No matter the sport, collectible trading cards are a popular collector’s item for sports of all ages. Particularly for adults who are fortunate enough to keep their childhood favorites in mint condition, sports card collecting can become quite the lucrative hobby. First seen at the onset of baseball in years predating the 20th century, card collecting has expanded to include popular American markets in football, basketball and hockey, and abroad to maintain a presence in international sport. So how can you tell what to look for when collecting cards?Personal preference comes first Even more so than monetary value, your general sentiments towards a player should dictate whether or not you value that card and would be willing to pay to add it to your collection. Value is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, no matter what the market may suggest you buy or sell a card for. Like artwork, it is ultimately a matter of personal taste. Even if a painting is a Picasso, there is no way you would display it in your living room if you find it simply revolting. Similarly, people attach certain stigmas to sports players, particularly those from rival teams. Your favorite player’s card will also be a much more prized possession in your own eye than it would any independent appraiser.Player talent drives value Obviously, a better player as seen by the baseball community at large will present more in terms of trading value. As you might imagine, hall of famers are in higher demand than mere role players.Timeliness Like any market item, value may increase or decrease slightly over time. A record holder whose record is broken (though this may not be true in the steroid era of baseball) will see a slight depreciation, however, in most cases this dip is minimal as record holders are still otherwise very good players, thus worth keeping. Anniversaries of achievements or other newsworthiness may also increase value, even if only temporarily. Sadly, a player’s death will likely see a relative increase in value as well.Rarity Rookie Cards are considered to be the holy grail of card collecting. These cards are printed on a limited basis during a player’s first professional season and, in most instances, will have the word “Rookie” readily visible on the card’s face. Other limited edition prints are available on occasion, though don’t be fooled by specially titled cards that are subject to standard printing numbers and quotas. This is often a trick used by card manufacturers to boost perceived value while in no way altering a cards market value. Look up the book value before spending money on a card that sounds one-of-kind but may be one of several hundred thousand in circulation.Condition Scuffs, stains or tears will ultimately greatly reduce the value of otherwise very desirable cards. Though extremely old cards will be expected to show a few natural signs of age, minimizing the effects of time will go a long way towards resale value. Keeping your cards safe in a plastic sleeve and storage at proper room temperatures will help to mitigate the risks commonly associated with handling.
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