How to Collect MLS Upper Deck Trading Cards
Collecting trading cards is an enjoyable hobby for sports fans of all ages. Trading cards include yearly stats and in-game action photos, making it easy to follow your favorite player or sports team. Although Major League Soccer is not widely represented in the trading card world, Upper Deck has been releasing annual MLS trading card sets since 1999. Starting and maintaining an MLS Upper Deck trading card collection will leave you with some interesting memorabilia and provide you with an entertaining pastime.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with Internet access
- 9-pocket plastic pages (number will vary)
- Trading card album
Instructions
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Establish your collecting focus before putting together an MLS Upper Deck trading card collection. Ask yourself why you want to collect MLS cards from Upper Deck. Some collectors focus on obtaining cards from a certain year, for a certain team, or because they like the set's design. Keeping this focus during collecting will make your hobby more purposeful and satisfying.
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Visit Upper Deck's official website to obtain checklists for any MLS sets you plan on collecting. A checklist shows all cards released within a specific set. Checklists for all MLS sets released by Upper Deck can be found on Upper Deck's website at sports.upperdeck.com/collectorszone/mastersets.aspx. Print checklists and use them as reference material as you search for cards to complete your collection.
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Purchase some MLS Upper Deck trading cards. You can purchase MLS trading cards locally from a trading card retailer or hobby shop. Search your local business listings for hobby shop locations. Ask your local trading card retailer about any trading card shows coming to your area. EBay is another popular marketplace for trading cards for all sports. Search through the "Sports Memorabilia, Cards & Fan Shop" section of eBay to locate MLS Upper Deck trading cards. Search online for other hobby shops that offer online sales services.
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Store trading cards that you want to keep in 9-pocket plastic pages protected inside of a trading card album. These pages are plastic sheets with three holes that have nine pockets to hold, display and protect trading cards. Trading card albums are binders specifically designed so that 9-pocket pages can lay as flat as possible. Slide trading cards into the pockets one card at a time. Open the binder in your trading card album and thread the metal prongs through the holes in the margin of your 9-pocket pages.
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Trade or sell cards that you do not want for MLS Upper Deck trading cards that will fulfill your collection. Unwanted cards are obtained when buying unopened packs or when a collector's focus changes. Visit a trading card show with your unwanted cards and a checklist of MLS Upper Deck cards that you need. Ask your local trading card retailer if he offers any value in trade or if he buys cards. Visit online forums, such as TradingCardCentral.com or Beckett.com/beckettforum, to trade with collectors over the Internet.
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Tips & Warnings
Check pricing guides for your MLS Upper Deck cards. Pricing guides are released by trading card publications such as Beckett or Tuff Stuff. Compare their prices to recently closed auctions on eBay to approximate current values for your cards.
Be careful when handling your Upper Deck cards. Much of a trading card's value as a collectible relies on the card's condition. Excess handling can cause smudges or bent corners.
