Dressed for Success: Mantle Jersey Sells for $4.6 Million

A year ago, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card stunned the sports collectible hobby, selling for a record $12.6 million. Now, 12 months later, two more pristine Mantle pieces combined to sell for more than $9 million in Heritage’s recent Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction. A New York Yankees jersey worn by Mantle throughout […]

Topps Baseball Cards

The world’s most expensive “brick?” In 1952 a “brick” of 1952 Topps baseball cards—which contains eight 5-cent packs of five baseball cards and a stick of gum in each—would have cost you 40 cents. Early this year, the intact brick sold for $873,300. As you ponder this return on investment, know that this item was […]

Mickey Mantle Card Kept in Basement Sells for $12.6 Million

Another reason to go through boxes before you donate: A 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card that used to be kept in a box in a basement sold August 28 for $12.6 million in a Heritage Auctions sale. That price more than doubles the record set last year when a rare Honus Wagner card sold […]

Play Ball!

Dear Lee, If it’s October, it must be World Series time! Even if you aren’t a baseball person, there’s plenty of sports memorabilia to attract collectors. I have been amazed at the prices that baseball and basketball cards have been getting in the past year. The crazy prices could be because people were stuck at […]

Rare Pokémon Cards Getting High Prices

Baseball cards have been breaking auction records with million dollar sales. Also getting high prices rare mint-condition Pokémon cards. Pokémon, short for “pocket monsters,” is a Japanese franchise that has been around for decades. It is a popular animated TV show in America since 1998 (released in Japan in 1996), a trading card game, the subject […]

Baseball Cards

Baseball cards have been printed since the 1880s, and billions of cards have been produced. The first cards were issued by tobacco companies, but by the 1920s tobacco companies were no longer using the cards as promotions. Candy and gum companies began issuing cards in the early twentieth century. Topps Chewing Gum Company started inserting […]

Factors Affecting A Baseball Card’s Value

Newer cards must be in near-perfect condition to have any value. Older cards in less-than-perfect condition sell, but those in excellent condition bring the best prices. Unopened packs of cards sell better than opened packs. Sometimes the cards have been stained by the bubble gum or packaging—an unwelcome, price-reducing surprise. One way to make sure […]

Don’t Trim a Baseball Card

By Michael Osacky  Trimming a card is the same thing as altering it.  The value is essentially nill.  Collectors do NOT want a trimmed card under any circumstance.  The best investment I have ever made was to buy a ten cent ruler at Target.  I know the dimensions for every baseball, football, and basketball card.  […]