Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby and collectible for over a century. From the earliest tobacco cards of the late 1800s to the modern era of licensed sports cards, generations of fans young and old have enjoyed amassing collections of their favorite players through buying, trading, and selling cards. For those looking to build or complete their collections, buying cards they want is a big part of the hobby. With so many cards in existence and new ones being produced each year, it can be challenging to track down specific cards you’re after. Here are some tips for finding baseball cards wanted to buy.
One of the best places to search for cards you want is online marketplaces and auction sites. eBay is undoubtedly the largest and most well-known platform for buying and selling all kinds of sports memorabilia and collectibles, including baseball cards. By doing a search for the player, year, brand or set you’re looking for on eBay, you’ll often find multiple listings from sellers with that particular card available. Be sure to check ratings and reviews on sellers to avoid any potential issues. Other major auction/marketplace sites like Heritage Auctions, PWCC, Goldin Auctions and Lelands also regularly feature individual baseball cards and complete sets up for bidding.
For newer cards from the past few decades, online sports card retail shops are a good option. Sites like SportsCardGallery, Steel City Collectibles, Blowout Cards and DaCardWorld have large online inventories of cards available to purchase immediately without bidding against others. You can search their databases to see if they have any of the specific newer cards you’re after in stock. Be prepared for potentially higher prices on very rare or highly-graded vintage cards though. Card shows are another excellent way to search for cards to buy in person.
Major multi-day national and regional sports card shows take place throughout the year, typically in large cities or convention centers, where hundreds of individual dealers set up tables to sell directly to customers. Browsing rows of dealers at a show gives you the unique chance to flip through boxes and binders in search of that elusive card, and haggle in-person on price if needed. Check sportscardshows.com for upcoming events in your local area. Smaller local card shops are also worth checking, as they sometimes have binders of older cards available too.
When it comes to vintage cards from the early 20th century through the 1980s-90s, online group forums and Facebook trading/buying groups can be a goldmine. Sites like Sports Card Forum, Blowout Card Forum and Facebook groups allow users to post “want lists” of specific cards they’re looking to buy or trade for. Other members may see your list and message you if they come across or have those cards available. You’ll need to be an active member of the community to build trust for larger trades and purchases.
Consider hiring the services of a professional card dealer who specializes in locating rare, key vintage cards for customers. While there may be additional costs involved, reputable full-time card dealers have the expertise and network of industry contacts to potentially track down even the most obscurely difficult to find cards you want. They can also authenticate and grade service if the card is a high value piece. Sites like PWCC and Heritage offer consignment services as well to potentially get top dollar should you ever want to sell any prized cards.
With some dedicated searching across online marketplaces, shows, shops and group forums, you have a very good chance of eventually acquiring those hard-to-find baseball cards you’ve always wanted for your collection. Having a clear list of specific players, sets and years will help narrow your search. As with any collectible, patience and persistence often pay off for finding that elusive card to complement your baseball memorabilia display. With some luck and effort scouring the various sources above, you’re sure to cross more and more cards off your want list over time.
