Going through baseball cards can be a fun nostalgic experience or an exciting hunt for valuable cards. There is no single right way to go through cards, but here are some tips and methods you may want to consider when sorting through your collection:
The first step is to organize your cards. Take out all the cards from their boxes, binders, sleeves, or wherever they are stored. If the cards are not in any particular order, start by sorting them by sport (baseball, basketball, hockey, etc.), then by year, and finally by team. Spread the cards out on a large table or floor space so you can easily see them all. As you go through the cards, remove any duplicates and set them aside – you won’t need to fully examine duplicates.
Once your cards are organized into piles by year and team, you can start your main examination. Go through each pile one at a time so you stay focused. Start with the oldest cards first since those vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s have the most potential value. Handle each card carefully by the edges so you don’t damage them. Take your time flipping through each pile – don’t rush through as valuable gems could be hiding anywhere in your collection.
As you look at each card, check for certain hallmarks that may increase its value significantly. Examine the condition and centering of the front of the card. Is it mint condition and perfectly centered? Look closely at the corners – are they sharp and undamaged or are they rounded/bent? On the back, check for creases, soft corners, or other flaws. Card condition is extremely important for value – a heavily worn card is probably only worth a dollar at most compared to a mint condition card of the same player which could be worth hundreds.
Also study each player featured on the card. Are they a star player, Hall of Famer, or rookie season card? Cards of superstar players tend to hold their value best. You’ll also want to note any special or unique aspects of the design or photo on the card. Error cards missing statistics or stats on the front for example can be quite rare and collectible. Take your time gazing at each card front and back under good lighting before putting it in a keep or common pile.
As you examine, group the cards you think may have special value into separate “premium pile(s)” based on player, condition, design etc. These are the cards you’ll want to research further. Use a card collecting price guide book, magazine or card database like Baseball Card Price Guide or PSA SMR Price Guide to look up estimated market values for each premium card in your piles. Checking recently sold listings on eBay is also a great way to gauge real world prices people are paying currently.
Once you’ve identified cards that appear especially valuable, consider getting them professionally graded. Companies like PSA, BGS, SGC assign official grades of mint, near mint etc. and slab the card in a hard plastic holder. This authentication significantly increases value for high-end vintage and rookie cards. Be aware that grading also requires money – usually $10-30 per card submitted depending on turnaround time. Only cards likely worth $50+ raw should be considered for grading usually.
The rest of your common cards, you can pretty quickly sort by team into binder pages, boxes or plastic card holders for storage and easy access later. Organize them alphabetically by team to have an easy to browse collection. Any problem cards in particularly rough shape could be candidate for the recycling bin if condition is too poor to reasonably expect anyone would want them.
Put your premium and graded collection in a safe, but don’t forget to continue enjoying your other cards by periodically taking them out to look through memories of great players and games. Revisiting old cards is half the fun! With the right organization, care and research, you may even find a hidden valuable that could help fund your next card collection adventures. Taking the time to thoroughly examine cards is well worth it for both nostalgia and potential reward.
