Richard “Rich” Klein has been called a true pioneer in the baseball card industry. As the founder and owner of Sportscard Brokers and Sportscard Brokers Authenticated (formerly PSA/DNA Authenticated), Klein helped transform baseball cards from a childhood hobby into a serious collectible investment.
Born in 1952 in Merrick, New York, Klein grew up a diehard baseball fan during an era when the hobby of collecting cards was taking off. As a child, he spent hours sorting through his collection, analyzing the stats and photos on each card. This early passion would plant the seeds for Klein’s future career at the forefront of the exploding collectibles market.
In the late 1970s after graduating from SUNY Albany, Klein got his start in the industry working as a buyer and seller of vintage cards at card shows on the East Coast. It was a fledgling market still in its infancy, with hobbyists just beginning to recognize the potential long term value in high grade vintage cards from the early 20th century. Klein had an eye for condition and quality that served him well as he steadily built his inventory.
In 1983, Klein founded Sportscard Brokers in Long Island, NY as one of the first dedicated dealers bringing a professional approach to the buying and selling of vintage cards. Operating out of his home at first, he grew the fledgling business through customer service, competitive prices and a meticulous grading system for the condition of each card. His expertise was soon recognized within the small but growing hobby community.
A major turning point came in 1988 when Klein partnered with Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) to launch their authenticated vintage and modern sports cards service, which became known as PSA/DNA Authenticated. This revolutionary new third party grading system gave collectors confidence in the authenticity and condition of the cards they were purchasing, taking the hobby to an entirely new level of legitimacy. Cards verified and graded by PSA quickly became the gold standard, with authentication adding significant value.
Klein helped guide PSA’s authentication division through the 1990s as the collectibles market exploded, identifying potential fakes and working closely with submitters. By the mid-90s, PSA had graded over 20 million cards. Sportscard Brokers also continued expanding to become one of the largest and most trusted sources for rare vintage cards, known especially for its strength in pre-war tobacco issues.
In 2005, Klein purchased PSA’s authentication division and rebranded it as Sportscard Brokers Authenticated (SCA). He maintained the same rigorous standards that had earned such respect, while investing further in new authentication technologies like embedded holograms, ultraviolet ink and watermarking. SCA became the trusted alternative for collectors wanting a second opinion on their valuable holdings.
Under Klein’s leadership over the subsequent decade, vintage sports cards continued their ascent from curiosity to undisputed blue chip investment. The sale of the iconic Honus Wagner T206 cigarette card in 2016 for $3.12 million was a watershed moment,highlighting the new perception of conditioned rarities as financial assets rather than toys. Meanwhile, Sportscard Brokers remained an elite destination for six- and seven-figure transactions involving unrivaled collections.
Throughout his career, Klein’s expertise was frequently sought by the media, government agencies and law enforcement tasked with intercepting forgeries. He testified numerous times and played a key role in the prosecution of counterfeiters operating elaborate print shops. The collector community also came to see Klein as an important ambassador who advocated for the industry’s interests, such as intellectual property rights.
Now in his late 60s, Klein remains active in Sportscard Brokers Authenticated, which continues authenticating and encapsulating over 1 million cards annually in its New Jersey facility, and ensuring the integrity of high value deals through Sportscard Brokers. Not content to rest on his laurels, he also still buys, collects and attends shows, keeping up with the latest trends and players on the cutting edge of the marketplace.
Rich Klein’s pioneering contributions have secured his place among the most influential figures in the sports collectibles industry. Through vision, hard work and unequalled expertise, he helped give birth to a multi-billion dollar market and verify the authenticity of countless cherished childhood memories preserved as valuable assets. The standards he established continue shaping today’s thriving hobby for generations to come. For collectors worldwide, Klein’s name is practically synonymous with quality, trust and the rise of baseball cards from casual pastime to sophisticated investment. He remains one of the most respected authorities in his field.
