Decide what you want to collect - new cards, old cards, cards from one company, cards of one team or one player. The options and varieties are endless!
Step2
Start with a local baseball card shop or local merchant if you are looking for new cards.
Step3
Branch out and explore card shows and conventions. They usually have hundreds of dealers selling cards and other memorabilia. Sign up to be notified of upcoming shows.
Step4
Create "want lists" of cards you are looking for. This can make your card "shopping" much easier.
Step5
Try auction sites such as eBay to purchase cards. You can definitely get some great deals. Subscribe to hobby publications such as "Sports Collector's Digest" or "Tuff Stuff."
Step6
Consider buying a price guide to use as a reference.
Step7
Remember to store your cards safely - sturdy pine boxes and/or mylar holders work well. If you want to "show" your cards or plan on looking at them often, plastic sheets, which generally hold nine cards per page, per side, are often best.
Tips & Warnings
Befriend local merchants that carry baseball cards and ask them to call you when new shipments come in.
Check out garage sales - you may get lucky!
Collecting complete sets or cards of one player or team is generally the most popular type of collecting.
Make sure to tell your mother never to throw your cards away - even after you move out!
The price of cards is affected by many things. In general, cards are more expensive if they are in mint condition, are old, are in rare supply and/or portray a star player (especially if it is a rookie card).
Pay attention to "condition." A card that is "like new" will be graded as Gem Mint. Card condition goes down from there, following this scale: Mint, Near Mint-Mint, Near Mint, Excellent-Mint, Excellent, Very Good-Excellent (VG-Ex), Very Good (VG), Good (G) and Poor to Fair.
There is an alternative grading system, called the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). This is a third-party grading service that, for a fee, grades cards from 10 (Gem Mint) to 1 (Poor to Fair).
Avoid storing your cards in extreme conditions - high/low humidity and direct light (sun or flourescent) can hasten the decomposition and reduce the quality of your cards.
Set a budget before going into a card show or store - the buying frenzy can get carried away!
If you're looking for on an online auction, you may find one set of items listed under "baseball card" and another set listed under "baseball cards."
on 8/8/2006
When you buy cards, put them directly into a safe place, like a safe inside of plastic sheets. I keep my cards in a fireproof and bullet proof safe just in case of a fire or burglar.
on 3/8/2006
If you are going to a store that sells cards separate from other cards, before you purchase that card check on the back to see if the card is real or not. When you look on the back there is usually a date check if the player played at that time. If not the card is fake and you should not purchase it.
on 11/22/2005
Never buy a bundle of cards from a merchant unless they allow you to see the cards sometimes there are cards in the bundle that are poor mint.
on 11/22/2005
After you buy a pack of cards, keep it in a bag instead of a pocket. Cards left in pockets can get bent or forgotten about and destroyed in the wash.
on 11/22/2005
Do not overstore cards in your binder. I did this when I was young. I had a Cal Ripkin Jr. card and put it in my overstocked binder. It would be worth at least 1,000 dollars today. It got bent and is now worth almost nothing.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 When you buy cards, put them directly into a safe place, like a safe inside of plastic sheets. I keep my cards in a fireproof and bullet proof safe just in case of a fire or burglar.
Anonymous said
on 3/8/2006 If you are going to a store that sells cards separate from other cards, before you purchase that card check on the back to see if the card is real or not. When you look on the back there is usually a date check if the player played at that time. If not the card is fake and you should not purchase it.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Never buy a bundle of cards from a merchant unless they allow you to see the cards sometimes there are cards in the bundle that are poor mint.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 After you buy a pack of cards, keep it in a bag instead of a pocket. Cards left in pockets can get bent or forgotten about and destroyed in the wash.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Do not overstore cards in your binder. I did this when I was young. I had a Cal Ripkin Jr. card and put it in my overstocked binder. It would be worth at least 1,000 dollars today. It got bent and is now worth almost nothing.