How to Start Collecting Sports Cards

Collecting sports cards began in the 1950s, when Tom Zappala was a child growing up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. A love of baseball sparked a lifelong hobby. He distinctly remembers going to his local store to buy packs of cards and walking home with them. Today, Zappala is a sports card collector with more than a million cards in his collection. He even has an autographed baseball on one of his cards!

 

While sports card collecting can be fun for both children and adults, it is important to remember that it's a highly competitive hobby that can be overwhelming without the right resources. Using a sports card dictionary will help you define the different terms and slang that are common among collectors. With this information, you can start collecting and get the most from your hobby. Here are some great resources to start your collection:

 

Baseball cards Sports Collectors Value Guides. This reference book lists current values for different types of sports cards, including baseball, football, basketball, auto racing, hockey, and more. You can purchase the guide at your local book store or on the Internet. This guide is an invaluable reference for sports card collectors. It contains accurate information about the current market value of sports cards, and can help you make decisions about how much to spend on your collections. Luckily, this guide is free to download and can be downloaded for offline and online purchases. 

 

Checklists. Checklists are books that list the cards in a set. Checklists are typically included in sports card sets. Checklist cards are intended to be collector aids, and many have small boxes on the side for checking your cards. Checklists are highly valuable, especially if they are free of markings and creases. So, if you're interested in collecting sports cards, get yourself a set of checklists to maximize your chances of success.

 

Then, consider selling your cards. Many dealers won't look at your collection on the spot, but you can contact them to set up an appointment. You can also sell your cards in garage sales or flea markets or in classified ads to generate some emergency cash. Most dealers will charge you about 10% of their current value. The prices will not be very high, but it will help you get some extra money while you wait for a big sale. Get the guide on collecting basketball cards to help you get started with the collecting activity.

 

You can also purchase a box of cards. Typically, most collectors can't afford to buy entire boxes of cards. So, they make up for the difference by splitting the cost amongst themselves. Some of these card collections are known as "box breaks" or "case breaks," and they can involve as many as ten people. Those who are new to the hobby can also take the help of experts. For example, if you have a rare autographed beer can, you're more likely to find it among your boxes.

 

Another way to protect your cards is to use a plastic box. These aren't very expensive but can keep them safe from damage. You can purchase a plastic box that is made specifically for sports cards. However, be careful with the material that you choose. Some plastic is harmful for sports cards. While plastic boxes are not the best solution, they do offer enough protection for your cards. You can buy a box that is made specifically for sports cards and save a lot of money. You can get more enlightened on this topic by reading here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_card.