Tag Archives: sacramento

WHERE TO SELL BASEBALL CARDS IN SACRAMENTO

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Diamonds in the Rough Sports Cards – Located at 6934 Folsom Blvd Suite 101 in Sacramento, Diamonds in the Rough is one of the most well-known and trusted sports card shops in the area. They have a huge inventory of cards both for sale and trade and will buy individual cards or entire collections. Their knowledgeable staff can give you a fair price quote based on the condition and demand of each card. They pay in cash or will give you a store credit if you’d prefer to trade-in cards. Bring in your collection for an assessment and quick sale.

Old Sacramento Sportscards – Right in Old Sacramento at 1100 Front St, this shop has been buying and selling cards since 1992. They deal in all major sports but have an especially deep selection of baseball cards. Selling to Sportscards is handy if you want to shop around their store a bit after selling, as they have a huge retail space. Be prepared to negotiate if selling vintage cards or stars as they know market values well. Cash or store credit are the methods of payment.

Great Escape Comics and Cards – A multi-genre store with a strong baseball card inventory, Great Escape is located downtown at 1126 K St. They will purchase individual cards or complete collections. Be sure to have knowledge of conditions and values, as while they aim to offer fair prices, you may get a better deal elsewhere for very valuable cards. They pay in cash only after transactions. The sales counter is at the back of their spacious retail store.

Showtown Cards – In business since 1989, Showtown at 5909 Folsom Blvd specializes solely in sports cards. Sell your cards here to a dedicated customer base looking for inventory additions. They move cards quickly and have solid wholesale connections. You’ll likely get a competitive price quote good for cash or trade. Ask for owner Doug if selling an especially valuable find or full collection to ensure maximum return.

Card Castle Comics – A bit further away from downtown at 3401 Arden Way, but Card Castle has a loyal following and reasonable purchase prices. Owners Dan and Josh are avid collectors themselves, so know the value and demand nuances of different eras and players. Bring well-organized boxes for assessment. Be prepared to negotiate, as they aim for fair deals beneficial to both parties. Cash, store credit or trade are payment options.

Those are some of the best local options for selling your baseball cards in and around Sacramento. Be sure collections are sorted by sport/team and cards are in protective sleeves. Researching recent eBay sales can help establish realistic value expectations. With a bit of homework, you’re sure to find a satisfactory transaction at one of these trusted card shops.

SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS BASEBALL CARDS

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The Sacramento River Cats minor league baseball team has had their players featured on baseball cards over their 30+ years since arriving in Sacramento in 2000. As the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, River Cats players on the cusp of the major leagues have their baseball card collecting careers begin in Sacramento.

Some key information on River Cats baseball cards through the years:

The River Cats have been featured in several minor league baseball card sets since 2000 including those produced by Topps, Pacific, Leaf, and Select. The earliest River Cats cards come from 2000-2002 Pacific brand sets as that company had the minor league license at the time.

Notable River Cats players who have appeared on early minor league cards include Barry Zito, Noah Lowry, Jason Schmidt, and Benito Santiago. These were Giants stars of the early 2000s who honed their skills in Sacramento before MLB success. Low-print parallels and refractors of these stars can sell for $20-50 raw on the secondary market.

Topps took over the minor league license in 2003 and featured the River Cats prominently in their annual Allen & Ginter and Triple Play sets through the mid-2010s. insert cards showing off the distinctive Raley Field environment also appeared.

Popular subsets included Topps Chrome Refractors and Topps Sterling parallels, limited editions featuring refractors of future MLB all-stars Tim Lincecum, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner and others in River Cats uniforms fetch $50-150 based on player and parallel.

From 2007-2011, Pacific Brand again produced River Cats team sets exclusively for sale at Raley Field. These highlighted the Stars of Tomorrow like Lincecum and Posey early in their careers and have attained cult status among River Cats collectors. Completing a full Rainbow Foil parallel set could cost $300-500 today based on scarcity.

Other niche River Cats releases include in-park exclusive releases from companies like Stadium Club or Leaf over the years. Inserts featuring City Edition or Negro League Tribute uniforms also gave collectors new visuals of Sacramento’s club.

The River Cats debuted in Topps Pro Debut sets in 2011, a brand devoted to capturing prospects on the verge of the majors. Evan Longoria, Madison Bumgarner, and Brandon Belt are just some of the big names featured in Sacramento uniform before graduating to SF.

In the 2010s, Panini (owner of the Donruss brand) included River Cats in their Diamond Kings and Opening Day franchises, with parallels offering shiny refractors or Memorabilia swatches of players’ Sacramento tenures early in their careers.

Topps Chrome is acclaimed for featuring the River Cats most prominently with their photo variant parallels offering the best balance of rarity and aesthetics for collectors seeking Sacramento-originated rookies. A Buster Posey Purple Refractor could sell for $500-1000 based on 9/10 grade condition.

Specialty brands like Gypsy Queen also dedicated inserts showcasing unique Raley Field action shots or celebrating achievements of Sacramento alumni like All-Star Game MVPs or postseason heroes with World Series tags. Variations on these are big collector draws.

In the 2020s, Topps has the exclusive minor league license and continues featuring the River Cats in annual Series 1 and Allen & Ginter sets alongside teams going back to 2000. Players like Joey Bart starting to make their cardboard debut in Sacramento uniforms.

Sacramento has a rich heritage captured on cardboard through the years. River Cats sets and subsets provide a visual journey through some of the most acclaimed Giants talents early in their rise. For serious Pacific Coast League collectors, a River Cats binder offers a microcosm view of the farm system in action before the bright MLB lights. With over 25 future All-Stars getting their start in the state capital, Sacramento cards always attract attention from both Giants and prospects enthusiasts alike.

SACRAMENTO CRAIGSLIST BASEBALL CARDS

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Craigslist has long been a popular place for collectors in the Sacramento area to browse listings and potentially score great deals on baseball cards. Whether you’re a seasoned collector looking to add keys to your collection or a new enthusiast scanning listings to build your first sets, Craigslist Sacramento can be a goldmine if you know where to look.

Some general tips when browsing baseball cards on Craigslist include being wary of listings with prices that seem too good to be true, meeting sellers during daylight hours in a public place, and carefully examining any cards in person before completing a transaction. While most sellers have honest intentions, there are risks of being misled by fakes or forgeries without an expert eye. Taking basic precautions can help weed out potential issues.

A wide variety of baseball card collections from different eras frequently appear in the Sacramento sports/hobby section of Craigslist. Vintage cards from the 1950s and 1960s are plentiful given the rich history of the sport in California. Many collectors amassed large sets and collections during the boom periods and are now pruning them down. Examples from this era that show up with some regularity include 1951 Bowman, 1957 Topps, 1969 Topps, and 1967 Topps. These sets hold nostalgia value for collectors of a certain age and also appeal to investors given the iconic rookies and hall of famers they feature.

The 1970s produced some of the most visually striking designs in cardboard history like 1972 and 1975 Topps, which translates to steady Craigslist interest locally. RCs (rookie cards) of all-time greats like George Brett, Nolan Ryan, and Dave Winfield move quickly when priced reasonably. Complete 1971/72/73/74/75 Topps sets in well-kept condition can be had for a few hundred dollars, a relative bargain versus single card prices on the grading market. Beyond specific stars, this era and the 1960s deliver interesting regional players from the San Francisco Seals, Sacramento Solons, and Oakland Oaks minor league affiliates.

The junk wax era of the late 80s/early 90s spawned an overproduction of cards that drives their Craigslist value almost comically low today. Entering collectors on tight budgets still flock toward listings as it allows starting full sets and player collections for small amounts of money. The 1991 Topps Traded and 1992 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. RC remain widely desired even in the midst of overwhelming supply. 1991 Donruss Series 2 has also maintained popularity thanks to spectacular image variations like the “borderless” parallel.

Modern issues like 2021 Topps Series 1 can be had below retail prices still sealed on Craigslist within weeks or months of release as the initial hype dies down. Pre-pandemic, local card shows were a good avenue for offloading boxes received as gifts. Autograph and memorabilia cards of current stars like Buehler, Tatis, and Acuna continue climbing steadily and aren’t uncommon finds. High-end parallels from sets in the $100+ range at release can sometimes be negotiated down significantly with sellers motivated for a quick sale.

When it comes to autographed cards, condition becomes crucial as even minuscule flaws can diminish value. There is no perfect way to vet authenticity of signatures online without prior experience, so extra caution is warranted. Reputable sports memorabilia authentication services like PSA/DNA and Beckett provide grading/authenticating if serious money is on the line, though submission costs cut into profit margins for inexpensive cards.

Raw vintage cards without authenticity proof remain the bread and butter of Craigslist sales. Comparing handwriting characteristics to benchmarks, researching questionable signatures online, and agreeing to mutually cancellation/refund policies provide some contingencies absent independent analysis. Lower price points also carry less risk than rare finds like a signed ‘52 Mantle subject to advanced counterfeiting techniques without certification history.

The same general precautions buying any collectible apply when meeting for baseball card Craigslist transactions locally. Opting for public, well-lit areas during daylight removes safety concerns that could arise. Bringing a friend along as a safety measure never hurts either. Run basic authentication tests like the “crimp test” on loose vintage packs before handing over cash. Request to thoroughly inspect items and ask any necessary questions upfront rather than dealing with issues after the fact. Communicate needs like packing/grading/authentication etc clearly in posts to weed out incompatible sellers. Above all, trust your instincts and don’t feel pressured into anything that seems suspicious.

With diligence Craigslist provides Sacramento area collectors a fertile periodic source for building baseball collections. Both seasoned veterans and newcomers to the hobby actively scan ads, keeping competition high for fairly priced notable cards. Patience, reasonableness, and precautions are keys for safe transactions. The right listings can still surface plenty of bargains for those willing to put in legwork browsing on a regular basis. With care and some luck, there are deals to be had securing cherished pieces of cardboard history in the Sacramento area via the digital yard sale that is Craigslist.

BASEBALL CARDS SACRAMENTO

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Baseball cards have a long history in Sacramento dating back over a century. Some of the earliest baseball cards were produced in the late 1800s as a promotional item by tobacco companies like Allen & Ginter and Old Judge to help sell their products. These vintage tobacco era cards from the late 1800s and early 1900s are highly sought after by collectors today.

While Sacramento did not have a Major League Baseball team of its own until the arrival of the Sacramento River Cats in 2000, the city was still heavily involved in minor league and amateur baseball throughout the 20th century. Several minor league teams called Sacramento home over the years and helped foster a local passion for the game. This local enthusiasm for baseball translated to a robust market for collecting baseball cards in Sacramento as well.

One of the earliest minor league teams to play in Sacramento was the Sacramento Solons, who were members of the Pacific Coast League from 1900 to 1957. The Solons featured many future major leaguers during their run and their players’ cards would have been popular items for local collectors during the early 20th century. Other minor league teams that played in Sacramento included the Sacramento Senators (1936-1960), Sacramento Raiders (1961-1962), and Sacramento Surge (2002-2004). Cards featuring players from these teams can still be found in the collections of dedicated Sacramento area collectors today.

The rise of modern mass-produced baseball cards in the post-World War 2 era coincided with Sacramento’s increasing passion for the game. Companies like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer began producing affordable packs of cards that could be found in local drug stores, grocery stores, and card shops. Young collectors in Sacramento eagerly snapped up these packs, hoping to collect full sets and chase rare cards featuring their favorite players. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, baseball card collecting became a hugely popular hobby among Sacramento’s youth.

Two seminal baseball card sets from the early modern era that are especially prized by Sacramento collectors today are the iconic 1952 Topps and 1954 Topps sets. These sets documented the players and teams from when Sacramento native Ken Griffey Sr. broke into the major leagues in the early 1970s with the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds. Local collectors take pride in finding well-preserved examples of cards featuring Griffey Sr. and his teammates from these classic 1950s Topps issues.

In the 1970s, baseball card collecting exploded into a nationwide phenomenon. More children in Sacramento than ever before were amassing collections in shoeboxes and binders. This was also when the hobby started to take on a strong speculative investment aspect, as savvy collectors began to recognize the long-term value of accruing mint condition vintage and rare rookie cards. Shows catering to collectors began popping up regularly in the Sacramento area as well.

Two of the most famous baseball card shows in Sacramento history took place at Cal Expo. In July 1990, the largest sports card show ever was held at Cal Expo, drawing over 20,000 attendees. The show was a spectacle, with hundreds of dealers from around the world selling and trading every imaginable type of card under one massive roof. Another legendary Cal Expo card show occurred in August 1993. This show saw eager collectors camping out overnight to gain early entry, a sign of just how intense the card-collecting frenzy had become.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Sacramento native and MLB superstar Jeff Kent emerged on the scene. His rookie cards from 1988 Topps and 1989 Fleer were hot commodities for Sacramento area collectors eager to own a piece of their hometown hero. To this day, high grade examples of Kent’s rookie cards remain a point of Sacramento baseball card pride. Other notable Sacramento-area players who were featured prominently in collections of the late 20th century included pitchers Trevor Hoffman and Mark Gardner.

While the speculative bubble of the early 1990s card market eventually burst, interest in Sacramento never fully declined. Local card shops that had thrived for decades, such as A&M Sports Collectibles in North Highlands and Collector’s Corner in Citrus Heights, continued to serve diehard collectors. In the 2000s, the arrival of the Sacramento River Cats reinvigorated the city’s passion for affiliated professional baseball. Today, a new generation of Sacramento youth are following in the card-collecting footsteps of their parents and grandparents, keeping this time-honored hobby alive in the capital city.

Whether collecting vintage tobacco cards, 1950s/60s issues, or modern prospecting for the next Jeff Kent, baseball cards have been an integral part of Sacramento’s sports culture for over a century. The local collecting community remains dedicated to preserving the history captured in these cardboard treasures while also enjoying the hobby’s nostalgic charms. Cards chronicling Sacramento’s past and present baseball stars continue to bring collectors together and remind many of their earliest memories with the national pastime.