card, sought-after modern rookie or just commons from childhood collections – eBay offers a worldwide marketplace to potentially find buyers. While eBay and PayPal fees eat into final sale prices, the exposure is well worth it for high-end cards.
EBay’s massive selection and worldwide audience have made it the premier online marketplace for all things baseball cards. Whether searching for valuable vintage gems, completing affordable modern sets or selling cards from a personal collection – eBay offers collectors access to a huge pool of buyers and sellers. The website’s popularity shows no signs of slowing as the baseball card hobby continues to thrive in the digital age.
