The collectible baseball card market has seen an increased level of activity and interest over the last couple years as the industry continues to rebound from its low point in the mid-2010s. While it’s hard to say definitively whether cards are definitively “hot” right now, there are a number of positive trends and data points that suggest the category is enjoying renewed popularity among collectors.
One of the biggest drivers has been the steady rise in the prices being paid for iconic vintage rookie cards ofstars like Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr., and others at high profile auctions. In 2021, a pristine 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card swatched 64/70 on the PSA Grading scale sold for $5.2 million, shattering records. Other cards have also broke the $1 million mark, showing deep pocketed collectors are willing to spend big money on the all-time greats. This type of activity at the top-end certainly generates buzz that trickles down and inspires others.
Online sales platforms have also seen substantial traffic and transaction volume increases in recent years that point to growing interest. eBay, for example, said collectible card sales grew 40% in 2021 compared to the previous year. Average sale prices were up as well. Similarly, PWCC Marketplace, one of the leading third-party grading and consignment companies, had its biggest year ever in 2021, growing revenues 40% to over $150 million. This data shows more collectors are actively buying, selling, and trading cards both vintage and modern online.
The spike in at-home collecting during the pandemic no doubt contributed to this positive momentum as well. With more time on their hands in quarantine, many rediscovered their childhood hobby or took it up for the first time. The nostalgic popularity of the Netflix documentary “The Baseball Card Kid” may have played a small role too by inspiring interest. The increase in activity has persisted even as restrictions eased, suggesting many of these new/returning collectors have stuck with the pastime.
On the hobby shop level, the owner of a large sports card chain, Dave & Adam’s Card World, stated they’ve seen enormous growth over the last two years with revenues up 50-100% store over store. At the same time, mainstream interest is being driven by new highly anticipated licensed sports card products from Panini and Topps that generate hype online. Sets featuring emerging stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani have found an eager audience.
Perhaps most importantly, modern cards of current MLB superstars continue to appreciate at an impressive rate due to lack of supply and high demand amongst collectors young and old. For example, according to PWCC’s price guide, the median sale price of a mint condition 2018 Bowman Chrome Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rookie card has increased more than 10x from $150 to over $1,500 in just three years. It shows how the collector market remains robust and hungry for anything with solid long term investment potential.
There are still challenges the industry faces that could impact growth going forward. Chief among them is the ongoing pandemic related production delays impacting the release of new licensed sports card products. Tight cardboard allocation has led to short supplies unable to meet demand, which fuels third party reselling. It risks pricing out casual collectors and turning them off. While vintage cards recover in value, the market for mid-tier modern cards of non-superstars remains softer.
So in summary – while it’s an oversimplification to say baseball cards are definitively “hot” without proper context or measurements, major auction houses, industry insiders, sales data, and collectors themselves provide ample evidence of surging interest levels and engaged collectors participating at both the high end and grass roots level over the last couple years. With sustained momentum, budding superstars to chase, and continued appreciation of vintage cards, the overall baseball card market appears to be enjoying renewed popularity and activity compared to its low point earlier this decade. Whether this signals a new long term upswing or just a temporary boost is yet to be determined, but for now the signs point to growing hobby health industry wide.
