Sports Then and Now

Buying sports memorabilia is nothing new. In fact, collecting sporting items like signed athlete equipment, trading cards, contracts, and even a famous athlete’s baby photo dates back to the 1800s when baseball was becoming a popular pastime for New York’s elites. 

Today, collectors are even more aggressive when it comes to hunting down era-defining sports collectibles. It’s gotten so big that items like baseball and basketball cards have reached the million-dollar range in terms of value. The money involved in this business has attracted serious collectors and dealers like Thiago de Mattos and others investors who want a piece of this profitable industry. 

For a rookie collector, this may seem too overwhelming. But this article will cover all that you need to know before you buy your first sporting memorabilia. 

1. Know the Value of an Item

If you’re new to collecting sports memorabilia, do your research. The first step to collecting is knowing the value of a particular item. Factors like rarity, condition, age, authenticity, and the current market price all affect a sporting memorabilia’s value. Knowing the value of an item is essential because it helps you determine the price and the potential investment value a sporting item has. 

As a serious collector, you don’t want to be paying more for something that should cost less. As someone looking at sporting memorabilia as an investment, you’d want a collection that will rise in value over time. You can find most of the information you need online, so make sure to check auction records and online forums to see how much a collectible cost and how to spot fakes. 

2. Choose A Theme For Your Collection

Some sporting memorabilia are so valuable that it costs millions of dollars. And even if you’re not buying those expensive collectibles, collecting rare memorabilia can still break the bank if you try to chase everything. 

This is why it’s crucial that you narrow down your option into a specific theme. Sports collectibles can range from trading cards, signed sports equipment, game-worn jerseys, and many more. Decide which ones you’ll include in your collection. 

When choosing a theme for your collection, make sure that it reflects what you love and appreciate about the sport, team, or athlete. Streamlining your collection this way can help make your hunt for these items easier. You’ll avoid getting frustrated and accumulating a ton of things that you may no longer appreciate later on. 

3. Set A Working Budget

Just recently, a 1:1 Luka Doncic rookie NBA card sold for $4.6 million US dollars. Although that type of collectible is on the upper echelon of trading cards, you need to understand that even lower-value items can have a hefty price tag. 

Many people are avid sports fans.  Some take the interest to the next level and invest in memorabilia.  Sports collectibles can take the form of sports cards, posters, autographs, game balls, helmets, etc.  For some it’s a hobby, but for others it’s a business and method of investment.  Regardless of your reason and end goal, here’s how to get started collecting.

Authenticating

If you’re serious about accruing a respectable collection, you’ll want to be sure that the items you buy are authentic.  When buying from other collectors and sources, be sure to get a COA or certificate of authenticity.  It’s an official document that verifies that the item is genuine.

Securing

There are no hard rules when it comes to collecting sports memorabilia, yet it’s beneficial to have structure.  For example, if you’re collecting for fun, decide on a niche such as collecting items associated with one athlete, team, or city.  Moreover, don’t buy based on emotion; if you’re collecting to resell, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting a good price and the item will rise in price over time. Read the rest of this entry →