Are you sitting on a collection of baseball cards and wondering if you should hold onto them or look to sell your common baseball cards? Deciding what to do with a baseball card collection can be a tough choice, as cards hold nostalgia and memories for many collectors. There are also financial aspects to consider. In this extensive guide, we will look at the pros and cons of selling your common baseball cards to help you make the best decision for your situation.
To start, it’s important to understand the current state of the baseball card market. Unlike the booming 1980s and 1990s, today’s market is more subdued. While star rookie cards and rare finds still attract big bucks, the market for common vintage and modern cards has softened in recent years. There are a few key factors putting downward pressure on prices:
Oversupply: The era from the late 1980s through the 1990s saw unprecedented production of cards, with companies like Fleer, Donruss, Score and Upper Deck flooding the market. As a result, even common cards from this period were mass produced. With billions in existence, it’s hard for most common cards to retain significant value.
Declining interest: Collecting interest waned in the late ’90s and 2000s as kids had more entertainment options. While it remains a hobby, the market is smaller, reducing demand. Older collectors are also aging out of the market.
Condition issues: Even if stored carefully, 30-40 year old cards show wear from being handled and played with. Near Mint and Mint examples that could garner seller interest are hard to find after decades.
Cost of collecting: With family and other expenses taking priority for many, the money required to assemble a collection and stay on top of new releases is prohibitive for all but the most avid collectors. This reduces buyers.
Within this soft market environment, there are still instances where selling your common baseball cards could make financial sense. Factors in favor of a sale may include:
Need for funds: If you have financial needs that the sale proceeds from your cards collection could help satisfy, even common cards may be worth liquidating, especially in bulk. Thrift stores often pay a few dollars per thousand cards.
Duplicates: Selling any duplicate common cards you have could help recoup some value, even if just a few cents per card. Collectors are always looking to fill sets.
Undesirable players/teams: Cards featuring non-star players from small-market clubs or past their prime vets have little appeal. Better to sell in bulk lots.
Expired card styles: Unless a nostalgia factor, 1980s/90s set and brand cards like Donruss, Fleer, etc hold less value today. Sell as lots.
Space concerns: Large collections take up valuable room that could be better utilized. Downsizing provides space and funds.
No strong attachment: If you don’t have emotional ties to the players or a specific collection theme, it’s easier to part with common cards.
There are also valid reasons why holding onto your common baseball cards long-term makes sense too:
-possible future increase: Nobody thought junk wax era cards from late 80s would still hold value, but stars, rookies prove exceptions. Continued interest may lift all boats.
-tax purposes: Long-term investments like sealed wax boxes or complete vintage sets can be worth appreciably more decades later. Could benefit heirs.
-nostalgia/memories: Sentimental value tied to childhood, players, times past is hard to replace. Cards immortalize era closer than most memorabilia.
-collecting preferences change: What’s common now may gain appreciation as tastes evolve. Unheralded players get reappraised; designs gain retro cool.
-always room for discovery: Occasional rarities turn up even in bulk commons via error cards, variations, unpublicized short prints.
-bulk buys when prices low: Acquire huge stashes of commons at dimes apiece to hold long-term, break out premium cards for current sale.
-market cycles: Prices fluctuate—it’s usually unwise to sell low after prolonged downturn. Wait for upswing.
-kid’s collection: Hold commons to pass enjoyment of game/hobby to future generations in your family.
So in conclusion, there is no definitive single answer that applies to everyone with a box of common baseball cards in their attic or closet. You must weigh your current needs and long-term goals to decide whether it makes more sense financially and personally to sell or hold onto your cards. For most casual collectors with large stocks of run-of-the-mill cards, selling in bulk lots may extract maximum value for stuff that otherwise sits idle. But for those who have strong memories or collecting passions tied to their cards, the sentimental rewards of keeping them often outweigh any money that could be made in a sale during today’s soft market conditions.