Baseball card collecting was once nothing more than a popular pastime. It was purely for the sake of enjoyment, thrill, and excitement, with no hope of financial gain. However, the world is changing, and these cardboard pieces are reaching new heights.
Those who were born in the 1970s and 1980s must know that collecting sports cards was a way of life. The cards binders would be filled with them and the old shoe boxes ready to overflow. Some smart people even got hard cases to protect their baseball cards. It was all for the love of the cards only.
Back then, people used to buy sports cards and later trade them with a friend to get another player. There was no concept of earning through them! Fortunately, today the innocent hobby of collecting sports cards has become giant millions of dollars industry. Even though, to date, many critics cringe at the thought of baseball sports cards as an “investment” option.
But it’s a no-brainer now! It is a great investment option for people with a heart of a lion. In fact, in many cases, these have greatly outperformed more ‘traditional’ investments and continue to rise in both popularity and value.
Investing your hard-earned money in sports cards is not a game for light-hearted people. You need the sheer will, determination, and a ton of patience, not to mention a keen eye. Someone with impulsiveness cannot wield the profit and will undermine the opportunity.
Is The Baseball Cards Industry A Growing Market?
During the 1880s, the concept of collecting baseball cards didn’t exist. An American tobacco company craved the market indeed. However, in the 1930s, getting sports cards started to sound like a crazy thing, making it a junk era.
Later in the 1980s, the industry saw a boom. It was the time when people finally found love in it and started collecting cards as a part of their hobby.
To date, the value of those vintage baseball sports cards is at the top. At the moment, nothing seems to beat them. The Honus Wagner baseball card for instance was sold for $1,500 in 1975. As per the era, $1,500 was a lot. Someone with a hefty pocket could only afford it.
However, the same card in the recent year sold for the highest rate possible. A whopping amount of $6.6 million.
It’s a straight case of impressive profit, breaking all the records in a single hit. The investment made on the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card in 1975 returned with a banger. Such a huge amount of profit cannot be seen in the US stock market. Thus, making the baseball card collecting hobby a sound investment with genuine returns.
At the moment, the future of sports cards investment is hard to predict. It is because the number of people buying baseball sports cards with the core intention of investing in the future is increasing day by day. The market is rapidly growing with people looking for ways to get their hands on different sports cards at wholesale rates.
But this doesn’t mean there is no future at all. The new and rookie MLB players have great talent. They are the perfect prospect for investment. For instance, Mike Trout’s rookie card was sold for $400 to $500 at peak time. Now, recently it got sold for $2,850 in an auction. It’s a 2011 Topps Mike Trout baseball card. Within a few years, the value has increased to great worth.
If you keep holding this card for at least 5 more years, the rate will not be less than thousands of dollars. It’s all the game of patience and waiting for the right moment to hit in.
Things To Keep In Mind When Investing In Baseball Cards
Before you jump into the sound craze of investing in baseball cards, there are a few things you need to remember. Note these down and follow them!
Not A Scheme To Get Rich Instantly
If you are investing in baseball sports cards with the thought to get rich overnight, you are at the wrong place. You can invest in them only if you desire to gain some advantage in the future. There is no scheme for the present, but an opportunity for the future. The value of the majority of baseball cards will increase in a few years.
It’s more like a fun hobby that can provide you with a chance to monetize. Then, it’s also necessary to research the baseball cards that have the potential to yield exceptional profit with the passage of time. In the beginning, the margins can be low, so hold steady and wait.
Not Necessarily Fan Of Baseball
Though it will help in research and find exceptional baseball players, who hold the potential. But even if you are not a fan of baseball, you can still invest in the cards. All you need is a pocket with money to buy a baseball sports card. And tons of patience to wait for the right time to sell it and make money.
Without prior knowledge of baseball players, it might be a bit difficult in understanding which one can help you in gaining a better return on investment. However, it isn’t impossible! Recently, Hank Aaron cards were sold for thousands of dollars. And the one who had the sports card didn’t even know about the legend!
Factors That Can Affect The Worth Of A Baseball Card
There are two types of baseball cards in the market. The vintage cards have former players, where career is already known. The other is a modern player’s card. The better their baseball career, the greater value of the card.
Secondly, the most important factor that can affect the worth of the card is its condition. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grade each sports card on a scale of 1 to 10. PSA 1 stands for poor condition with damages, torn sides, and faded ink. Whereas, PSA 10 indicates gem mint condition with no defect at all.
The better the condition of the card, the higher rate it will yield. However, if you are a new investor, there are baseball cards that are not graded. They cost less and are affordable. All you need to do is keep them safe and clean for the next few years.
