Baseball cards by the pound have become a popular way for collectors and dealers to buy and sell large quantities of cards in a single transaction. Rather than sorting through individual cards, buyers can purchase cards in bulk at a set price per pound. This allows collectors to acquire large numbers of cards for their collections in a quick and affordable manner.
Buying cards by the pound originated in the 1970s when the baseball card market was flooded with mass-produced cards from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Companies like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss produced cards in the billions during this era, far outpacing demand. As a result, many of these cards ended up in the penny boxes of card shops or were thrown away.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the collecting boom began and collectors started searching for these once-common cards that were no longer readily available. Card shops began offering boxes and buckets of unsorted cards for sale by the pound to move the excess inventory clogging their stores. Collectors could purchase a few pounds and sort through them at home looking for stars, rookie cards, and other valuable finds.
Today, most card shops and online dealers sell cards by the pound as a convenient way for collectors to acquire large lots of cards. Prices generally range from $3-10 per pound depending on the era, condition, and overall quality of the cards. The most common eras sold by the pound are 1970s and 1980s cards, which are generally considered the “junk wax” era when billions of cards were produced.
While buying by the pound is a gamble since you don’t know exactly what you’re getting, it allows collectors to fill in holes in their sets or find surprises relatively inexpensively. An experienced collector can sort through a pound of cards in a couple hours to pull out stars, prospects, and any valuable rookie cards that may be hidden in the pile. Even common cards can be used to complete sets.
Some tips for buying cards by the pound include inspecting a sample of the cards first if possible to check condition and era. Ask the seller questions about what sports and manufacturers are represented. Also consider that the cards may be mixed in with other sports cards or non-sports trading cards as well. Carefully weigh the bags or boxes to ensure you’re getting a full pound.
Once home, the sorting process begins. Lay the cards out on a table and group them by sport, set, year, manufacturer, and condition. Remove any damaged or sticker cards that won’t be worth keeping. Then start searching through each pile looking for stars, prospects, and rookie cards of potential value. A Beckett price guide or eBay sold listings can help determine if any gems have been uncovered.
The thrill is in not knowing exactly what you might find. Occasionally, a valuable vintage card from the 1950s or 1960s can turn up mixed in a pound of 1970s-80s cards. Even common stars and rookie cards hold value and are useful for trades. Once sorted, the valuable cards can be sold on eBay or to local collectors to recoup costs. The rest are still useful to complete sets, trade, or collect for the era represented.
While it takes time and patience, buying cards by the pound allows collectors to acquire thousands of cards relatively cheaply. Even if no big hits are found, it’s satisfying to sort through the piles and organize cards into complete or near-complete sets. For the cost of a few pounds, a collection can grow exponentially. And the chance to discover a valuable vintage card or rookie makes the digging worthwhile. Card shops and dealers continue selling in bulk to move inventory and give collectors an affordable option for growing their collections in large quantities.
