Category Archives: BASEBALL CARDS

HOW TO SELL BASEBALL CARDS FOR THE MOST MONEY

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Selling baseball cards can be a great way to earn some extra cash, but maximizing profits takes some effort. Here are the key steps to follow to get the best value when selling your collection:

Organize and Inventory Your Collection: The first step is taking stock of what you have. Carefully remove each card from its protective case or sleeve and sort them by player, team, year, and condition. You’ll want to catalog every notable card so you know its value. Only grade and sell high-value vintage cards from the pre-1980s as the grading process is only worth it for cards over $50-100 typically.

Evaluate Card Condition and Grade Vintage Cards: Properly evaluating condition is crucial to determining value. For vintage cards pre-1980, it’s highly recommended to have valuable and high-grade cards professionally graded by companies like PSA, BGS, or SGC. Grading verifies the condition and brings more confidence in the assigned grade, which significantly impacts price. Always carefully examine cards front and back for flaws, wrinkles, corners, and centering before grading or selling loose.

Research Current Market Values: Use websites like eBay, COMC, Beckett, or PWCC Marketplace to research “sold” listings of comparable cards to get a realistic sense of current market prices. Understand how factors like player, year, set, card number, autographs/relics, and especially grade impact value. Don’t rely solely onBeckett book values which can be outdated – sold eBay listings are your best guide.

Price Cards Competitively but Realistically: When pricing your cards for sale, aim to be competitive with similar recently sold eBay listings while also pricing cards realistically based on condition versus grade inflation. Overage prices can sit on the market for ages, while fair pricing often leads to quick sales. Remember that buyers also factor in potential grading risk on raw cards.

Photograph Cards Professionally: Clean each card thoroughly and photograph it against a neutral background using lighting that shows details, centering and corners clearly. For vintage cards, use a tool to verify authenticity marks/features. High quality photos are essential to attract buyers and build confidence.

Sell Through Reputable Platforms: The top three platforms for maximum exposure and sales are eBay, COMC (Collectiblescenter.com), and PWCC Marketplace. eBay has the biggest sports card buyer base but charges inserted and final value fees. COMC and PWCC are consignment platforms – you send your cards in to sell on commission, avoiding fees but less control over pricing and timing. Selling in person also works but markets have more risk than online.

Negotiate on High-Ticket Items: For rare vintage cards graded PSA or BGS Gem Mint 10 that sell in the thousands, be open to reasonable offers and negotiate carefully. Bidders on these often have room in their maximum budgets, so communication can get the best price over a rigid “firm” policy. Flexibility builds your reputation.

Provide Safe, Tracked Shipping: Package cards well in a sturdy mailer with adequate protection at all edges and corners. Seal securely and purchase tracking & insurance to protect the valuable cards and build buyer confidence. Prompt communication during the selling process is also key for positive feedback.

Patience and Experience Lead to Higher Profits: Selling cards takes experience to achieve the best long-term returns. Stay active, but don’t rush sales of high-value cards in current hot player categories as patience is often rewarded. With time your sales and grading expertise will increase values realized per card sold. Building a reputation also attracts new buyers.

By following these key steps to carefully organize, research values, professionally photograph, competitively yet realistically price, sell through trusted platforms, negotiate high deals, safely ship and communicate well – sellers can maximize profits from their baseball card collections over time. With experience, passion and patience for the hobby, consistent higher returns become achievable.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS ARE THERE

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Topps has been producing baseball cards since the 1950s and over the decades has released thousands of unique baseball cards featuring players, managers, teams and more. Exactly counting the total number of different baseball cards Topps has created is challenging for a few reasons.

First, Topps has released new baseball card sets nearly every year since the beginning in 1952. Some years have had multiple different series released as well. In the early decades, sets tended to be smaller in size ranging from around 100 cards to a few hundred. As the decades went on sets grew larger, often containing 600 cards or more in the modern era. This continuous annual release of new cards over 70+ years has added to the total count each year.

Secondly, within each yearly set there can be variations that create separate card issues. For example, some early years had parallel sets with different photograph borders or colors. Special subsets highlighting rookie cards or award winners have been inserted into main sets for decades. Promotional and retail incentive cards given away at stores have also boosted numbers. Exclusive cards printed for conventions or events add to the tally as well.

Thirdly, as demand for certain players grew over time, Topps has gone back to release special subsets or stand alone sets focused on the most popular players. Iconic stars like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and more have had multiple dedicated card issues released beyond their original rookie or base cards from years past. Parallel vintage reprints of earlier cards in modern designs also multiply totals.

Considering all these factors, a reasonable estimate would put the number of unique Topps baseball cards released to date at well over 20,000 individual issues. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

From 1952 to 1970 – During these early formative years for the modern baseball card industry, Topps released a total of around 6,500 cards across 19 different annual sets. This includes the very first 1952 issue as well as the larger sets of the late 60s containing over 600 cards.

From 1971 to 1980 – As the hobby began to boom, Topps expanded sets and added special extras. An estimated 8,000 total cards were printed in this decade alone across both annual releases and special subsets.

From 1981 to 1990 – Set sizes exploded in the early 80s and parallel variations multiplied. Special subsets also became more commonplace. A conservative estimate puts output at around 10,000 cards in this decade.

From 1991 to 2000 – With roster sizes growing and insert cards dominant, total volume stayed high. Parallel vintage reprints also arrived. An estimated 11,000+ unique cards were created in the ’90s.

From 2001 to 2010 – Mega sets nearing 1,000 cards became standard as the inserts multiplied. Special dedicated releases also increased. Easy to surpass 12,000 new Topps baseball cards in the ’00s.

From 2011 to 2022 – With all the above factors still in play plus short print parallels and ever more limited releases, Topps likely pushed past the 20,000 card milestone in the modern era alone.

Adding it all up, a reasonable estimate would be that Topps has printed over 26,000 unique baseball cards when accounting for all standard and specialty/vintage releases from 1952 through the present day, with new additions every year. Of course, an exact count is impossible with all the parallel and specialty variants introduced over 70+ years of annual issues. But it’s undeniable that Topps has firmly cemented its role as king of the baseball card industry by consistently offering collectors tens of thousands of memorable, historic and valuable issues commemorating America’s pastime.

WHY AREN’T BASEBALL CARDS WORTH ANYTHING ANYMORE

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There are several key reasons why baseball cards in the modern era are generally not worth as much money as cards from previous generations. After peaking in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the baseball card market experienced a dramatic collapse that greatly reduced the value of even the rarest and most sought after cards.

One of the major factors was saturation and overproduction. In the late 80s boom, card manufacturers like Fleer, Topps, and Donruss were pumping out hundreds of millions of packs and boxes to try and capitalize on the lucrative market. Sets featured subsets, parallels, refractors, and insert cards at an unprecedented rate. What was once a niche hobby exploded into the mainstream, with cards found in convenience stores, supermarkets, and drug stores across America. The overabundance of product greatly increased supply and reduced scarcity for all but the most valuable rookie cards from that era.

This saturation contributed to the speculation bubble popping in the early 90s. Many investors had gotten involved trying to “flip” cards for profits rather than collecting for enjoyment. When the market crashed, demand plummeted. Card companies had tremendously overproduced based on the boom cycle and were now left with gigantic unsold inventories. Massive card shows in the early 90s featured overflowing boxes discounted for pennies on the dollar. The market was flooded, and confidence from collectors was badly shaken. Values of even top stars from the late 80s boom crashed.

Another major impact came from advances in print technology. In the 1980s and prior, cards were printed using a crude lithograph process that lent itself to far fewer prints and more errors/variations. By the early 90s, card manufacturing had advanced to computerized printing processes capable of mass producing pristine cards with very little margin for error. This reduced scarcity significantly compared to earlier decades. Variations became far less common, and defects or miscuts that added value disappeared. Combined with the huge production volumes, new printing made virtually issue from the late 80s and early 90s commodity status rather than coveted collectibles.

As the industry stabilized post-crash, card companies recognized they needed to scale back production to balance supply/demand. They also shifted business models and print runs became leaner and print quality higher. The collector bubble of the late 80s would not return, and scarcity was never again on the same level. While this stabilized the industry, it also prevented another boom that could drive card values up comparably to the past. Modern print runs emphasized reach rather than scarcity.

Perhaps the biggest factor is simply time and generations. The collectors who fueled previous booms in the 1950s-1980s have aged. Passionate completion sets from the 1930s-1970s have been finished by older collectors, removing much of the demand. Younger generations coming of age in the late 20th century had numerous entertainment options and lacked the same connection to baseball card collecting that previous eras experienced. Digital photography and technological progress also deprived the industry of much of its appeal as a unique vintage hobby. Nostalgia plays a big role in collectibles, so newer cardboard just doesn’t have the same romance for most as the well-loved classics of long-retired players.

The proliferation of internet trading also diminished the discovery aspect that drove local card shop culture. It became far too easy to find any common base card sitting in a dime box. Online databases listing production numbers sapped the intrigue of learning obscure facts and stats. While this opened new demographics to the hobby, it removed some of the serendipitous fun. These cultural factors contributed to baseball cards becoming more of a niche interest vs a mainstream pastime.

While stars of the present continue to have popular rookie cards, the consistency and star power of baseball has waned somewhat compared to eras past. Less national interest and fewer immortal players means fewer cards hold up as a solid long term investment on the level of legends from history. Modern players also seem more transient and less likely to spend a career with one team. Nostalgia and brand loyalty to franchises and classic uniforms is part of the mystique that drives interest in older generations.

A perfect storm of overproduction, stabilized printing technology, generational shifts, and cultural factors converged in the 1990s to end the speculation boom of the late 80s. While dedicated collectors still find value in condition, autographs, and rare variations, the mainstream market has settled at a level reflecting supply more than demand or nostalgia. Newer issues will likely never reach the investment heights of classics from eras when baseball truly captivated America. But the enduring charm of vintage cardboard ensures continued collecting interest for decades to come.

DOES UPPER DECK STILL MAKE BASEBALL CARDS

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Upper Deck was founded in 1988 by entrepreneur Richard McWilliam. At the time, the baseball card industry was dominated by Topps and Donruss. McWilliam felt there was room to disrupt the market with a new brand focused on higher quality products. Upper Deck released their first baseball cards in 1989 featuring Ken Griffey Jr. on the cover. The cards were of nicer stock and produced using superior photography compared to the competition. This helped Upper Deck gain popularity and market share quickly.

Throughout the 1990s, Upper Deck was one of the big three baseball card manufacturers along with Topps and Fleer. They signed licensing deals with MLB, MLBPA, and the individual teams to produce official baseball cards. Some of their popular releases from this decade included Upper Deck Baseball, Stadium Club, and Ultra. Stadium Club became known for its glossy stock and beautiful photography. Ultra had elaborate inserts and parallels to excite collectors. During the baseball card boom of the early 90s, Upper Deck’s businesses prospered as people of all ages participated in the hobby.

The baseball card market crashed in the mid-1990s due to overproduction. Too many cards were released, which decreased values. Also, the internet was becoming more widely used, which led collectors to seek vintage cards instead of new products. This downturn significantly hurt Upper Deck and Fleer, as Topps had more financing to weather the storm. Fleer even filed for bankruptcy in 1991. Upper Deck survived but scaled back set releases and employee numbers in the late 1990s.

Into the 2000s, Upper Deck remained in the baseball card industry but took on smaller roles. They maintained their MLB license but no longer had the resources or market share of the 1990s heyday. Some popular releases included Ultimate Collection, which had high-end memorabilia cards. From 2005-2007, Upper Deck also produced MLB player lot licenses, allowing individual player contracts. These licenses expired and were not renewed long-term. Throughout the 2000s, Upper Deck focused more on hockey, basketball, and other sports versus baseball cards.

Today, Upper Deck still holds the MLBPA player license, which allows them to use active ballplayer names and images. However, Topps has the exclusive MLB tobacco card license through 2030. Within these parameters, Upper Deck produces modern baseball sets like Goodwin Champions on an annual basis featuring current stars. They have also released retro-style products like Ultimate Collection: Hall of Fame that revisits the 1990s design aesthetics. Additionally, Upper Deck authenticates and grades vintage/historic baseball cards through their Sports Authentication and Grading Services division.

While no longer one of the primary producers due to Topps’ MLB license, Upper Deck remains involved in the baseball card industry over 30 years after their founding. They have adapted their business model to focus more on set authentication, grading, and specialty nostalgic releases instead of mainstream annuals. Upper Deck’s high-quality beginnings also secured their place in the hobby’s history books. As long as there is collector interest in the sport, Upper Deck will likely find ways to participate creatively in the baseball card market for years to come.

WHAT YEARS DID DONRUSS MAKE BASEBALL CARDS

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Donruss began producing baseball cards in 1981 and continued making sets annually for over 30 years until filing for bankruptcy in 2012. Here is a breakdown of the years they produced sets and some key details about the most notable releases each year:

1981 – Donruss released their inaugural baseball card set in 1981. The design featured a picture of the player on the front with their name and team written in a banner across the top. The backs contained basic stats. Some top rookies included Fernando Valenzuela and Rick Sutcliffe.

1982 – The design stayed similar in 1982 with mostly the same front and back layout. Notable rookies included Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. This was one of the more common early Donruss sets to collect.

1983 – The 1983 set saw Donruss begin including team logos on the fronts of cards above the player photo. Rookies like Kirby Puckett and Wade Boggs started to establish themselves. Mike Schmidt appeared on the cover card.

1984 – Not much changed design-wise but some key rookies included Dwight Gooden and Johan Santana. The 1984 set is still reasonably obtainable and affordable to collect today.

1985 – This set featured foil lettering on the fronts for player names and positions. Rookies like Roger Clemens andBarry Bonds started proving their future stardom. Mark McGwire graced the cover.

1986 – Donruss modernized the designs in 1986 with a cleaner white border framing the player photo. Rookies like Tom Glavine emerged. The Jeff Bagwell card from this set remains a popular, valuable rookie card for collectors.

1987 – Subtle stripes were added to the borders in 1987. Rookies Greg Maddux and Mike Piazza took their first cardboard steps. Ozzie Smith got the cover treatment.

1988 – Designs remained clean and consistent into 1988. Big rookies included Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr, both of whom wound up on very popular and valuable rookie cards. Nolan Ryan served as cover athlete.

1989 – Not much visually changed but key rookies Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, and Brad Radke started their careers. This was another strong, common set that holds nostalgic appeal for collectors of the era.

1990 – Designs stayed consistent as the ‘90s dawned. Rookies like Mo Vaughn, Derek Jeter, and Todd Helton debuted. This was the first Donruss set after the company was acquired by Fleer.

1991 – The 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights was commemorated on many cards this year. Rookies included Jeff Kent, Mike Mussina, and Juan Gonzalez among others. Don Mattingly appeared on the cover.

1992 – Donruss used an orange color scheme with darker borders for the 1992 release. Big rookies included Fernando Vina, Marquis Grissom, and David Wells. This is a underrated set that can still be found at reasonable prices.

1993 – With baseball recovering from the 1994 strike, the ‘93 Donruss set captured the returning excitement. Standouts included Jason Giambi, Charles Johnson, and Paul O’Neill. Nolan Ryan again graced the cover.

1994 – Proving their resilience, Donruss still managed to release a full set amidst the player strike. Designs stayed similar. Rookies like Hideo Nomo and Derek Bell made their entrance.

1995 – Designs received a subtle facelift with lighter borders and bigger player photos. Standouts included Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Weaver, and Mariano Rivera. The Griffey Jr. card remained a hot commodity.

1996 – Donruss continued adding modern photo touches. Big names like Javy López, Andruw Jones, and Scott Rolen got their starts. The Sammy Sosa rookie became a highly desirable, pricey card.

1997 – More rounded, cartoony designs took over, moving away from the classic sharp corners. Stars like Kerry Wood, Todd Helton, and Nomar Garciaparra continued to shine.

1998 – Wild, multi-colored borders paired with clean photos made for a fun, vibrant 1998 design. Names like Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Beltrán, and Joe Mauer started to surface.

1999 – Fin de siecle designs emphasized brighter, bolder colors. Big names like Lance Berkman, Mark Mulder, and Jason Varitek started arriving. Griffey Jr. adorned the prestigious final Donruss cover.

2000 – Returning to classic-styled designs, the 2000 set helped usher in the new millennium. Names like Bobby Abreu, Carlos Lee, and Freddy Sanchez filled the rookie ranks.

2001 – New stars Curt Schilling, Carlos Beltrán, and Chan Ho Park emerged amidst dramatic post-9/11 events. Designs started incorporating player statistics on the back.

2002 – Featuring a colorful explosion graphic, the ’02 Donruss set highlighted rookies Joel Pineiro, Mark Prior, and Freddy Garcia. Backs added more advanced stats.

2003 – Clean, classic designs mixed with new stars Francisco Rodríguez, Matt Cain, and Ervin Santana. Information density grew on card backs.

2004 – Big names Grady Sizemore, Justin Verlander, and Prince Fielder broke out. Donruss continued polishing flagship set designs and info density.

2005 – Rookies Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Howard, and Huston Street carried the promise of talent into the mid-2000s era. Graphics became a touch more subdued.

2006 – Young standouts Chad Billingsley, Jon Lester, and Joey Votto debuted. The company started experimenting more with parallels and inserts.

2007 – Mike Trout, Stephen Strasburg, and Buster Posey took their first cardboard steps. Donruss emphasized parallels, refractors, and autographs in increasing quantities.

2008 – Designs embraced clean, classic looks again paired with stars like Evan Longoria, Clayton Kershaw, and Colby Rasmus. Parallel inserts dominated the secondary market.

2009 – Pitchers Zach Britton, Madison Bumgarner, and Stephen Strasburg emerged. Donruss faced increased competition from license-holders like Topps and Upper Deck.

2010 – Players Christian Yelich, Julio Teheran, and Taijuan Walker debuted amidst the company’s financial struggles. Insert sets overwhelmed the flagship releases.

2011 – Donruss managed one final standout rookie class including Mike Trout, Craig Kimbrel, and Danny Salazar. But it would prove to be their final hurrah.

2012 – Releasing their final flagship set featuring stars Bryce Harper, Yu Darvish, and Manny Machado, Donruss declared bankruptcy and ceased operations soon after. Their long legacy in the hobby ended but the cards live on for collectors to enjoy.

In over 30 years, Donruss established themselves as a creator of high quality, visually striking baseball cards that captured the eras and launched the careers of countless future Hall of Famers from their rookie seasons. Their sets hold nostalgia and significance for collectors to this day, keeping the memory of the brand alive even after their untimely demise.

HOW TO KEEP TRACK OF BASEBALL CARDS

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There are many effective ways to properly organize and keep track of a baseball card collection. One of the most common methods is to store cards in plastic sleeves and arrange them in binders according to team and player. This protects the cards and allows you to easily find specific cards when looking through your collection.

You’ll want to purchase binders that are durable with rings that won’t damage cards when inserted or removed. 9-pocket pages or 12-pocket pages work well as they provide ample space and protect fronts and backs of cards. Arranging cards by team within each binder allows you to quickly flip to your favorite players. You can then order players alphabetically within each team page. Having current teams in one binder and vintage/retired teams in others is a good organizational structure.

Some collectors take organization a step further by tracking their entire collection inventory on spreadsheet software like Excel. This allows assigning unique identification numbers to each card and recording specific details like player, year, brand, grade if certified, and purchase or trade details. Spreadsheets provide a digital record of your entire collection that is searchable. Information can easily be filtered, sorted, and edited as your collection grows and changes over time.

Many collectors create their own registry numbers to uniquely track cards not already assigned commercial registry numbers used by grading services. Creating and maintaining an inventory spreadsheet prevents accidental duplicate cards and allows easily tracking what is still needed to complete sets. Condition should also be carefully noted either on the physical card, protective sleeve, binder page, or digital inventory.

For higher end vintage or valuable cards, storing them in one-touch magnetic holders offers the best protection from the potential damage bending or creasing could cause. These holders keep the card rigid and flat while still allowing viewing of the front through a magnetic seal. For your most prized possessions, fireproof home safes or bank safety deposit boxes provide additional security and peace of mind.

Display boxes or albums are good options to safely store pre-made complete sets, star rookie collections, vintage team sets, or specialty collections like retired numbers, no-hitters, etc. Toploaders or screwdown holders offer protection while still allowing viewing pleasure of curated subsets. Arranging display boxes or albums thematically allows set collections to be enjoyed visually without constant handling that risks damage over time.

Many serious collectors use professional grading services like PSA, BGS, or SGC to authenticate, protect, and grade the condition of their most valuable vintage singles or prized modern autographs, relics, or memorabilia cards. Professionally graded cards receive tamper-proof protective slabs that preserve condition and add resale value. Cards intended for long-term investment purposes benefit greatly from third party certification by the major industry grading standards.

Organizing storage of your cards by format, player position, or other categorical taxonomy ensures you always know where to easily find subsets of interest like starters, relievers, bench players, autographed players, All-Stars, league leaders, etc. A well laid out home or basement card room could feature custom shelving, binders, display cabinets with tracking organization tailored to your individual interests for maximum enjoyment of your collection for years to come.

For collectors with extensive inventories comprised of thousands of cards, commercial database software like Collectr becomes invaluable. It allows syncing photos of every card to its digital record, creating want lists to organize ongoing collection goals, tracking market values over time, and generating reports in addition to unlimited expandable storage with search/filter capabilities far exceeding spreadsheets. Database programs offer true digital asset management for the most ambitious collectors with immense inventories or rare/valuable cards requiring heightened security and documentation.

Whether a few binders or an entire dedicated room, the key is developing an organizational methodology tailored to your unique collection size, interests, storage space, and long term goals. With careful planning and maintenance, all collectors can easily keep track of every cardboard entry into their baseball shrines for many years of searching, discovering, trading, and enjoyment.

WHERE TO BUY BASEBALL CARDS IN NYC

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Midtown Comics – Located in Manhattan, Midtown Comics is one of the largest comic book and collectibles shops in NYC. They have an immense selection of newer and older baseball cards for collectors of all levels. In addition to loose packs and boxes of current cards, they always have singles and complete sets spanning many decades of the sport’s history. Whether you’re looking for rookie cards of emerging stars or hall of famers, Midtown Comics is a great first stop to browse through their massive inventory.

Lelands – This famous sports memorabilia auction house has a storefront in Manhattan where you can buy baseball cards directly. As one of the most well-regarded auctioneers of game-used items and rare autographed memorabilia, their card selection is top-notch. Individual rare and valuable cards can be quite expensive here, but it’s worth a look if you want to add serious gems to your collection. Lelands also holds frequent online card auctions with thousands of lots to bid on.

New York Comic Con and other conventions – Several times a year, the Javits Center in Manhattan hosts mega pop culture conventions like New York Comic Con and Special Edition NYC. Dozens of vendors will set up booths selling all sorts of collectibles, including sports cards, at reasonable prices. It’s a fun experience to browse tables and possibly find some great bargains. Other smaller comic and card shows periodically take place across the city as well.

Astoria Sports Cards – One of the best local card shops is Astoria Sports Cards, located in the Queens neighborhood of Astoria. In business for over 30 years, they maintain an excellent stock of new releases while also offering a deep inventory of older cardboard going back decades. Whether you want to build sets, find key vintage stars or scout the latest rookies, Astoria Sports Cards is a convenient neighborhood option worth checking out.

Tuff Stuff Fitness – This fitness equipment and apparel retailer, located in Brooklyn, may be an unexpected location but they carry a solid selection of sports cards too. With two locations in different parts of Brooklyn, Tuff Stuff Fitness gives collectors easy access to restock their supplies or hunt for specific players local to the borough. It’s worth a quick look anytime you’re in the area gym shopping.

Key Sports – While smaller than some of the options above, Key Sports on Staten Island provides a vibrant community hub for local card collectors. With new releases constantly arriving and plenty of singles in stock from many eras, their friendly staff is always happy to help browsers find what they’re seeking. Key Sports sponsors shop tournaments and events, making it a premier destination for SI-based players.

Manhattan Collectables – Situated uptown, Manhattan Collectables has served NYC card fans for decades with a wide-ranging stock of vintage basketball, football and baseball cards. From Commons to high-grade classics, they have you covered whether you collect for enjoyment or to resell. Friendly advice is on offer too when considering purchases, moves or the overall market. While not huge, their selection holds real value.

Eagle Trading Cards – Hidden away on the lower east side, Eagle Trading Cards could be the city’s best-kept secret for sports card lovers. In business since the late 80s, their huge inventory spans the entire lifetime of the hobby with a strong focus on pre-1980 cardboard. With reasonably priced Commons, key stars, oddball issues, unopened wax and complete sets available, advanced collectors would be remiss not stopping by on their next trip to NYC.

This covers some of the top brick-and-mortar options for purchasing baseball cards in New York City. With locations spanning all five boroughs, there are plenty of opportunities for card fans of any level to shop, browse, flip and discover new additions for their collections without having to solely rely on online retailers. The stores provide a fun social experience and chances to meet fellow collectors, get expert advice, join events and strengthen the vibrant baseball card community in NYC.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY OLD BASEBALL CARDS

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If you have a large collection of baseball cards that you no longer want or have room to store, one option is to consider selling your collection. Even cards that may not seem that valuable on their own can add up to a decent amount if sold as a complete collection. To sell your baseball card collection, you will first need to take an inventory of all the cards and carefully organize them. Make a spreadsheet or database listing each card along with the player name, year, brand (Topps, Fleer, etc.), and condition. Taking high quality photos of each individual card or groups of cards will help potential buyers evaluate the collection.

Once your collection is fully inventoried and catalogued, you can choose to sell it yourself through online marketplaces like eBay, or seek out a reputable sports card shop or auction house to handle the sale for you. Selling online yourself allows you to set the price and terms, but you’ll need to handle packing, shipping, payments, and any returns yourself. Consigning your collection through an established dealer means letting the pros market and sell it for you in exchange for a commission, usually around 20-30% of the final sale price. They have the experience and buyer connections to potentially get a better overall price.

Before listing your collection for sale, it’s a good idea to do some research on recent sold prices for comparable collections to help establish a realistic asking price. Consider the quality, condition and completeness of the cards, as well as any key rookie cards or stars from championships teams that could increase interest and price. Sets that are complete from top to bottom tend to demand a premium. For consignment, the dealer will also give you their professional opinion on valuation. Once priced appropriately, market your collection aggressively on the various selling platforms with clear photos, a full descriptive listing and fair payment/return policies to attract serious buyers.

If selling your baseball cards as a collection doesn’t appeal to you or doesn’t generate enough interest from potential buyers, another option is to choose a handful of valuable individual cards to sell separately. Before picking cards to individually sell, you’ll want to closely examine each one to identify any especially rare, valuable or sought-after pieces. Check online price guides, recent auction results and trading/selling forums to get a sense of current market values for top cards in various conditions from each year and set. Grading services like PSA/BGS can also accurately assess a card’s condition, which directly affects its price. Once you’ve selected cards likely worth more money individually versus as part of a full set, list and market them the same focused way described for a full collection sale.

Rather than selling your baseball cards, another option is donating them to raise funds for charity. You could contact local youth sports leagues, libraries or schools to see if they’d be interested in displaying your cards or using them for fundraising prizes or auctions. Donating cards as a collection in this way comes with a tax deduction receipt based on the collection’s fair market value as determined by an independent appraisal from a dealer. Many dedicated sports card collectors looking to complete sets are also always on the hunt and may appreciate your cards finding a new long-term home in their collection in exchange for a tax-deductible donation.

If you don’t want to sell or donate your baseball cards but also no longer have room to keep the full collection, consider organizing and displaying just your favorite cards or your child/grandchild’s favorites on the wall in protective holder pages or frames. Pulling out sentimental rookie cards or autographs adds a fun personalized touch to your home décor too. The rest of the sizable collection you could box up and store away safely long-term in case future generations take an interest someday or you decide later to sell portions online. Storing your collection off-site in a temperature controlled facility or rented safe deposit box can protect cards from moisture, heat/cold fluctuations or damage over time too.

For a hands-on hobby option, you could start a fun new tradition of organizing team binders, trading cards online/at shows, building complete vintage sets or even playing Strat-O-Matic baseball sim games with your grandkids using your real card rosters. Kids especially enjoy learning about different eras through handling actual cards from their favorite players which can spark lifelong passions. If building full vintage sets appeals to you as a personal collecting project, many avid sports card collecting communities also meet regularly for friendly swaps to help each other fill gaps in sets spanning decades – it’s a social way to put cards back to active use while preserving baseball history too!

With a sizeable baseball card collection you’ve outgrown, your best options are thoughtfully assessing what to keep and sell/donate to raise funds for charity or pass down your passion to others. Carefully inventorying, researching values, consigning higher end pieces and maximizing market exposure through online auction sites and dealer consignment can maximize your financial return versus a quick bulk sell-off too. Displaying sentimental favorites, collecting with family or swapping with fellow fans also keeps your cards actively circulating within the sports collectibles community for enjoyment versus long-term storage. With some planning and effort, there are many rewarding ways to put your treasured cards from the past to their best next use.

WHERE CAN I TRADE IN BASEBALL CARDS FOR MONEY

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One of the most common places to trade in or sell baseball cards for money is at local card shops. Most major metropolitan areas will have one or more shops that specialize in buying, selling, trading, and grading sports cards. These local card shops are a great option because you can get an in-person assessment of the condition and value of your cards to get the best price. The shop owners are experts who can provide guidance on valuable cards, fair market prices, and help you choose between trading credits or cash for your cards. They will also buy collections of cards in bulk. Most local card shops pay around 50-60% of a card’s market value in cash or 60-70% in store credit, which can then be used to purchase new cards.

If you prefer to sell your baseball cards online for money, there are several reputable online marketplaces where you can list individual cards or your entire collection for sale. Some of the largest and most trusted online marketplaces for baseball cards include eBay, COMC (Certified Online Memorabilia Collectibles), andTCDB (Trading Card Database). eBay is the largest online marketplace and will expose your listings to the biggest audience of potential buyers internationally. You can generally get very close to full market value by selling on eBay since there is high demand and competition between buyers. Fees are close to 14% when factoring in final value fees and shipping costs. COMC and TCDB charge lower listing fees in the 5-10% range but have smaller active buyer bases. With COMC, you send your cards to them for grading/verification and they handle storage, listing, and shipping – taking some of the work off your hands. TCDB is geared more towards advanced collectors looking to trade, with forums to discuss cards and values. For rare, high-value cards, you may be able to get top prices by auctioning them individually on eBay or using the consignment services of auction houses like Goldin or Heritage.

Another great way to sell baseball cards for money is through online card buying services and website storefronts. Websites like CardCollectorsHQ, SportsCardForum, Zachery’s Baseball, and DavesCardWorld maintain large databases of buyers constantly looking for cards to add to their collections. You can get instant cash offers generated for your cards on these sites based on their conditions. Sellers report getting offers within 80-90% of market value on average this way. Once you accept an offer, the website acts as the trusted middleman – facilitating payment, grading/verification if requested, and transfer of the cards to the buyer. This is a quick process to liquidate your entire collection at once without having to list items individually.

For truly rare and valuable vintage/rookie cards in high grades, your best option is often to use the services of professional memorabilia/sports authentication companies. Companies like PSA, BGS, JSA, and Beckett authenticate, grade, and encapsulate cards to verify authenticity/condition – increasing their values substantially for serious collectors. You can either send your cards to these companies directly for independent grading/encapsulation and then sell the now “slabbed” cards yourself online. Or, use one of their consignment services where the company handles photography, marketing, and facilitation of your online auction on a site like eBay or their own marketplace. This process takes longer but results in the highest possible prices for one-of-a-kind vintage cards that are fresh to the market in certified cases. Consignment fees are higher too in the 15-20% range.

An emerging marketplace for lucrative baseball card trades and sales is through social media platforms. Facebook groups like “Sports Card Collectors” with hundreds of thousands of members allow collectors to meet, discuss values, and show-and-tell cards virtually. Serious buyers and sellers also interact regularly on Twitter using hashtags like #sportscards. While scams are possible with anonymity, trusted individuals on these platforms can buy and trade collections directly. Free exposures through image posts means you may get more interest than typical selling routes. Just be sure to transact through secure peer-to-peer payment services like PayPal for protection. As social selling grows in popularity, it stands to continue attracting both casual fans and important whales in the baseball card market.

For most collectors liquidating part of their collection for cash, a local card shop or one of the major online marketplaces will provide reliable resources and competitive pricing through hundreds of buyers regularly. For one-of-a-kind finds, using grading authentication services guarantees top dollar prices from advanced collectors. And meeting others through online groups allows customized trading options sports card enthusiasts. Assessing goals, item conditions, and pricing different outlets appropriately will help sellers maximize returns from their personal pieces of baseball history and memories. With transparency and safety precautions, today’s collectors have more selling choice than ever before.

WHERE TO SELL BASEBALL CARDS FOR CASH

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One of the best places to sell baseball cards for cash is on eBay. eBay has one of the largest sports card collector and buyer bases in the world. This large customer base helps ensure that rarer and more valuable cards will receive optimal prices. When selling on eBay, it’s important to give the listing detailed pictures that clearly showcase the condition of the card. The description should also thoroughly explain any flaws. Many collectors research serial numbers and specific card variants, so provide all relevant details. For efficient selling, group less valuable base cards into multi-card lots to reduce listing fees.

Another great option is to take your cards to a local card and collectibles shop. While shops need to make a profit when reselling cards, they have the expertise to rapidly assess values. It’s wise to call ahead of a visit to inquire about the shop’s current buying prices for different sports and years. Be prepared to negotiate slightly, but don’t settle for far below the fair market price. Some shops offer consignment selling options where they list your cards online with a commission taken once they sell. This can potentially reach more buyers than selling yourself.

For more rare and higher end cards that could be worth hundreds or thousands, consigning with an established sports auction house is a smart choice. Major auctioneers like Heritage Auctions and Lelands provide authentication, high quality professional grading if needed, and international marketing to qualified collectors. While auction houses take larger commissions than a local shop, their networks and reputations help maximize values. With auction consignment, cards are included in scheduled auction catalogs and then sold live or through electronic bidding.

Another monetization route is to sell on a specialized sports card marketplace like eBay or COMC. These sites cater specifically to card collectors and have robust search and validation tools. It’s easy to check recent “sold” prices to help assess your card’s worth. Listings include high resolution scans of the front and back, and condition details. Buyers are often more serious collectors who accurately value condition differences. While fees are slightly higher than a local shop, you gain broader exposure from active collectors globally.

For common base cards in lower grades, selling in large bulk lots to online sports card volume buyers can net cash quickly. Sites like DaCardWorld and BlowoutCards.com have “wants lists” of sets and players they actively purchase. Though prices per card are lower this way, it saves time and effort versus listing individually. Ensure any valuable “hits” are removed first before bulk selling common parallel cards. Volume buyers resell in theme team/player packs.

For maximizing baseball card values when selling for cash, eBay, local card shops, auction houses and specialized online sports card marketplaces are recommended for obtaining fair market prices based on each card’s rarity and condition. Selling carefully in large bulk lots is an option too if you have many common duplicates to unload efficiently. With thorough researching of “sold” prices and consignment of key cards, sellers can monetize growing collections appropriately for optimal cash returns.