Advice on childhood collection

ad4400 · August 28, 2012 1:13AM

Hello everyone. First time posting here, as coins are more my forte. The time has come to deal with my childhood collection of football cards that was amassed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I have a footlocker nearly full. I’m sure there are now-hall-of-famers in those stacks, probably even rookie cards of those folks. But there will also be a mountain of cards of players no one will remember today. My concern is these cards were a boyhood collection and treated as such: packs opened, cards sorted by teams and strapped together with rubber bands, then nothing done to preserve them particularly well over the years.

Any advice you folks could give in determining if any of these have any value, and any suggestions for venues to sell anything that might have value, is much appreciated. I’m guessing grading as become a major aspect of this hobby, as it has for coins, but based on my coin experience at least, I’m going to venture that the cards may not be grade worthy.

Feel free to PM me as well. Thanks in advance!!

jimrad · August 28, 2012 1:20AM

Obvious to look for

1976 - Walter Payton
1981 - Joe Montana

mtcards · August 28, 2012 1:43AM

You would be better off selling as a lot, in my opinion, unless there are some rookies/HOFers in high grade.

jeffcbay · August 28, 2012 2:10AM

Maybe post a few pics of what you have, that might give us a better idea what you're dealing with. If the condition is what you say it is, then only the major RCs are the ones worth selling.

JoeBanzai · August 28, 2012 3:05AM

Some scans/photos would be nice.

What exact years did you collect heavily?

How tightly were the rubber bands put on the cards?

Were the cards in the packs when the rubber bands were placed around them?

1978 had Dorsett, '79 Campbell, '81 Montana, just how big is that footlocker?

If you are a "coin guy" then you know condition can make a big difference, if a card is a MINT condition common it can be worth a lot.

Rubber bands often only damaged the top and bottom two cards or so. Take some time and look through the cards, if they are all in bad shape, then just look for the rookies. Montana would be the biggest one in the years '78-'82.

Keep us posted!

Joe

FavreFan1971 · August 28, 2012 3:56AM

<< <i>Some scans/photos would be nice.

What exact years did you collect heavily?

How tightly were the rubber bands put on the cards?

Were the cards in the packs when the rubber bands were placed around them?

1978 had Dorsett, '79 Campbell, '81 Montana, just how big is that footlocker?

If you are a "coin guy" then you know condition can make a big difference, if a card is a MINT condition common it can be worth a lot.

Rubber bands often only damaged the top and bottom two cards or so. Take some time and look through the cards, if they are all in bad shape, then just look for the rookies. Montana would be the biggest one in the years '78-'82.

Keep us posted!

Joe >>

+1 to Joe

You can also look for some other HOF Rookies

1978 Stallworth
1979 Ozzie Newsome
1979 TOPPS JAMES LOFTON
1980 TOPPS LESTER HAYES
1981 TOPPS KELLEN WINSLOW
1981 TOPPS ART MONK
1981 TOPPS DAN HAMPTON
1982 TOPPS ANTHONY MUNOZ
1982 TOPPS LAWRENCE TAYLOR
1982 TOPPS RONNIE LOTT

The Hampton card in general is tough one to get in PSA 9 to 10 shape

Good luck

Cakes · August 28, 2012 4:31AM

ad4400, I also came over from the coin forum. If you are in the DC area and would like help shoot me a PM. I just made that migration and could probably help you.

ad4400 · August 29, 2012 4:03AM

Thanks everyone for the posts and PMs. I'll post an update once I go through it, hopefully in the next week or two

ad4400 · December 15, 2014 1:41AM

Reviving this very old post. Is the value going to be almost exclusively in rookie cards of HOF players? I had a few moments and flipped through a few stacks. I have rookie cards for Art Monk and Phil Sims. Those seem to bring a couple of bucks each on Ebay for raw cards. Is that were I should set my expectations? Everything I have is going to be from the Monk/Simms rookie era.

WhiteTornado · December 15, 2014 1:54AM

I'd look for HOFer rookies first. Take the best of the best and review what's been sold on eBay to get a feel for value. Of course, feel free to post any scans here for help. For cards, it's preferable to use a scanner as it gives the best image, versus coins where a camera is usually better (I also collect coins

). Best of luck in whatever direction you decide to go.

JoeBanzai · December 15, 2014 8:29AM

<< <i>Reviving this very old post. Is the value going to be almost exclusively in rookie cards of HOF players? I had a few moments and flipped through a few stacks. I have rookie cards for Art Monk and Phil Sims. Those seem to bring a couple of bucks each on Ebay for raw cards. Is that were I should set my expectations? Everything I have is going to be from the Monk/Simms rookie era. >>

Go through all the cards.

Anything in mint condition could have value.

YES rookie cards of HOF players will have the most value, BUT some common cards can be scarce as well.

You need to share more information to get any help, other than general answers.

Advice on childhood collection

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