Move over stock market, collectors items such as sports memorabilia have become a popular alternative for people to invest in – both young and old. What was once valued as a $5.4 billion industry in 2018 has since ballooned to $26 billion due to the pandemic. Not only did people have more time to rummage through the attic or garage to find old gems that had been laying around for years, they also became more willing to invest in old-school items from some of sports’ greatest legends.
Although not all sports memorabilia is able to fetch top dollar to allow for an early retirement, the market is ripe enough for all sorts of items to be sold. The main question in all of this is how to know if your items have value and how do you find out what they’re worth? We will tackle these topics to prepare you to sell or auction off your sports memorabilia.
The value of sports memorabilia is always tied to how much someone is willing to pay for it. In general, people are more likely to pay for rare, unique, and authentic items compared to common items that aren’t as exclusive.
Here are several things to consider when determining the value of your items:
Trends: Memorabilia is usually worth more if something notable happens to the player – both positive or negative. For example, memorabilia can become more valuable if a player passes away. A recent example is NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 2020. Another example is a player who is elected to the Hall of Fame or wins a notable award, such as an MVP or championship trophy.
History of the player: Memorabilia tied to more prominent players or teams will hold more value than lesser known players. In other words, popularity and recognition matter when it comes to sports items.
Exclusivity: Some items are more rare than others. If a sports star is known for signing thousands of items, it’s likely your piece of memorabilia won’t be as valuable. On the other hand, if you have an item that is exclusive, such as a pair of shoes worn during an important sporting event, the value would increase. Further, some of the biggest sports stars may rarely sign autographs, which makes any memorabilia they sign even more rare. Look out for phrases such as “limited edition” or “commemorative.” Contrary to what you may think, items with these labels don’t carry much value.
Condition: A trading card that has collected dust in your attic for decades obviously won’t be as valuable as one that has been in a display case, free from environmental factors.
Age: While older items are more likely to be damaged or worn, they command much more value than recent items. Often, this comes down to supply and demand – an item from 50 years ago will carry more value because supply is likely to be lower. In general, items from before the 1970s tend to be more valuable. Why? Sports memorabilia has been mass produced since that era.
Item signed: If you have an autographed item, what was signed can impact the value. Receiving an autograph before a game on your hat or a piece of paper won’t be as valuable if you received an autograph on a game-worn jersey. As a rule of thumb, the more personal the item to a player (shoes, jersey, hat, etc.) the more value it holds compared to a photo or trading card.
Personalized items: It may be a special moment to receive a personalized autograph in which a player mentions your name, but these types of messages will devalue your item if you have plans to sell it in the future. Instead of personalized messages,
Letter of authenticity: Anyone can claim anything about a piece of sports memorabilia. But to avoid counterfeit or misleading items, many collectors and buyers prefer memorabilia to be authenticated. Simply put, a letter of authenticity provides confirmation that your item or signature is authentic.
The first step is to determine how much your items are worth. This is a good time to get an appraisal.
Then, you’ll need to decide where to sell your sports memorabilia. Some of the more popular options include online auction houses, sports memorabilia auction houses, local collector shops, or pawn shops.
There’s always a chance you may stumble upon a rare Babe Ruth card collection or a used piece of game equipment from a legendary sports star, but in general, it can be difficult to know how much your item is worth without an appraisal.
There are several avenues to receive an appraisal, with the most traditional way being to visit a collector’s store. Simply ask them to give you a ballpark figure of how much you may receive by selling your item or items.
Auction houses that have a history of dealing with sports memorabilia may also be able to give you a better idea of what to expect.
Nowadays, there are several online appraisal companies that allow you to upload a photo of your item and, for a small fee, receive an official appraisal.
In the event your items have an autograph, you should consider having them authenticated to increase the value. While not necessary, authentication is a way to ensure your item is not counterfeit.
Your options to have an item authenticated typically involve visiting a brick-and-mortar store or sending your item to a company that specializes in authentications. For a small fee, usually ($10 to $20 per item), you ship your item where it is examined to determine the quality and condition. In return, you’ll receive a certificate of authenticity.
Consider looking into PSA and Beckett, as they are the two most well-known authentication companies in the U.S.
Lower-end items may sell for a few dollars, while other rare pieces can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars – and even millions – in some cases.
In August 2022, a Mickey Mantle baseball card set the record for the highest sports memorabilia item ever sold at $12.6 million. Mantle, who was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Commerce, played for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968. The record-setting card was from the 1952 season, four years before he won the Triple Crown in 1956. The card was originally purchased for $50,000 in 1991.
The $12.6 million price tag is the latest boom in sports memorabilia. Earlier in the 2022, the following items were sold for large profits:
Stay up to date with our upcoming auction schedule if you’re interested in buying or selling sports memorabilia. To sell your items, consider consigning them to us to sell them for you! Contact us at (405) 266-2709 for more questions.
