How to Collect Baseball Cards

Collecting baseball cards can be an investment, but more importantly, it can be fun! Dive in and explore America's Pastime!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Sports Cards Price Guides
• Clear Page Protectors
• Mylar Covers
• Beckett Sports Collectibles Subscription
• Sports Memorabilia
• Baseball Card Albums
• Baseball Cards
• Sports Cards

1. 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!
2. Start with a local baseball card shop or local merchant if you are looking for new cards.
3. 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.
4. Create "want lists" of cards you are looking for. This can make your card "shopping" much easier.
5. 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."
6. Consider buying a price guide to use as a reference.
7. 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."