How To Sell Your Vintage Sports Card Collection For Top Dollar
Maximize your vintage sports cards value and sell for the most money
Selling a vintage sports card collection can very exciting. Whether you have inherited a collection from a family member or are selling a collection built over a lifetime, it can be fun to sell and profit from it. The process can also be overwhelming and stressful, especially if you aren't familiar with sports cards and don't know what to look for. No one wants to be taken advantage of and sellers want to know what they have prior to selling. This guide provides expert tips on how to prepare your collection, research your card values, and select what venue to sell them with.
Preparing To Sell Your Card Collection
Selling an entire collection can sometimes seem like a daunting task, especially when there are hundreds or thousands of cards to go through. A solid place to start is to identify what years and sets the cards are from. Once you have this information, it is easier to figure out who the key Hall of Famers and Rookies are. These cards are generally the most valuable cards and drive the overall value of the collection. From there, research can be done to figure out how much the cards are worth.
Research Your Collection
1. Identify Years, Sets, and Key Players
Determining the years your cards are from is a great starting point. The era the card were produced in can give an idea as to value. Here are a few card eras and popular sets from each:
Pre-War cards: 1865-1946
Important Sets: Old Judge (1887-1890), T206 (1909-11), T205 (1911), Turkey Red (1911), Goudey (1933-1938), Delong (1933), Diamond Stars (1934-36), and Play Ball (1939-41)
Key Players: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, Joe Jackson, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Nap Lajoie
Post-War Vintage Cards: 1947-79
Important Sets: Leaf (1948-49), Topps (1952-1979), Bowman (1948-1955)
Key Players: Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Pete Rose, Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench, Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson
Modern: 1980-1986, 1994-current
Important Sets: Topps (1980, 1982, 1983, 1985)
Key Players: Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Mark Mcgwire
Mass Produced: 1987-1993
If your cards are from 1866-1946, there is a good chance your collection contains significant value. These cards are scarer than vintage and modern, and even commons can sell for $20+. There is also very high demand for cards from cards from the 1950s and 60s, as many collectors focus on stars and building sets from these years. Cards from 1970-1975 also have a strong collector base. Towards the late 70s and up there is more supply and not as much demand. There are many exceptions to this of course but this is a general guide. Of note, cards from 1987-1993 are from the "mass produced" era, when the card companies overprinted cards and created a surplus supply of them. Most cards from this era are not worth much.
Need help identifying what years and sets your cards are from? Want to know key cards from each set? Check out our Vintage Baseball Card Database
2. Catalog Your Collection
Create an inventory list of what you have. This list does need not to include every card, but make note of any Hall of Famers and Rookies. A rough count of commons and years they are from is also very helpful.
Card Inventory List
3. Research Value
Rather than trying to sell a collection you know nothing about, it is best to do some research on your cards value. Research helps make sure you aren't being taken advantage of, but it can also provide you with reasonable expectations. It is fun to see a card you own listed for thousands of dollars, but many times the card is simply listed at an unreasonable price and will never sell. Be sure to check completed and sold listings on eBay; not just listed prices. Check out below how to see previous sales.
How To Check Recent eBay Sales
eBay is a great source to get recent sales of most cards. In order to see sold prices (rather than listed prices), start by clicking the "advanced" button to the right of the eBay search bar. Next type in what card your interested in into the "enter keywords" search bar. Be sure to check "Sold Items" under the "search including" heading. Then click the blue search button, and you will be able to see all recent sales for the card in question. See the red arrows in the images below.
4. Find a Trusted Buyer
Throwback Sports Cards was founded to connect with other collectors. As a private collecting company, our goal is to build relationships with fellow collectors and grow our collection. We love hearing the stories and history of each collection. It is our pledge to treat each client with fairness and honesty. We strive to make sure you are 100% satisfied when selling your collection to us. Our process includes going through each card to help maximize your profits. With over 20 years of experience in the hobby, you can can feel comfortable knowing we will pay the most for your collection.
