Questions about Sports Card Stuff
skyeagle
Posts: 5
I have a few questions about the sports cards I have. I've sorted through them, and have a few questions. Basically looking for advice on a bunch of things, since obviously it's been more than a decade since I've been involved in sports cards. Needing to know a few things, so I can know how to proceed with my sports cards. I'll start with the ones below:
1) I have a couple of big boxes of baseball cards. Primarily 1982-1992 cards. Common cards, probably a few semi-stars in there (I picked out the major names I could recognize like Clemens, Bonds, etc). Varied conditions, worse on the older ones, up to gem mint on the newer ones. I went through and counted them all and have counts of each kind. What's the potential of being able to sell these, and what would I likely need to do to get this accomplished? Or would there be value in holding onto them (my initial thought from looking at a recent Beckett is no) over time? I'm not currently interested as a hobbyist, so my main concern is picking out the pieces that will have some lasting value and selling the rest (especially since these cards have essentially been costing me by moving them, and there's always the potential of them getting messed up - I can control what happens to 100-150 cards a lot better than 6500 of them).
2) The concept of card grading services is new to me. I read the submission description on psacard.com, and I understand that part (except for the kind of holder to use). For what I notice, the service is pretty pricey, so I want to really pick and choose which cards I would want graded. I identified one or two pieces already that seem to be worth doing that (the graded cards seem to have more value than the non-graded ones from what I see online), but I'm looking for advice. I have 3 vintage cards that aren't in great condition (2 are not centered, and 1 has writing and bad corners), but are generally desirable names. Is there an obvious condition where you don't consider having a card graded at all, or would you send a card off to have graded that is obviously in poor condition?
(I have many more questions, mainly involving identification and value of some oddball stuff that doesn't appear in Beckett, but we can stick with these two for right now)
1) I have a couple of big boxes of baseball cards. Primarily 1982-1992 cards. Common cards, probably a few semi-stars in there (I picked out the major names I could recognize like Clemens, Bonds, etc). Varied conditions, worse on the older ones, up to gem mint on the newer ones. I went through and counted them all and have counts of each kind. What's the potential of being able to sell these, and what would I likely need to do to get this accomplished? Or would there be value in holding onto them (my initial thought from looking at a recent Beckett is no) over time? I'm not currently interested as a hobbyist, so my main concern is picking out the pieces that will have some lasting value and selling the rest (especially since these cards have essentially been costing me by moving them, and there's always the potential of them getting messed up - I can control what happens to 100-150 cards a lot better than 6500 of them).
2) The concept of card grading services is new to me. I read the submission description on psacard.com, and I understand that part (except for the kind of holder to use). For what I notice, the service is pretty pricey, so I want to really pick and choose which cards I would want graded. I identified one or two pieces already that seem to be worth doing that (the graded cards seem to have more value than the non-graded ones from what I see online), but I'm looking for advice. I have 3 vintage cards that aren't in great condition (2 are not centered, and 1 has writing and bad corners), but are generally desirable names. Is there an obvious condition where you don't consider having a card graded at all, or would you send a card off to have graded that is obviously in poor condition?
(I have many more questions, mainly involving identification and value of some oddball stuff that doesn't appear in Beckett, but we can stick with these two for right now)
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Comments
Key cards would be:
1982-Ripken
1983-Gwynn, Boggs, Sandberg
1984-Mattingly
1985-Puckett, McGwire
1989-Griffey Jr.
And after that not much I can think of
<< <i>My guess is most of what you have there is not worth grading. There was a ton of product made during those years which really hurt the overall value. And sitting on them for the next 25 years isn't going to change your bottom like.
Key cards would be:
1982-Ripken
1983-Gwynn, Boggs, Sandberg
1984-Mattingly
1985-Puckett, McGwire
1989-Griffey Jr.
And after that not much I can think of >>
What's Roger Clemens, chopped liver?
Arthur
More general questions, since I had the time to look them up since the first post:
3) Obviously as I mentioned above, I have a 87 Fleer Update set. I look in Beckett and see that those two cards I mentioned are listed with values almost identical to the listing of the whole set. Is there a premium in having the set that would be above and beyond just having the McGwire and Maddux graded? Add Matt Williams in there, and the values are greater than the set value.
4) What kind of potential is there for appreciation in vintage common cards?
(the rest of the questions would be involving identification/value of those oddball things)
<< <i>I agree with the assessment about the majority of the 6500 not being worth grading. The only thing I'm even remotely considering grading are a few vintage cards (1961-1970 Topps specifically) featuring stars. Might consider grading some of the key cards from that 82-92 pile if they're desirable (ones I'm thinking of specifically in typing that are a 87 Fleer Update McGwire & Greg Maddux), but not sure yet.
More general questions, since I had the time to look them up since the first post:
3) Obviously as I mentioned above, I have a 87 Fleer Update set. I look in Beckett and see that those two cards I mentioned are listed with values almost identical to the listing of the whole set. Is there a premium in having the set that would be above and beyond just having the McGwire and Maddux graded? Add Matt Williams in there, and the values are greater than the set value.
4) What kind of potential is there for appreciation in vintage common cards?
(the rest of the questions would be involving identification/value of those oddball things) >>
Unless the McGwire and Maddux have a shot at a 10 I wouldn't bother. And as far as vintage commons go I think a lot depends on the pop report and what type of grades your cards would get. A nobody in a PSA 6 from 1961-70 probably would not be worth it. If you are grading these with the hopes to make money don't waste your time unless they have a shot a high grades. Instead I would take that cash and pick up a few cards that are already graded if you are looking to build a collection.
<< <i>
<< <i>My guess is most of what you have there is not worth grading. There was a ton of product made during those years which really hurt the overall value. And sitting on them for the next 25 years isn't going to change your bottom like.
Key cards would be:
1982-Ripken
1983-Gwynn, Boggs, Sandberg
1984-Mattingly
1985-Puckett, McGwire
1989-Griffey Jr.
And after that not much I can think of >>
What's Roger Clemens, chopped liver?
Arthur >>
Yeah and that Clemens guy as well!
1) To send off a card to be graded, what kind of card holder are they looking for specifically? I got some hard plastic top loaders, but not sure from the description what they're looking for precisely.
2) The vintage card grading question on condition didn't quite get answered. I'll mention a specific example if it helps. I have a 1970 Topps Hank Aaron Card #500, but it has some nasty corners, and some writing on the front (faint marker it looks like). My guess would be a poor condition. Would this be worth grading? A couple of the other cards I have in mind are in better condition (1961 Topps), but basically a similar idea.
(I'll just post the Sports Card ID stuff in another thread)
Do an ebay search on your 61 Topps to determine value.
<< <i>1) To send off a card to be graded, what kind of card holder are they looking for specifically? I got some hard plastic top loaders, but not sure from the description what they're looking for precisely. >>
I believe that PSA would like for us to submit our cards in a Cardsaver 1 or similar plastic holder. Many people also use a penny sleeve inside of the Cardsaver 1 unless it is something likely to stick to the sleeve.
And once again I would bet the PSA 4 might be attached to two sellers who like to start their auctions very high and don't care if they sell or not.
My guess is you don't have much there worth grading so I probably wouldn't waste my money at this point.
Just my 2 cents