The first step when sorting your baseball cards to sell is to gather all of the cards you want to go through together in one place. Having everything organized in one area will make the sorting process much more efficient. You may want to sort through long boxes of cards you have stored away or bins where you keep loose cards.
Once you have gathered all the cards, the next step is to do a basic initial sort. Start by separating all the cards out by sport. This initial sort allows you to focus just on your baseball cards rather than getting distracted by other sports mixed in. Within the baseball cards, do a rough sort by era. You can split them into pre-1980s, 1980s-1990s, 2000s to present as a start.
With the baseball cards pulled out and sorted by era, you are ready for a more detailed sorting process. At this stage, sort the cards alphabetically by player last name. Use the stat-tracking sheets that come with new packs of cards or create your own spreadsheet to record the players as you sort. Documenting each card as you go makes it much easier to find specific cards later for buyers.
As you alphabetize, also take note of any star players, rookie cards, or otherwise high-value cards you come across. It’s a good idea to pull these premium cards aside into their own separate piles to feature more prominently later. Take the time to research online even basic details like the player, year, team to verify condition and estimate value. Well-cared for rookie cards of hall of fame players can sell for hundreds or thousands.
In addition to sorting by player name, you’ll also want to sort by sport within baseball – by team. Divide the cards out into the different MLB franchises so buyers can easily find the cards they want of their favorite teams. Again, record inventory as you sort to keep track of what cards you have available from each team.
Grading condition is another important part of the sorting process. Take the time to carefully examine each card, front and back, under good lighting. Note details like centering, edges, and corners using the standard grading scales. Assign each card a condition grade of Poor, Good, Very Good, Near Mint, or Mint which will affect its value. You can group cards by grade to better market their condition upfront to buyers.
Beyond sorting, you will also want to consider the method you will use to sell your sorted baseball card collection. Popular options include holding a live garage sale, selling via online auctions on platforms like eBay, or setting up a vendor table at local card shows and conventions. How you choose to sell may also influence how you sort – for example whether to divide out cards into lots based on teams, players, or condition grades.
Be sure to store your sorted baseball card collection securely until you’re ready to sell. Longboxes for larger collections or smaller 4-pocket pages and toploaders for individual premium cards help protect the condition you assessed during sorting. Storing together by player, team, etc preserves the organization of your inventory up until sale.
Taking the time thoroughly sort your baseball cards as outlined can pay off much more than just dumping boxes of unsorted cards online or at a sale. Potential buyers appreciate easy organization to quickly find what they want. And maximizing sort details like grading, separating stars, and recording inventory helps optimize the value you can get for your collection. Let me know if any part of the sorting process needs more explanation!
