sportscard collectors pls read..

sumday · Jul 31, 2009

I have a large collection of hockey cards from when I was a kid. Everything from Mario Lemieux rookies to Wayne Gretzky in an Edmonton Oilers jersey to Ed Belfour. My favorite of course, being my Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy on Upperdeck.

Anyways, my question is that when I was a teen, people were offering me good money for these cards. For one specific card I was offered 150 dollars. I'm 27 now. I just saw that same card on Ebay for 50 cents! What the hell?!

Am I missing something? It seems as if sportscards have gone completely worthless in today's day and age whereas before they were appreciating as time went on.

What happened? Is it because kids or people nowadays don't value or collect cards anymore? Too busy on the internet to have hobbies like collecting cards?

I don't plan on ever selling these prized possessions but I am just curious as to what happened.

I expected the worth of some of these cards to skyrocket after the players retired and entered the hall of fame.

So any comments from people, especially old timers that have more knowledge about things like this would be interesting to read.

Take care.

texansfan · Jul 31, 2009

My opinion is that demand plays a big role in something like this. I know the market was saturated in the late 80's and early 90's with sports memorabilia. I think the economy might have something to do with it as well.

Remember, the only value it has is what somebody is willing to pay for it.

FairWarning · Jul 31, 2009

texansfan said:
My opinion is that demand plays a big role in something like this. I know the market was saturated in the late 80's and early 90's with sports memorabilia. I think the economy might have something to do with it as well.

Remember, the only value it has is what somebody is willing to pay for it.

Right on both counts.

Don't worry about Lemeiux rookies. They will hold their value.

kidman232 · Jul 31, 2009

cards are around all time highs right now, where your problem lies is that your cards are from the late 70's and 80's where everything was mass produced (in a time period where people new cards would be valued, so many cards are in amazing condition). basically anything from the 80's up until late 90's is worthless except for a few exceptions like your jordan rc's etc. Im not much of a hockey guy, but if you have true rookies of the above mentioned guys from like o-pee-che (think thats the name) they are still valuable. So Unless its vintage (like 30 yrs+ old) or limited runs (like recent yrs) value is hurt alot.

now if you need help with football cards, i can answer anything

kidman232 · Jul 31, 2009

i really only deal with autographs, here is some of my stuff

http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m211/deshaun_foster/Football Autos FT/High End Vault NFT/

trytrytry · Jul 31, 2009

they are now next to worthless..should have taken the 150!

but hopefully some good memories...

FairWarning · Jul 31, 2009

Damn nice Jim Brown auto there Kidman.

EBay has been a goldmine lately for buying.

sumday · Jul 31, 2009

trytrytry said:
they are now next to worthless..should have taken the 150!

but hopefully some good memories...

Ha! You're right. 150 dollars to me back then was a lot.

Seriously though, some of these cards have a lot of sentimental value to me. Not only because some of them are of my all time favorite players but I can associate a lot of the individual cards with memories of that time. I can remember where I got the card from, who I traded with for what, and so on. Good memories for sure.

Looking through them show takes me back.

sumday · Jul 31, 2009

kidman232 said:
i really only deal with autographs, here is some of my stuff

http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m211/deshaun_foster/Football Autos FT/High End Vault NFT/

Just checked it out. Very cool man.

HacheMan · Jul 31, 2009

Other than the EXTREMELY hot cards, you can pretty much get any valuable cards at 50% at sports card shows.

I'm willing to guess though that you may be mistaken about the card you was once offered $150 now & see it books for .50 cents now. I don't mean that in wrong way Sumday, but I've been involved in sports card trading for 25 years & never seen any price decrease such as that.

trytrytry · Jul 31, 2009

Hache Man said:
Other than the EXTREMELY hot cards, you can pretty much get any valuable cards at 50% at sports card shows.

I'm willing to guess though that you may be mistaken about the card you was once offered $150 now & see it books for .50 cents now. I don't mean that in wrong way Sumday, but I've been involved in sports card trading for 25 years & never seen any price decrease such as that.

really? some McGuire cards have dropped 30-40X.

sumday · Jul 31, 2009

Hache Man said:
Other than the EXTREMELY hot cards, you can pretty much get any valuable cards at 50% at sports card shows.

I'm willing to guess though that you may be mistaken about the card you was once offered $150 now & see it books for .50 cents now. I don't mean that in wrong way Sumday, but I've been involved in sports card trading for 25 years & never seen any price decrease such as that.

Maybe it's a different card I looked at on Ebay. I could be wrong. It stills seems as if sportscard collecting is not a favorite hobby with kids nowadays. Then again what do I know, I don't have kids nor do I have any idea what kids might be up to nowadays besides internet and video games.

I wonder if kids still play marbles.

HacheMan · Jul 31, 2009

sumday said:
Maybe it's a different card I looked at on Ebay. I could be wrong. It stills seems as if sportscard collecting is not a favorite hobby with kids nowadays. Then again what do I know, I don't have kids nor do I have any idea what kids might be up to nowadays besides internet and video games.

I wonder if kids still play marbles.

The reason it's not as popular with the kids nowadays is because they have priced the kids out of the hobby with packs being so expensive....

DollarDay · Jul 31, 2009

Thing's I've noticed with cards.

Our generation of cards started the "flooding" of the market - there is just soo much product available. Supply is very, very high.
The economy has really, really depressed the card market for our generation of cards.
The economy has also depressed the card market for today's generation of cards. In the last few month's I've even seen some of the high end cards really go down (un-opened packs at least - not specific one-offs like the Pope's signature). Upper deck ballpark series have gone from $50.00 / pack (yes, pack price) to around $25.00 / pack from the hobby store I visit.
Older cards ('60s and back) still seem to carry their value. Supply is very, very low compared to today's cards.
Cards from our generation are still good but they have to be graded out ~ not just somebody's opinion if they're in good shape or not.
Today's limited run, high end cards seem to be the place, but they really have to be low #'s of units produced. And then, since they're low # of units produced, it's tough to get a price on them. My kid got one of the single swatch jersey combined with an autograph from Jeter in the ballpark collection pack but it was a redemtion card. We called it in back in December and still don't have the card.

nhoj · Jul 31, 2009

The reason cards are not what they used to be is the invention of video games. Prices have nothing to do with it. We sell packs from 1.00 to $1500 in our store daily and kids can care less about cards all they want to do is play video games. Take it from me someone that has been in the biz for over 20 Years Sportscard are at all time low. People are not spending money on these kinds of things right now. Sports card cycle and prices go up and down. But anything made in the 80's or early 90's may never have uch of any value due to the companies over produced to meet the market demand.

HacheMan · Jul 31, 2009

I think you have a very valid point with the video games nhoj.

I would still say pricing has a little something to do with it.

The only thing you can get cheap is the junk that isn't worth anything in the beckett's.

Some are still worth collecting, such as the very rare & limited, numbered rookie cards.

But what I liked decided to stick to beginning years ago are the limited autograph inserts and/or memorabilia cards with game worn jerseys/pieces from the player in actual games....

kidman232 · Jul 31, 2009

to say sports cards are dead is just dumb, the market has just shifted to rare items and high brands. some boxes like exquisite and national treasure can run $400+ a box in which you get 7-8 cards. just now a days, if its not autographed or vintage, or a memorabilia card of a dead player, it can be bought and sold cheaply

bellyputter · Jul 31, 2009

I used to own 100+ Mickey Mantle baseball cards in decent shape. When my parents moved in 1971, they were gone. ^<<^

oldmanTED · Jul 31, 2009

Always wondered what some of my memorabilia might be worth. I have individual baseballs wet signed by Billy Martin, Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Smith, Barry Larkin and Dusty Baker. All are in mint condition encased in plastic and received directly from umpire Ed Montague.

Also, I have a photograph of the fight between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton wet signed in wide silver script by both fighters in mint condition and encased in a glass picture frame.

Anyone have any thoughts?

kidman232 · Jul 31, 2009

first things first ted you would need to send them to an independent authenticating company such as psa/dna, jsa, etc.

you might know exactly how you got the items and they are legit, but joe schmo on the street wont take your word for it.

the ali would probably bring in around 1K. if certified and presented nicely