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WHERE CAN I SELL BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL CARDS

Online Marketplaces:

eBay – eBay is one of the largest and most popular online marketplaces for collecting selling cards of all types. With millions of active buyers, eBay gives you access to a huge potential audience. Listing is free and eBay only charges final value fees only if the item actually sells. You’ll want to take good photos of the cards, accurately describe condition and include measurements. Be prepared to ship cards safely and quickly.

COMC (Cardboard Connection) – Formerly called “Collectors Universe,” COMC allows you to sell individual cards or bulk lots. They offer grading services and will also sell cards on eBay on your behalf for a commission fee. One benefit is they handle all shipping and customer service so you don’t have to. They do take a larger cut of the sale compared to selling directly on eBay yourself.

Sportscardforum.com – This is a busy online marketplace and forum specifically for sports cards. You can create want lists, make offers to buyers, and sell individual cards or lots. The fees are lower than eBay but the audience is smaller as well. Be sure to read all selling and shipping guidelines before posting listings.

Local Card Shops:

Search online directories or ask other collectors to find local card shops in your area. Many specialize in buylists where they will make offers to purchase collections outright or take cards on consignment. Consignment means the shop sells the cards for you and you split the profits, usually 60% for you. This allows you to bypass upfront fees but the shop takes a larger cut.

Show up during busy hours and bring well-organized cards sleeved and sorted by sport and player. Be prepared to negotiate and understand recent sold prices on platforms like eBay to know what is fair. Cards shops are handy for unloading lots of lower-value cards all at once.

Card Shows and Conventions:

Use event websites like SportsCardsShows.com to find regularly scheduled card shows within driving distance. These are trade shows where individual sellers rent tables to display thousands of cards for sale. Browse the entire show before deciding on table pricing, which can range from $30-100 depending on the size of the show.

Set up your inventory neatly organized and priced. It’s best to accept all major credit cards throughSquare, Clover, or similar portable card readers for ease of transactions. Bring small supplies like toploaders, sleeves to protect cards during sales. Be prepared for negotiating and expect sales to be slower than online platforms.

Facebook Groups:

Search Facebook for groups dedicated to buying and selling sports cards for specific teams, players, or years. Some of the most active have 10,000+ members. Post clear photos of your items with detailed descriptions and reasonable “or best offer” pricing to stimulate interest. Buyers may contact you directly to arrange payment and shipping.

Use PayPal Goods & Services or Venmo Goods & Services to protect yourself, don’t accept payments without tracking orsignture confirmation. Meet buyers locally if possible in a public place for cash transactions. Read all group rules carefully before posting to avoid scammers.

EBay and Instagram are great for broad exposure but take larger cuts. COMC and consignment shops simplify the work for a portion of profits. Local shows and groups provide face-to-face selling opportunities while card shops are handy for quick bulk transactions. Research the options and use a combination that fits your collection size, time commitment and selling goals. With diligence, you can earn solid returns by capitalizing on today’s active pop culture collectibles market.

WHERE TO BUY BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL CARDS

Local Card/Collectible Shops – Many cities and towns have smaller local shops that are dedicated entirely to trading cards and other collectibles. These stores tend to have a great selection of both new and vintage cards. Some advantages of local shops include supporting small businesses, easily seeing the card condition in person, and often finding knowledgeable staff that can provide recommendations. Local shops are ideal for rummaging through boxes looking for rare finds.

National Retail Chains – Large retail chains that sell cards include Walmart, Target, and CVS. While the card selection may not be as extensive as specialty shops, these retailers have the advantage of availability in most areas. Cards from the most recent seasons will usually be readily in stock. The prices tend to be a bit higher compared to other sources.

Online Sports Card Sites – Dedicated online sports card retailers are a great option for buying cards from the comfort of home. Some top options include Dave and Adam’s Card World, Blowout Cards, Steel City Collectibles, Beckett, and Topps.com. These sites allow searching their extensive databases to find specific players, teams, years, and more. Some advantages are being able to easily compare prices between sellers, reviews on product and seller quality, and large selections of vintage cards. You cannot physically examine the card condition beforehand.

Auction Websites – Sites like eBay and Heritage Auctions are popular places to bid on individual rare/valuable cards, complete sets, and card lots. You may find excellent vintage cards or rare serial numbered parallels for competitive prices. The condition cannot be guaranteed, so it’s best to closely examine photos when bidding. Being outbid is also a risk. Reliable authenticators like PSA, BGS, SGC help ensure legitimate rare cards.

Card Shows – Regularly scheduled local and national sports card shows bring together hundreds of vendors under one roof to buy, sell, and trade cards. This is a great way to root through boxes of dealers’ inventory and negotiate Face-to-Face. Shows occur year-round across the U.S. and are listed on sites like Beckett.com/shows. Admission fees apply but major shows are like a sports card paradise. Condition and authenticity are assured in-person.

Online Community Marketplaces – Websites like Facebook Marketplace let users nationally buy and sell cards directly with other collectors/dealers. Prices tend to be reasonable since transactions avoid traditional retailer/shop overhead. Communication with sellers to assess condition is key. Payment safety/return policies need to be established if ordering cards you can’t physically inspect first. Positive public reviews matter for building trust.

Peer-to-Peer Buying/Selling – Beyond online marketplaces, collecting communities like subreddit forums and Facebook groups also include peer-to-peer sales sections where individuals advertise available cards. This is a great way to find collection-specific niche items since resources are directly consumer-to-consumer. Trust and communication are essential since there are no third-party protections. Meetups ensure condition assessments before exchanges if possible.

For convenience and selection the top options are big online card sites, but for unique vintage finds, keen negotiations and social experiences – local hobby shops and nationwide card shows usually provide the best bang for the buck when hunting treasures to fuel your baseball or football card collections. Thorough research no matter the buying method helps ensure satisfaction and that any rare acquisitions live up to the perceived value.

ARE BASEBALL FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL CARDS WORTH ANYTHING

The condition and rarity of the card are two of the most important factors that influence a card’s value. For a card to have significant monetary value, it needs to be in near-mint or mint condition. Even minor flaws like wrinkles, creases, or edge wear can greatly reduce what a card is worth. The rarer the player, team, or specific card variation, the more valuable it will tend to be. For example, rookie cards for star players often have higher value since fewer were produced when those athletes were first breaking into their sport. Numbered parallels and unique autograph or memorabilia cards are also rarer and therefore command a premium.

Vintage cards, or ones printed prior to the 1980s, also have potential for higher worth since far fewer survived in good shape compared to more modern issues. This is especially true for cards featuring legendary players from baseball’s early decades right up through the 1970s. Condition is even more crucial for older cardboard, as the factors of time and storage over many years make pristine survivors quite rare indeed. Regardless of vintage, cards depicting iconic athletes at the height of their careers, such as Michael Jordan in a Chicago Bulls uniform, will generally attract serious collectors.

The specific player, team, or league featured also affects worth. Cards highlighting universally acknowledged all-time greats like Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky, or Michael Jordan are always in high demand. Rookies of modern superstars like LeBron James or Tom Brady that showed early signs of excellence maintain interest. Iconic franchises with nationwide followings like the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Lakers lend extra value when their players, managers, or specific team sets are featured on cards. Meanwhile, relatively obscure sporting leagues or athletes are less coveted outside niche collections.

Beyond condition and rarity, a sports card’s price tag ultimately depends on supply and demand dynamics. Popular cards facing scarce availability due to rarity or scarcity of high-grade specimens will command top dollar. Conversely, overproduced cards depicting once-hyped players whose careers fizzled hold little value today. Anything that increases collector interest in a given player, team or vintage further bolsters demand and associated prices. Major milestones, championships, statistical achievements, and cultural impact sustain long-term collectability for some issues.

Organized sports card grades assigned by authoritative services like PSA or BGS also strongly affect worth. Receiving high marks of MT-8 or above from these companies indicates a card has been professionally verified as very well-preserved, instilling collector confidence and a premium price point. Raw or ungraded cards can still appeal to collectors pursuing projects or sets on a budget. Grading is also an extra cost that may exceed any added value return depending on an item’s commonality.

Another factor determining card value revolves around the greater sports memorabilia market. Bullish periods that intensify interest in collecting across numerous sports see cardboard prices follow suit. Correspondingly, recessionary times when discretionary spending declines can negatively pressure values industry-wide. Short-term hype stemming from playoff runs, awards races, retirements or trade rumors may artificially spike prices of featured players’ cards too before settling at sustainable levels. Ultimately, as with any collectible category, actual past transaction prices set the benchmark that today’s buyers and sellers use to inform offers.

Whether a baseball, football or basketball card holds significant monetary worth depends on careful assessment of its individual traits, the greater collecting landscape and dynamic supply-demand principles. Condition, rarity, player or team prominence, organized grading, year of issue, overall market conditions must all be weighed to understand approximate value. While common cards in poor condition may only be worth pennies, the rarest gems could command thousands or more from dedicated collectors willing to pay top dollar. For informed collectors, the potential is there for both hobby enjoyment and long-term store of value embedded in cards from any of these three major sports.

WHERE CAN I SELL MY BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL CARDS

Online Auction Sites:

Ebay is likely the most well known option for selling sports cards online through auctions. There is immense traffic on eBay with millions of active buyers bidding on cards every day. As the world’s largest online auction site, you can list individual cards, sets, or your entire collection and let the market determine the price. eBay takes a final value fee that is typically 10% of the sale price. Some benefits are immense buyer reach and ability to set reserve prices. Downsides include fees and risk of issues with shipping or payments.

Another popular auction site is Heritage Auctions. They specialize more in high-end, valuable cards but also accept normal cards. Expect lower overall traffic but possibly higher prices with established professional seller to assist. Advantages are specialist site focused on collectibles and authentication of truly valuable cards. Disadvantages are higher listing fees and smaller buyer base.

Sports Card and Memorabilia Sites:

Two of the most well-established sports card sites perfect for direct sales not auctions are Blowoutcards.com and Sportscardforum.com. Both have large active communities and allow you to list individual cards or lots for a fixed price. Benefits are no listing/selling fees, targeted sports card collector audience, and ability to include photos and details. Downsides are lower overall traffic versus auction sites. You have to set competitive fixed prices.

Local Card Shops:

Taking your cards into local independent card shops allows you to potentially sell to other collectors in person. Upsides are immediate cash payment and assessment of condition. Most shops will just buy collections outright with an offer after assessing condition and value. Disadvantages are shops need profit margin so you won’t get true market value, limited buyer reach, and shops may not want common cards.

Online Consignment Stores:

Services like consignment stores allow you sell your cards through their online storefronts for a commission, typically 20-30% of sale price. Major ones are DaCardWorld, SportsCardSellers.com, and PWCC Marketplace. Advantages are ability to tap their expertise, reach of established online store, and cards get prominent visibility. Drawbacks are the large commission percentage charged and cards may take time to sell through their inventory.

In-Person Shows and Events:

Attending major national or regional card shows gives access to thousands of collectors gathered in once place on a given weekend. You can rent a table and bring your cards to sell yourself or simply walk the aisles and try to make deals with other dealers. Upside is instant offers and interaction but you have to invest in travel and table space. Tougher to reach scale with one-off weekend shows.

Facebook Groups and forums:

Active Facebook groups dedicated to trading/selling specific sport franchises are a decent alternative way to move cards locally or nationally. Make a post with details and photos, and let potential buyers reach out to ask questions and negotiate a sale. Free exposure but smaller targeted audience versus mainstream sites. Can be hassle arranging payments and shipping with unknown online buyers.

When choosing where to sell, consider factors like your collection size, target price points, desired time effort, and whether you aim for single high-value cards or want full buy offers on entire lots. With diligence, research, and playing to the strengths of each platforms, you can maximize profits reselling your sports cards collection. Just be sure to only do business with trusted established sellers or platforms to avoid scams.

ARE BASEBALL CARDS WORTH MORE THAN FOOTBALL CARDS

Classic baseball cards from the early 1900s until the 1980s tend to be worth more money on average compared to classic football cards from the same era. There are a few key factors that have led to baseball cards appreciating more in value over time:

Baseball has been around much longer than football as an organized professional sport. Baseball began gaining widespread popularity in the late 1800s and established itself as America’s pastime through the early and middle decades of the 20th century. This gave baseball cards a much longer history and collecting tradition to build value over multiple generations. The oldest football cards date back only to the 1930s and 1940s, while baseball cards have been produced since the late 1880s. This extensive early history and longevity as a collectible item has worked in baseball cards’ favor.

Player availability and scarcity play a role. There are only 25-man MLB rosters compared to 53-man NFL rosters. This means that for a given year, there are considerably fewer baseball players featured on cards compared to football players. With fewer produced of any single player’s card, the rarity is higher, which drives up prices for key vintage cards of baseball legends. Football rosters also saw more turnover year-to-year in the early days before free agency, meaning fewer players had sustained long careers spotlighted on multiple football cards like baseball stars did.

Baseball is a regional sport with no home-field advantage, meaning cards had wider geographic appeal. In the time before leagues consolidated, dozens of minor and major baseball teams operated across the country. Meanwhile, the NFL was concentrated in fewer major cities for much of the 20th century. As such, early baseball cards were collected nationwide given that almost every town had at least a minor league team to follow, building a huge base of potential collectors. While football fandom spread everywhere in the postwar TV era, baseball cards had deeper roots all over America for setting values.

Some of the most high-profile early sports card sets heavily feature baseball players instead of football players. Examples include the iconic 1909-11 T206 cigarette cards, 1911 Imperial Tobacco cards, and 1951 Bowman set. Featuring the games’ all-time greats like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Honus Wagner in mint condition in these seminal issues commands the highest prices on the market. No comparable rookie cards exist for early NFL stars given the comparatively later development of organized professional football leagues and card production.

Several individual vintage baseball cards are considerably rarer and thus more expensive than even the rarest football cards. The highest price ever paid for a single sports card was $5.2 million for a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card in 2016. The second-highest price was $3.12 million for a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. No football card even approaches those individual values yet, even extremely rare examples. Simply put, the most important and condition-sensitive early 20th century baseball cards are statistically the rarest of the rare in the entire industry.

That said, certain subsets of classic football cards do appreciate well – namely, the higher-end issues from the 1950s and 1960s when the NFL first began attracting a national television audience. Rookie cards of legends like Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, and Joe Namath carry premiums in top grades. Full sets of 1950s-era sets like 1953 Bowman, 1957 Topps, or 1966 Topps are also comparatively valuable. But they still don’t approach the ceiling prices that elite pre-WWII baseball cards routinely sell for.

In contemporary times from the 1970s onward, the values become much more comparable depending on specific years, sets, and individual player cards between baseball and football. Modern rookies of stars like Mike Trout, LeBron James, or Patrick Mahomes can each sell for thousands. But in the collectibles industry as a whole, nothing has quite matched the long-term blue-chip appreciation of vintage (pre-1950) tobacco and gum baseball cards, which regularly set new public records.

So while rare, condition-sensitive vintage football cards absolutely hold significant value, the sustained higher demand over decades has buoyed early baseball cards to a disproportionately higher overall market and prestige. They enjoy clear “pride of place” as the most historically important and among the most likely to gain greater rarity premiums with passing time. Yet there is crossover appeal, and newer generations are increasingly collecting all major American sports cards – meaning in the future, some football cards could potentially reach iconic baseball card valuation levels with time. But for now, when it comes to vintage material, baseball maintains a strong edge.

Decades of wider geographic reach, fewer players per sport, individual ultra-rare specimens, and featuring in seminal early sets have conferred major long-term advantages to classic pre-1950 baseball cards over comparable football issues of the same eras. Statistical rarity, hobby enthusiasm, and blue-chip status have elevated certain exemplars like the T206 Wagner to pinnacle prices. While pristine vintage footballs absolutely demand premium dollar amounts, baseball cards from the early professional game’s formative decades have proven to appreciate the furthest overall to become worth substantially more than their gridiron card counterparts.

WHO BUYS BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL CARDS NEAR ME

Many local hobby shops, comic book stores, and game stores buy and sell sports cards. These types of stores are a great first stop to see who in your area may be interested in your card collection. Be sure to call individual stores ahead of time to check their current interest in buying cards, as their needs can vary depending on what types of cards they are looking to acquire for resale.

Local card shops are a staple for many sports card collectors and sellers. These dedicated card shops specialize exclusively in trading cards of all varieties, including all the major sports. Beyond just being a marketplace to buy and sell individual cards, many card shops also run events like release parties for new card products, organize collectible card games, and host tournaments. Visiting local card shops is a great way to join a community of fellow collectors. Be prepared to have your cards reviewed and priced individually by the shop owners, who are experts in valuing cards based on condition, player, year, and many other factors that determine market value.

If you have a large collection of cards to sell rather than just individual high-value pieces, card shops may be more willing to make purchase offers. For complete collections, you will usually get a better price through a private sale to another established collector. Card shop owners need to factor in their costs and then resell cards at a profit, so private sales can potentially net a seller a higher overall price.

Beyond local brick-and-mortar shops, many online sellers specialize in purchasing collections and single cards through the mail or freight. Websites like Sportscardforum.com allow users to create “want to buy” posts to find potential sellers. This is a quick way to reach many collectors across a wide area. Be aware that selling to an online buyer requires packing and shipping your cards securely, and you miss out on personally inspecting interested buyers like you could locally. Online buyers also factor in shipping costs into their purchase offers.

Auction houses are another excellent option, especially if you have extremely rare and valuable vintage cards worth thousands or even tens of thousands individually. National auction companies like Heritage Auctions and Lelands regularly sell complete collections and big name individual cards through their online auctions. While auctions take a commission percentage, they provide the most exposure possible to attract serious in-the-know collectors from around the world. This creates competitive bidding that can result in maximum prices, but auctions require patience as you wait for the sale to conclude.

As a last resort if you cannot find interested buyers, some stores like comic book shops may purchase entire collections as “bullk lots” sold by weight. This ensures they can resell at least the common cards, but bulk prices mean you likely won’t get top dollar. It clears out your collection if nothing else has worked. An option like this is better than keeping cards tucked away in the attic not being enjoyed by other collectors.

When selling to any buyer, make sure to carefully package your cards securely with cardboard, plastic sleeves, and taped seams to protect during shipping. Clearly list all contents for the buyer to verify receipt. Ask for payment via a service like PayPal to protect yourself as the seller. Getting your cards in the hands of interested collectors is very satisfying for any sports card trading enthusiast looking to liquidate part of their treasured collection. With many buyers options available locally and beyond, you are sure to find someone to appreciate the cards as much as you have. Good luck with selling your sports cards!

WHO BUYS FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL CARDS

There are a few main groups who buy and collect football and baseball cards. This includes both casual collectors and serious investors and enthusiasts.

Casual collectors: Many casual collectors got their start collecting cards as kids and still enjoy the hobby today. This includes people who casually collect to reminisce about their childhood or favorite players and teams. They enjoy putting together sets or assembling teams from different eras. Casual collectors are generally not too focused on value and will collect cards from many different years. They may spend $50-100 per month casually adding to their collections.

Serious collectors: More serious collectors are dedicated to building a high-quality collection focused around a particular player, team, set, or genre of cards. They research values and hunt for rare rookie cards or iconic moments to capture on card form. Serious collectors are willing to spend hundreds or thousands per month acquiring elite cards to grade and hold long-term. Many focus on vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s or rare modern rookie cards that could appreciate significantly.

Kid collectors: Younger collectors, usually between 8-16 years old, also make up a portion of the market. They may collect cards as a hobby to learn about players, fill out sets, or trade with friends. Parents, grandparents, and other family members often buy cards for kids. The youth market helps sustain the industry.

Resellers/investors: Those involved in the sports card reselling and investing sector make up a growing portion of buyers. Online resellers study the market, buy undervalued cards, grade and resell them for profit. Investors see cards as an alternative asset class and hold cards long-term or flip them opportunistically based on player performance. Resellers are quick to acquire rookie cards of hyped prospects or stars after big games/moments that spike short-term interest.

Team/player fans: Diehard fans of specific NFL teams or MLB franchises often collect cards featuring their favorite squads or notable alumni. Fans may acquire game-used relic cards, autographed memorabilia, or rookie cards of franchise heroes to showcase their fandom. Stars like Tom Brady, LeBron James, Mike Trout gain dedicated collectors who follow their entire careers capturing on cardboard.

Nostalgic former players: Retired MLB/NFL stars occasionally get back into the hobby, chasing icons from their childhoods or collecting their own rookie cards. Some retirees view cards as a link to appreciating the history of their sport. Former pros network within their leagues to build collections. Occasionally they surface lost cards from attics that become valuable finds.

Auction/collectibles businesses: Major auction houses like PWCC, Goldin, and Heritage help facilitate big card sales. Their staff includes experts who evaluate collections, run consignment services for sellers, and market rare items to elite buyers. Collectibles dealers/stores further fuel the commerce surrounding cards and provide liquidity within the marketplace.

Event/convention attendees: Comic cons, card shows, and sporting memorabilia exhibitions draw thousands who attend primarily for trading, networking within the community, or browsing tables in hopes of finding steals. Vendors across tables foster renewed interest in players/teams and make easy additions to collections.

The diverse groups that make up football and baseball card buyers range from casual kids to diehard fans, speculators seeking profit, past pros managing heirlooms, and nostalgic collectors recapturing memories. The marketplace brings all these collectors together around shared interests in athletes, competitions, history, and alternative assets.

ARE BASEBALL OR FOOTBALL CARDS WORTH MORE

The answer to whether baseball or football trading cards are worth more is complex and depends on many factors. Long-term historical trends show that vintage baseball cards from the early 20th century are more valuable than vintage football cards from that same era. For more modern cards from the last few decades, the value difference between baseball and football has diminished and in some cases football cards may have the potential to be worth more depending on the player, year, and condition of the card.

To understand why vintage baseball cards have been more valuable historically, it’s important to look at the respective histories of each sport and how their trading card industries developed. Baseball has been around as a professional sport in the United States since the late 1800s and became hugely popular in the early 20th century, establishing itself as America’s pastime. This meant that baseball card production began earlier, starting around 1910 with the iconic T206 Honus Wagner tobacco card issue. Major cigarette companies and candy companies competed to include baseball cards in their products to help sell more to young boys who collected them. Production of baseball cards ramped up significantly in the 1920s and 1930s with hugely popular sets like Goudey, Diamond Stars, Play Ball and others. This early explosion of baseball card production meant that by the 1950s there were hundreds of different baseball card sets issued compared to just a handful for other sports like football which was still establishing itself professionally.

Football’s professional league, the NFL, would not come into being until 1920 and took much longer to grow in popularity nationally compared to baseball. As a result, meaningful football card production did not start until the late 1930s with sets like Playmates and Tatman. These early football card issues had much lower print runs typically numbering in the thousands compared to the hundreds of thousands or millions for the baseball sets of that era. The other factor was that prior to the 1950s, most of the early college and professional football players did not become household names or achieve lasting fame like the stars of that baseball era such as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Lou Gehrig. As such, those scarce early football cards never reached the same lofty levels of collector demand that top cards from the Goudey, T206, and Play Ball sets achieved in terms of rarity and monetary value.

By the 1950s and 1960s, production of football cards increased with more prominent sets like Topps, but they still paled in comparison to the vast number of baseball cards being issued. Top rookie stars from this football era such as Joe Namath, Jim Brown, and Johnny Unitas did gain lasting fame, but their cards never caught up to the demand and monetary value achieved by the most sought-after vintage baseball cards at auction. This was largely due to the much larger collecting base that had been established for baseball cards after over 40 years of enthusiastic issuing compared to just 15-20 years of major football card production to that point.

Another factor is that the supply side economics of vintage baseball cards versus vintage football cards is dramatically different. Millions more examples of pre-war baseball cards were printed and made their way into the hands of kids from the 1910s-1950s compared to the much smaller print runs of early pro football cards from the 1930s-1950s. Even common baseball players from the 1930s Goudey set command prices in the hundreds of dollars today due to the relatively low survival rate after over 80 years compared to millions originally printed. But a comparable common football player’s card from that same decade might sell for $20-50 due to their far scarcer production runs creating a much higher survival percentage. The same dynamic holds true up through the 1950s, giving vintage football cards less room to appreciate based on supply and demand.

Starting in the 1960s and continuing into the modern era, the gap between baseball and football card values has narrowed considerably. The NFL’s continuing rise in popularity through the 1960s coincided with the dawn of the modern sports collecting frenzy fueled by the launch of Topps in 1956. As Topps and others began mass producing football cards on par with their output of baseball, basketball and other sports, collectors no longer viewed football cards as a secondary category. Icons of the 1960s like Joe Namath from the NFL began establishing the same long term, multi-generational fame attained previously only by baseball legends. This translated to high demand as their rookie and formative years cards entered the collecting marketplace many years later.

By the 1970s and 1980s, lucrative NFL television contracts and explosive growth across all major men’s pro sports reset the standard for athletes salaries and endorsement deals. This supercharged the collecting hobby with many new young participants chasing stars across all sports equally. Rival card companies like Fleer and Donruss expanded offerings and Competition drove larger print runs. Combined with the booming economy, sports cards became a mass market collectible instead of just being bought by children as a fun diversion in wax packs and bubblegum. As the generations that grew up closely following football in this era reach adulthood and accumulated wealth, their nostalgia has supported strong long term collector demand and values for stars of the 1960s through modern day.

One other factor that has served to elevate the value profile of some non-baseball cards starting in the 1990s has been rare, short print parallel insert cards featuring single star players. Examples include extremely scarce serial numbered rookie or memorabilia patch cards of NFL greats like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice or legends in other sports. The ultra low print runs, often only serially numbered to ten copies or less, create a dynamic where a single card can far surpass the value of even a rare early baseball card due to the intense competition to complete extremely limited subsets. This collector driven premium has driven football and basketball cards to achieve auction records that historically only baseball could command.

So to summarize – looking at collectible trading cards spanning 1890-present, vintage pre-war and early 20th century baseball cards from sets like T206, Goudey, Play Ball etc. will generally have the highest values due to their immense early production and the massive collecting base built up over generations. But for more modern cards from the 1960s onward through present day, the gap has closed considerably and coveted rookie cards or serial numbered parallel patches of elite NFL stars often rival or surpass their baseball counterparts depending on condition, year and player. With both sports now commanding eight figure prices at auction for their most iconic single cards, the overall valuation difference between baseball and football has essentially disappeared for cards issued since 1960.

While vintage baseball cards from the early 1900s will likely always hold an intrinsic worth premium based simply on their massive production head start, collector demand for football cards has grown tremendously. For cards issued during the past 50+ years, either baseball or football cards have the potential to be more valuable depending greatly on the individual players and specific card qualifications rather than simply the overall sport. The modern sports collecting marketplace has evolved to prize cards depicting stars from all major professional leagues quite competitively when condition and scarcity are considered.

WHERE TO SELL BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL CARDS

Online Marketplaces:

eBay – eBay is one of the largest and most popular sites to sell sports cards online. They have a huge user base of buyers looking for cards. As the biggest platform, eBay gives you access to the most potential customers. Listing on eBay is free, though you will have to pay seller and listing fees for each sale. Photos and detailed descriptions are important to get top dollar. You can set minimum prices or use an auction format.

Comc.com – ComicConnect.com (COMC) is a major online marketplace focused specifically on collectibles like cards. They have a large database of prices to help value cards. You send your cards to COMC to have them graded and authenticated if applicable, then they list and store the cards for you. They take a cut of each sale but handle the transactions. This reduces risk of scams or issues compared to individual sales.

130point.com – 130point.com bills itself as the largest peer-to-peer sports marketplace. Similar listing features to eBay but targeting the sports collecting audience. Lower fees make it appealing for individual card sales.

Buy/Sell Groups on Facebook:

Sports collecting communities have many active buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook. The largest, like Sportscardforum Marketplace or Baseball Card Exchange have hundreds of thousands of members. These groups allow individuals to post photos of individual cards or full collections for sale. Buyers often prefer to purchase directly from collectors rather than stores. You’ll need to negotiate shipping and payments yourself though.

Direct to Local Stores:

Local comic book, collectibles and card shops often buy collections and individual high-value cards directly. Stopping in with a shoebox of cards may yield quicker cash than online sales. Stores are familiar with current market values and demand for local teams or players. You won’t get top recent eBay prices usually but no fees and immediate payment. Call ahead to check store policies and purchase limits.

Card Shows:

Regional hobby shops, stadiums and convention centers host weekend card shows bringing together hundreds of vendors, dealers and collectors. You can peruse tables for singles, meet collectors and get a sense of current prices. With a box of organized cards, you can try hawking them table to table to find the right buyer. Brining a small inventory makes it worth the time and entrance fees. Networking is key for future buyers too.

Online Grading & Consignment:

Professional grading companies like PSA, BGS, and SGC don’t buy cards outright but offer consignment services. They’ll grade and authenticate desirable vintage orstar rookie cards for a fee. Then include the now-slabbed card in their online auctions getting top recent sale prices. With options for minimum auction prices, you reach far more qualified buyers than small individual sales. But it involves upfront costs and waiting periods that aren’t viable for common bulk cards.

For a large collection or higher end individual cards – consignment, eBay, Facebook groups and card shows provide highest potential returns. Local stores are best for quicker bulk unloading of common cards. Research is needed to understand market values and platform/service fees to make the most profitable choice. With the right presentation and research, motivated sellers have many good outlets available.

WHAT BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL CARDS ARE WORTH MONEY

One of the most famous and valuable baseball cards is the 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner card. Widely considered the “holy grail” of baseball cards, it is one of the rarest cards in existence with only around 50-200 known to still exist today in various conditions. Just a few years ago, one mint condition example sold at auction for $3.12 million, setting a new record. Other early 20th century tobacco era cards like the 1910-1911 White Border set and 1913 Watkin cigarette cards can also fetch huge sums for rare examples in the best condition grades.

For those just after World War II, the 1952 Topps and 1953 Bowman sets contained the rookie cards of legends like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and more. High graded copies of their rookie cards can sell for well over $100,000. The late 1950s saw the rise of the bubble gum card era with Topps as the dominant brand. While most common examples aren’t too valuable, rare variations like the 1957 Topps Ted Williams with gray backing can sell for over $20,000 in top condition.

The 1960s delivered iconic rookie cards like the 1965 Topps Sandy Koufax (over $40,000), 1968 Topps Johnny Bench (over $50,000), and 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan ($100,000+). Topps continued to dominate through the 1970s as well. Some particularly desirable and valuable 1970s cards include the 1973 Topps Johnny Bench (over $12,000), 1975 Topps Mike Schmidt (over $5,000), and en masse the high graded rookie cards from the great rookie classes of the late 1970s like the 1979 Topps Cal Ripken Jr.

The late 1980s brought about the modern baseball card boom with companies like Upper Deck entering the scene and use of glossy stock/photography becoming standard. Expensive 1980s rookies include the infamous 1988 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. ($10,000+), 1986 Topps Mark McGwire (over $3,000), and 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. ($5,000+). The early 1990s rookie classes continued to produce valuables like the 1992 Topps Chipper Jones and 1992 Bowman Derek Jeter autos.

In the modern era, limited print runs and autographed/memorabilia cards have driven values. Rare refractor parallels of stars’ rookie cards reign supreme. Examples include the 2001 Topps Chipper Jones auto refractor (/150 prints – $4,000+), 2003 Topps Freddie Freeman auto (/99 prints – $2,000+), and 2006 Topps David Wright auto (/99 prints – $1,500+). Serial numbered patch autographs of current superstars can easily top $1,000 as well thanks to their scarcity.

For football cards, some of the earliest icons setting record prices are the high-grade examples of 1948 Leaf Johnny Unitas and 1949 Bowman Joe Montana rookies. The 1950s also produced legendary rookie cards like 1953 Topps Jim Brown and 1958 Topps Johnny Unitas that command five-figure sums. Icons of the 1960s like 1965 Topps Dick Butkus, 1968 Topps Joe Namath and 1969 Topps O.J. Simpson have extremely valuable rookie cards as well.

The 1970s NFL boom years created new stars and a massive collector base. Key valuable 1970s rookies include the 1974 Topps Walter Payton, 1977 O-Pee-Chee Joe Montana, and 1978 Topps Earl Campbell. RCs of Joe Theismann, Dan Fouts, and others from the late ‘70s are also sought after. As with baseball, the 1980s brought glossier photography and new companies like Fleer and Score. Select rookies held their ground like the coveted 1983 Topps Lawrence Taylor.

In the modern era, rare parallels and autographs have defined football card values. Finest refractors of Randy Moss’s 1998 rookie year go for $3,000+. Serial numbered patch autographs of recent elite NFL players regularly sell for $500-$1,000 each. Limited print autograph runs of dual-sport stars like 2009 Playoff Jabrill Peppers (/10 prints) hold immense value as well. As in all collecting, condition, scarcity and the attached memorabilia all factor greatly into a football card’s top price potential.

The most monetarily significant cards from baseball and football tend to be the earliest 20th century tobacco issues, pre-war and 1950s-1980s iconic rookie cards graded high, and modern serialized memorabilia autos. Icon status, low print runs, and top grades are usually needed to command those big five- and six-figure prices. With continued collector demand, lower-print parallel inserts and autographs of even recent stars can carry mid-range values now and appreciate further over time as well. Condition remains vital, so properly stored and protected examples from any vintage will reap the highest rewards on the market.