How to Sell Vintage Baseball Cards Online
Looking to part with your vintage baseball card collection? Not only do you want your cards to go to a good home, but you’re probably looking to get a pretty penny for them. It might seem tricky, but by planning carefully and appealing to the right market, you can easily sell your baseball cards and make a hefty profit. Here are a few of our top tips for selling your cards online.
Look at Your Timeline
You might have vintage baseball cards from any number of decades, but the hobby as a whole has divided cards into three main categories:
- Pre-War: anything printed before 1945
- Vintage: anything printed from 1946 to 1979
- Modern: anything printed from 1980 to today
While you may say your cards are “vintage” as a catch-all term, determine if they’re truly vintage or if they fit better into a different category. As a general rule, vintage and pre-war cards will fetch a higher price than modern cards.
Determine the Value
This is where the money comes in. When selling baseball cards, there are countless factors that can impact the asking price, like:
- How scarce is the card? Errors and variations are more valuable.
- What is the condition of the card?
- How old is the card?
- What player is on the card?
- Is the card professionally graded?
It’s common to think that all cards right out of the pack are in mint condition, but this might not be the case. Pre-war and vintage cards were manufactured differently than cards today, so many of these models will have print defects or miscuts, among other issues. These flaws are out of your control but could still impact the value of your baseball card collection.
Once you’ve determined which cards are in the best condition and are worth the most, make sure to store them safely in plastic sheets or binders. This will prevent future damage and will keep your collection safe from the elements until you get ready to sell.
Learn About Grading
Experts like Sports Card Guarantee (SGC), Beckett, and Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) help put values on vintage baseball card collections. These agencies use a uniform standard for condition and will place a grade on your card. The higher the grade, the more it’s worth.
However, before you get too eager, keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to have your cards graded. The process can get expensive, so you don’t want to get all your cards graded if you don’t think you’ll make enough money to see a profit at the end.
Check Recent Sales
Looking through websites like eBay or Craigslist can help you get an idea of what your card might be worth. Do a search for a specific card you have, and add condition information if you can. Look at only the items that have been sold and see what they sold for.
When you look at the prices, don’t take them at face value. Some companies charge fees or additional costs. Most dealers tend to offer 50% to 60% of the recent final sales value.
Selling vintage baseball cards can seem intimidating, but with a bit of research and patience, you’ll find the process rewarding and lucrative. Collectibles Investment Group is proud to be the premier location for helping you sell your cards and collectibles. Our team has evaluated cards and memorabilia across countless sports, genres, and types, so no matter what you’ve got, we know about it! Contact us today to get your collection appraised and to learn more about selling with us.
