Just like the great paintings, autographed baseballs are a reflection of something significant. A faded signature can impact both its sentimental and monetary value. Having your signed baseballs in top grade is paramount to ensuring longevity and quality.

No one wants to have an autographed baseball that is worn due to excessive handling. Each contact made with the ball should be precise and the ball should be held by clean hands only—and then only minimal contact is advised. Storing autographed baseballs in protective cases is a must in order to ensure safety.  Of course UV (ultraviolet) rays can cause damage for autographed baseballs. Placing them in such environmental conditions can lead to unfortunate damage that could easily be avoided.  In other words—keep them out of direct sunlight.

The recommendation is to always to store autographed baseballs in places away from young children and those who might not care much whether they’re safe or not. If they are being stored at home, a special area should be dedicated to it if possible. No one should be able to easily knock you collection down and cause irreparable damage.

Many individuals have special rooms designed for storing autographed baseballs and other sports memorabilia. They collect items of similar significance and store them in ‘man cave’ or special room/office. This way, it is easy to keep track of them and to ensure damage is limited or wholly restricted.

Glass displays are the finest methods to display autographed baseballs. The glass displays help the baseballs avoid damage from the atmosphere around them. Yet, it is easy for anyone wishing to observe the baseball to look at it through the convenience of the glass. As long as the display is kept clean, this is best method to ensure the baseball remains in 'tip-top' condition.

Glass displays are not as costly as one would assume. Of course, if one is willing to go and dole out money, there are better options available. The quality of the glass can be improved to better protect the item inside.

You can also buy high quality plexiglass type holders made in both square and ball-shaped designs.  Generally, the higher priced these items, the higher quality display they will provide.  It’s really about that simple.  If you have a large collection and feel confident in your ability to keep it stored safely, lower cost holders may be an option.  If you want the entire presentation for a select number of special, valuable signed baseballs to be first class, it’s probably best to go with the more expensive model for storing autographed baseballs.  Just be sure that whatever you buy can be safely cleaned without showing the effects of your cleansing method.

While not nearly as popular, or lucrative, as it once was, there are still opportunities available to the baseball card collector and/or investor.

At this stage in the evolution of the product, there is one simple premise to follow.

The older the better.

During the 1980's, when card collecting was reaching its peak, the market was flooded by the likes of Topps, Fleer and Upper Deck producing millions of cards and subsequently driving the collectable prices down with this over saturation.

This was followed, not long after, with the introduction of video games. This phenomenon in a sense, replaced, or at least did not allow time for youths of that era to trade.

Therefore, to find value in the baseball card arena we must concentrate on the days of yore.

Anything after 1970 should be investigated thoroughly before buying it. There are some post-1970 cards that might be attractive to the investor:  ultra high grade rookie cards and under the radar rookie cards of players you're certain will be come major stars.

Otherwise, let us look at some specific cases where cards have paid off.

The "Grand Slam" of all baseball cards is the famous Honus Wagner T206. This was a card, believe it or not, that was distributed in packs of cigarettes between 1909 and 1911. One of the main reasons it is so valuable is that, the Flying Dutchmen himself asked the tobacco company to cease production after only a small number were made. It is still debated whether this was due to his concern over children buying cigarettes to acquire it, or the cigarette makers not compensating him enough to reproduce his image.  A PSA 8 example sold for $2.8 million in 2008 and even low grade Wagner cards have appreciated in value to a point where they're now selling for $250,000 and up.  Just 15 years ago, the sales price was lucky to reach half that number.  The Wagner card buyer isn't your average Joe.

Another "round tripper", is the 1952 Topps baseball set. How would you like the first Topps Mickey Mantle card for starters?   As a whole, the '52 Topps set is an icon and its best cards have generally appreciated over time as well as rookie and Hall of Famer cards from Topps' other early issues like Hank Aaron (1954), Roberto Clemente (1955) and Sandy Koufax (1955).

Generally speaking, the average person's best investment opportunities lie in the decade from 1950 to 1960.  However, there is also a huge market for players that few people alive today actually remember.  We're talking early 1930s and before.  Babe Ruth cards.  Lou Gehrig cards.  Ty Cobb cards.  Buy the best you can afford and be sure to shop around and see what they've actually sold for--not what someone is asking now.

It should also be noted, before partaking in any sizable transaction, these cards should be graded and authenticated by a reputable company--either Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Sportscard Guaranty (SGC) or Beckett Grading Services (BGS or BVG).  Investing in baseball cards is no more of a sure thing than investing in stocks.  Retired players can't do any more than they've already done to increase their value.  However, the demand is there--both from collectors of old time cards and those who continue to speculate on the next big thing.

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1966 Topps #50 Mickey Mantle PSA 5 high end BUY-IT NOW SPECIAL!! $120.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 43m

1962 Post Cereal #5 MICKEY MANTLE HOF Yankees PSA 5 h8755 $135.00 Time Remaining: 48m Buy It Now for only: $135.00

1981 MICKEY MANTLE SIGNATURE PSA/DNA CERTIFIED PEREZ-STEELE GALLERIES $192.51 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 25m

1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle PSA 6 $999.99 Time Remaining: 1h 27m Buy It Now for only: $999.99

1964 PSA 8 WORLD SERIES FULL TICKET GAME 7 YANKEES CARDINALS MICKEY MANTLE HR 18 $1,299.00 Time Remaining: 1h 30m Buy It Now for only: $1,299.00

1958 Topps #150 Mickey Mantle PSA 7 " Well Centered " $836.21 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 33m

1961 Topps Mickey Mantle Blasts 565 ft HR #406 PSA 8 NM-MT (st) $69.99 Time Remaining: 1h 37m Buy It Now for only: $69.99

1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle PSA 5 $1,599.99 Time Remaining: 1h 37m Buy It Now for only: $1,599.99

MICKEY MANTLE PSA/DNA SIGNED COUNTRY COOKIN BOWL FROM MANTLE'S RESTAURANT RARE! $495.00 Time Remaining: 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $495.00

MICKEY MANTLE FRAMED 11X14 AUTOGRAPH PHOTO PSA/DNA AUTHENTICATION $799.00 Time Remaining: 2h 18m Buy It Now for only: $799.00

MICKEY MANTLE JOE DIMAGGIO FRAMED 11X14 AUTOGRAPH PHOTO PSA/DNA AUTHENTICATION $1,499.00 Time Remaining: 2h 21m Buy It Now for only: $1,499.00

MICKEY MANTLE ROGER MARIS FRAMED 8X10 AUTOGRAPH PHOTO PSA/DNA AUTHENTICATION $3,999.00 Time Remaining: 2h 24m Buy It Now for only: $3,999.00

1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan

One reason Michael Jordan sports cards were outrageously priced was the typical speculation involving sports cards in general.  Jordan was a highly anticipated rookie. Not even an injury early in his career could slow down the momentum he was already building toward in his pro career, but it took a few seasons of frustration for Jordan to blossom and his basketball cards to skyrocket.

Jordan's first few years saw only a few cards produced.  During his rookie year, in fact, there was NO mainstream basketball card set issued.  The early 90's craze made card manufacturers produce in such large volumes that each individual card was not worth nearly as much. If there is one thing Jordan was good at—it was timing.

Jordan also knew how to make an entrance. So it makes perfect sense that his 1986-87 Fleer rookie card hit the shelves at a time when card collecting was seemingly at the top of its collective game.  If Michael Jordan was a stock, it would make perfect sense that investors would choose him over the other stocks to choose from. Who else even stood out during that era that was even close in proximity to the Michael Jordan brand?  Those who stuck them away were rewarded.

During that era, Jordan was quickly becoming the most well known athlete on the planet.  Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were enjoying their rivalry too and as the NBA took off, so did basketball card collecting.  After years of playing second fiddle to baseball and football cards, collectors began to appreciate hoops too.

Now that Michael Jordan has been retired for several years, replaced by the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in the basketball world-his cards are finally seeing a slight dip in price. Now just might be the time to invest. Why not cough up the money for a basketball god who will always be revered as one of the best, if not the best, basketball players of all time?  In terms of collector interest, no one comes close, even today.  Tops on the list has to be the Michael Jordan rookie card.

Jordan appeared on multiple sets of cards as the NBA expanded its licensing agreements to Topps and Upper Deck during the 1990s.  He has some 1-of-1 autographed cards in several hot Upper Deck products.  Those are prize finds and probably worth the investment.  Jordan, after all, is the Babe Ruth of basketball.  His exclusive contract with Upper Deck has resulted in some high quality cards.

Michael Jordan sports cards were insanely priced in the 1990s. Trying to grab a Jordan rookie card at a good price was next to impossible during that era.  The ceiling had not been set on his limit and what could and would eventually be achieved. Cards typically raise in price as collectors speculate and wonder just how great that particular player will be. Michael Jordan sports cards were elevating in the same fashion that his Airness was on the basketball court.

Imagine a dunk contest with basketball cards and who would win? The prices of Michael Jordan sports cards and memorabilia provided enough lift for that theoretical flight to launch easily from the free throw line and win any dunk contest. His “Airness” changed the hoops memorabilia world forever.   Just like the actual game of basketball, Jordan dominated.

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BGS 9.5 10 MICHAEL JORDAN 1995-96 FLAIR HOT NUMBER 10 10 95 95 BULLS RARE $399.99 Time Remaining: 53m Buy It Now for only: $399.99

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Rc #57 Bgs 6.5 Ex-Mt+ 2 High Subs $406.00 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 8m

03-04 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Signatures Auto Michael Jordan BGS 9.5 Auto10 $1,299.00 Time Remaining: 1h 20m Buy It Now for only: $1,299.00

1994 UPPER DECK MINORS GOLD # MJ23 MICHAEL JORDAN BGS 7.5 NEAR MINT + $10.00 Time Remaining: 1h 36m

Michael Jordan Ultra Award Winner Insert MVP #1 BGS 9.5 Subs 10/9.5/9.5/9.5 Gem! $39.99 Time Remaining: 1h 38m Buy It Now for only: $52.99

Michael Jordan 1993-94 Hoops Supreme Court Insert #SC11 BGS 8.5 Sub 10/9.5/8/9.5 $12.99 Time Remaining: 1h 39m Buy It Now for only: $16.99

Michael Jordan 1996-97 E-X 2000 #9 BGS 8.5 Subs 9/9.5/9/8 - .5 from Mint MVP HOF $15.99 Time Remaining: 1h 45m Buy It Now for only: $20.99

Michael Jordan 2002-03 Upper Deck #180 BGS 9.5 Subs 10/9.5/9/9.5 Gem Mint $12.99 Time Remaining: 1h 46m Buy It Now for only: $18.99

2009-10 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Jumbo Legacy BGS Graded Set #MJ-1 - #MJ-10 $499.99 Time Remaining: 1h 59m

Michael Jordan 2013 UD Master Collection Signatures Gold #d 1/1! MINT BGS 9! $1,499.00 Time Remaining: 2h 24m Buy It Now for only: $1,499.00

1997-98 ULTRA GOLD MEDALLION MICHAEL JORDAN BGS 9.5-9-8.5-9.5 $19.95 Time Remaining: 2h 27m Buy It Now for only: $19.95

1984-85 STAR MICHAEL JORDAN XRC BGS 8 w/9x2 SUB - THESE ARE DRYING UP!! HOT!! $1,799.99 Time Remaining: 2h 30m Buy It Now for only: $1,799.99

It may seem hard to believe now, but Mantle autographs were once available at shows for $5-10.  Even though The Mick turned his post-career fame into a nice living through paid signings and put his name on memorabilia thousands of times, there is still a demand for Mantle autographs and that cheap autograph will now often run $300-400 for a baseball; more for a nicer item or oversized photograph.

Now, even lesser known stars are in at least some demand by collectors.  So how do you know the autograph is real?  The simple answer is to get a stamp of approval from a sports autograph authenticator.  PSA DNA, a division of Professional Sports Authenticator, is one such company.  James Spence Authentication is considered another reliable firm. There are a couple of others who are generally knowledgeable.

There are many autographs which carry a certificate of authenticity from so-called forensic handwriting experts who have been known to study only the autograph itself—not the signing trends or signing history of the player.  One must take into account how a player signed his name in a certain era and also if it is even possible that the item in question matches the life and career of a player.

You would be surprised at the number of times some authenticators have given the OK to an item that was produced after the death of a player.  For collectors or fans who 

But is it always necessary to spend extra on sports autograph authentication?  The short answer is …maybe.

If you are spending a significant amount of money for an autograph, it would probably be best to make sure it has been viewed by someone who has seen that signature before and deemed it likely to be authentic.  That is especially true for something like Mickey Mantle autographs which have, through the years, been forged by talented con artists.

However, modern day autographs simply may not be worth an unscrupulous attempt at forgery.  There are many autographs on eBay that are perfectly fine, even without a COA.  Check the seller feedback and try and get the provenance of the item if it is not in the description.  Simple common sense is often the best guide.

Just remember, especially when buying rare sports autographs, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Baseball card supplies are inexpensive, readily available and a must for anyone who has a collection worth preserving.

Trading Card Storage

As any collector will tell you, keeping your cards in good condition requires storing them properly:

1) Soft Sleeves–The first step in storage is generally the penny sleeve or soft sleeve. These are clear plastic covers that you slide over your card for protection. They are inexpensive, with a package of 100 selling for as little as 99 cents.

2) Top-Loaders–Designed to hold your card with the soft sleeve already on, top-loaders are made of semi-rigid plastic. When considering using top-loaders, first consider your storage space. Top loaders provide more protection, but they do take up more space than just the soft sleeve. You may want to reserve top-loaders for some of your more important cards.  You can also purchase top loaders that are less rigid.  These will allow you sports cards to be removed more easily, and while not as hard as the semi-rigid top loader, they generally offer your cards plenty of protection.

3) Trading Card Boxes–While shoeboxes will suffice, they do not allow for maximum sports card storage because the box isn’t designed for it. So, most collectors will at some point decide to invest in specially-designed trading card boxes. They are stackable and you can choose sizes according to your needs. Some trading card boxes are designed to fit sleeved cards while others have slots big enough to accommodate top-loaders.

4) Trading Card Albums–Collector albums come with pages especially designed to hold your cards. While they are more expensive than sports card boxes, trading card albums do have two advantages. 1) They allow you to easily look through and share your cards with others by creating a ready-made display, and 2) they can be placed on a book shelf, taking up little room where space is tight.  You'll want some baseball card pages, which can be found online for a reasonable price when purchased in quantity.   You can also find them at a local sports card or comic book shop.

5)Screw Down Cases–These are hard plastic cases that hold one card per case. Because they take up more room than alternatives, screw down cases should be reserved for more valuable cards. As a bonus, they can be displayed using a stand which can be purchase with the case.

6) Acrylic Holders–The ultimate protection, acrylic holders encase your card in up to an inch in hard acrylic, ensuring nothing will get to them to cause damage. Acrylic holders are generally reserved for the best in a collection.

Trading Card Display

Of course you’re going to reach a point where you will want to display some of your more prized baseball or other sports cards. As mentioned earlier, trading card albums are a nice way to do that. They also take up little space when not in use. If you want to create a full-time display of your album, you can purchase a stand or stand album, which can then be neatly tucked away when not on display.

Another good option is using a wall-mounted sports card display. Much like a picture frame, wall displays come in a variety of sizes to fit your cards. If you only have a couple of cards you want to display, cubicle shelving units work well when paired with an acrylic holder. You can then show off your sports cards and still have spaces for other things—like that prized autograph baseball or cap.

Sports card collecting isn't complicated.  They're your cards, so you should store and display them however you like.  However, by keeping it organized, protecting your cards, and placing the best pieces out for display; you can ensure that you will get maximum enjoyment from your sports card and memorabilia collection and have something to show your friends and colleagues.

To purchase items for trading card storage and display, here's a link to over 3,000 listings on eBay!

Many of the biggest names of the day have several different cards in the T206 set.  Ty Cobb, for instance, has cards with his bat on shoulder, bat held away from shoulder as well as two portraits with different backgrounds.  The quality of these cards is excellent, especially once you account for the limited technology during the time frame in which they were distributed.

The cards were small and rectangular to fit inside the dimensions of a pack of cigarettes from the era.  Packs in the early 20^th century differed from those today in that they were smaller and thinner.  Most of the front of a tobacco card was taken up with the picture of the player in brilliant color.  A thin white border encircles the T206 card and on the bottom of each card was the last name of the player in a very small font along with an often-abbreviated version of the team name.

Collecting T206 cards is certainly a challenge.  With over 500 cards, including some rarities, it is often a long process to complete a set, even without the famous T206 Honus Wagner, the rare Eddie Plank or the Sherry Magie error.  From a price standpoint they are expensive but not as high as one might think.   Collecting them became a favorite pastime for adults, some of whom no doubt gave the cards to their children.  Millions were produced and they are still quite available from vintage card dealers if a collector is willing to bend a bit on the overall condition of the cards.  Lower grade examples, especially of common cards, are well within the budget of an average collector.

When collecting baseball cards from this era you can collect more than just one card of each player.  There are over forty different backs known for T206 cards.  Unlike modern cards these cards did not post players biographies or statistics on the backs.  These cards had advertisements for the brand of cigarettes in which they were found.  Many collectors hoard these cards as much for the advertisements as they do the players themselves.

This of course is the set that contains the Holy Grail of card collecting, the Honus Wagner card which generates hundreds of thousands of dollars when offered at auction, even in poor condtion.  Fewer than 100 are believed to exist, perhaps significantly less. However, focusing on this one card does a great disservice to the complexity and true value of the T206 set as a whole.

This is the only set of cards you will find that represents the first formative decade of the sport of baseball.  It is a snapshot of the game in an era when baseball truly was becoming our national game.   Players like Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker and many others are included.  For some players, the T206 is the only major card on which they were featured.  There are perhaps many minor cards of many of these players but none with the appeal of the T206 set.

This set is perhaps the most important baseball card set ever created.  For twenty-two years after this set was distributed, many companies like Cracker Jack and others tried to generate the same level of interest but none really succeeded.   It was not until 1933 when the Goudey Gum Company created their first major baseball card set that this was achieved.

The T206 set was the original icon  in an industry that has grown to epic proportions as the decades have passed. It will always be the first major baseball card set and the standard all subsequent sets will be measured against.

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1909-11 T206 #97 Ty Cobb Portrait Green REPRINT B45115 $34.97 Time Remaining: 2h 6m Buy It Now for only: $34.97

T206 SWEET CAPORAL TY COBB PORTRAIT RED PSA 2 MK $260.00 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 8h 52m

T 206 HOF COBB,YOUNG,JOHNSON, SPEAKER TINKERS, EVERS, CHANCE reprints $5.25 Time Remaining: 9h 21m

T206 T 206 Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder Polar Bear SGC 50 PSA 4 PSA 5 Rare Centered $2,000.00 Time Remaining: 9h 45m Buy It Now for only: $2,000.00

T206 Ty Cobb Bat On Shoulder Detroit SGC 30 Sweet Caporal Back *358356 $550.00 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 56m

L@@K 1909-11 T206 TY COBB GREEN PORTRAIT SWEET CAPORAL BACK REPRINT $0.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 2m

T206 Piedmont TY COBB Portrait Green HOF Detroit PR $699.99 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 15m Buy It Now for only: $699.99

T206 Polar Bear TY COBB Red Portrait HOF Detroit SGC 1.5 $674.99 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 30m Buy It Now for only: $674.99

T206 Polar Bear TY COBB Red Portrait HOF Detroit SGC 1 $624.99 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 32m Buy It Now for only: $624.99

1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb Bat Off - Sweet Caporal back RP $3.58 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 41m

T206 Helmar Ty Cobb Honus Wagner HOF $125.00 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 8h 36m

TY COBB 1909-1911 T206 Sweet Caporal Red Portrait PSA 2.5 Good+ $615.00 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 9h 38m

• *Quality
• *Scarcity
• *Subject Matter
• A good piece of advice is to buy the best you can afford. If there are three 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookies available, the highest graded cards are always in the highest demand and therefore will increase in value at the best rate. Since it's unlikely many more will ever emerge, you'll always be assured of having the best of the best which is never a bad position to be in . A mint ticket stub from Don Larsen's perfect game will always be appreciated by collectors-and appreciate in value as time goes on. If you're not able to afford five or six-figure items, keep quality in mind when shopping for lower priced items too.
• Like anything, it's best to do one's homework before making purchases. Opportunities abound with the growth of sports memorabilia shops and auction companies (with their phone-book sized catalogs), which show off virtually every high end sports collectible you can imagine.
• But it's important to be aware of what items are truly scarce. If only a few high grade copies of a particular card exist-- or if there is a vintage baseball photograph that is one of kind-- you're likely to see a higher rate of return based on the eternal laws of supply and demand.
• Focus on a subject matter that's of universal, lasting interest. Baseball memorabilia typically is most popular. While other sports collectibles, especially football, can also appreciate over time, baseball is the focal point of the sports memorabilia industry because of the appreciation for the game's history shared by so many fans and collectors. But the most popular athletes or teams in any sport; Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Roger Maris, Joe Montana, Joe Namath and others are exceptionally popular and there are thousands of people who collect memorabilia related to their careers. Love them or hate them, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have legions and fans and followers wanting a piece of vintage team memorabilia.
• Sports authentication companies like SGC, PSA, Beckett and GAI have made shopping for high dollar rare sports memorabilia a little easier. Using experts in the field, the companies will assign grades to cards, ticket stubs, autographs and photographs and authenticate them. While it's true they do make the occasional mistake, for the most part they are trusted and provide a level of security for rare sports memorabilia collectors and investors.
• As an investor, it would be wise to consider purchasing authenticated sports cards and memorabilia in high grade. While you'll pay more, you'll also have an easier time selling and likely earn more money.

here are plenty of options to get involved in something other than run-of-the-mill collecting. You can build a collection for yourself, to show off at your office or one to start for a youngster who will appreciate tangible pieces of sports history now or when they're older.

We don't have to tell you that eBay is a great place to investigate the incredible breadth of sports memorabilia available. You can browse the Vintage Sports Memorabilia category for some real gems. Try searching for lowest priced first and you'll see a wide variety of items available that won't cost you a week's pay. You can search by decade by typing in the first three letters of the decade you're interested in to eliminate material you may not be interested in. You'll see a variety of directions you could take for your sports memorabilia collection based on the items available and going prices. Larger sports collectibles shows are another place to shop for cheap sports memorabilia.

A few options for sports collectibles that are considered rare or hard-to-find would include:

These are just a few examples of sports collecting genres that might send you in the right direction as you browse the listings here on the Sports Collectors Store website, but there are many more. That's the great thing about the hobby. There are no rules when it comes to building your collection!

The first question is which baseball card grading service should be used. Professional Sports Authenticator is a very popular choice Sportscard Guaranty (SGC) is another, with its strength generally regarded to be in the pre-World War II sports card area. Beckett Grading is popular with modern card collectors, but the company has also made significant inroads with its efforts in the vintage sports card market in recent years.

So why should a collector use a baseball card grading service?  There are three main reasons:

• To authenticate a card as being original and not a counterfeit.When baseball cards became extremely valuable it brought a rash of counterfeiting.Some of the bogus cards look quite real to the naked eye and can only be detected by an expert.When you buy a graded card the guesswork is taken out of the process.

• Graders can generally detect alterations.It is relatively easy to expertly trim the edges of a card to make the corners sharp. It is also possible to use a marker to touch up areas of a card that have been worn or turn a slightly worn corner sharp .Baseball card grading companies look at cards under specialized lighting to detect any alterations.While not perfect, the grading companies typically can detect sports card alterations.

• To make a card more valuable.Baseball card grading companies introduced the concept of centering into the hobby. They will measure the centering of the picture on a card to the nearest thousandth of an inch.Finding a well-centered vintage baseball card is truly harder than one might think.The printing equipment available was very poor and often produced cards that were not perfectly centered on the front or back.Well centered cards are much more valuable, especially when authenticated by a baseball card grading company.

So the question is when does it make sense to have your cards graded?The answer lies in what you are trying to accomplish.Some people grade cards simply because it encapsulates them in a nice holder that protects the card for life. Others have high quality standards for the cards they own and want these standards documented.    Some people who sell baseball cards want to increase their value.I have bought single cards and sometimes sets of cards simply because I saw some hidden value in the purchase.

It is very possible to buy a card for $100, pay a fee of less than $30 to have it graded by a baseball card grading company and increase its value by a large margin.You need to know what to look for and more importantly perhaps find a seller who does not know what to look for.I once bought a 1968 Topps Baseball set on Ebay for $1400 and sold seventy five graded cards from the set for over $5000, many of which were not big stars, but commons that were in high demand among those who collect completely graded sets.

When debating about having a card subitted for grading and authentication, it is very important to know how to pregrade a card yourself and to be honest about its qualities. You should have a goal in mind for the card before you send it.A potential grade of PSA 4 would be more than enough reason to send a raw 1933 Goudey of Babe Ruth for grading. A 1954 Topps rookie card of Henry Aaron would require a much higher grade to make it profitable to send for grading.  You need to determine how much value the grading process will add to the card and weigh this against the amount of money it costs to have the card graded.  This, of course, is both an objective and subjective assessment.Review company grading standards thoroughly and know it is better to err on the side of caution.

Authentication, proof of no alterations and an independent third party arbitrator on condition are all important qualities offered by the baseball card grading company of your choice, but it is best to do your homework by contacting dealers and collectors who have experience in this potentially profitable arena.

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1987 Fleer #344 ROB DEER Brewers GEM MT PSA 10 h229 $15.00 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $15.00

1948 BOWMAN Steve Van Buren #7 Football Card PSA 6 EX-MT!!! Philadelphia Eagles $89.99 Time Remaining: 30m

1961 Topps #67 Ossie Virgil PSA EX-MT 6 $7.45 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $7.45

1977 Topps, #507 Mike Hegan, Brewers, PSA 9 Mint $8.99 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $8.99

1952 Bowman #218 WILLIE MAYS HOF NY Giants PSA 5 h8813 $700.00 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $700.00

1965 Topps Roger Maris #155 PSA VG+ Yankees HR Leader!!! HOF $11.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 30m

1962 Topps #266 John Anderson PSA NM 7 $10.95 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $10.95

1970 TOPPS #453 ROD CAREW PSA 7 B1254729 $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $9.99

1974 Topps #539 Lloyd Allen PSA Mint 9 $10.95 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $10.95

1984 DONRUSS DIAMOND KINGS STEEL #11 HAL McRAE PSA 9 B1181171 $6.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $6.99

1984 O-PEE-CHEE #365 MIKE BULLARD PSA 9 H1181044 $4.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $4.99

1984 TOPPS #291 CHUCK TANNER PSA 10 B1180938 $9.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $9.99

The key to making money buying and selling sports cards is to use the grading services. Typically dealers and most collectors only have cards of star players sent for grading. That means you can often find top condition cards of many common players and small stars in raw ungraded form. The value of these cards can be increased greatly when graded. Some very advanced collectors with large amounts of money try to put together sets in the best possible condition and place their sets in public view on the grading company Set Registries.

About five years ago I met a dealer at a show who was selling a large amount of mint 1968 and 1969 Topps commons for one dollar each. I picked out one hundred cards that were perfectly centered and paid for them. My plan was to check the PSA population report and send the rare ones for grading. PSA does a population report that tells all of the members just how many of each individual card have achieved each grade rank. Most of the cards I purchased were very common and I resold them on eBay for basically what I paid for them. Two however were quite rare. The 1968 Bob Veale and 1969 Billy Martin cards each had a population of fewer than five issues in PSA 9 or better condition. I was sure these cards would grade MINT 9 or GEM MINT 10 so I sent them to PSA for grading. Both came back graded PSA 9 along with a bill of $50 for grading cost. I proceeded to put both of them on Ebay where they sold for $675 total, a healthy return on my $52 investment. I have since repeated this process with positive results on many occasions. These are many opportunities to do the same throughout the country.

A second way you can use PSA to your advantage is in the area of cards with qualifiers for centering. When you send a card to PSA they deal with centering in two different ways depending on your desires. If you do not want a qualifier they will knock the overall grade of the card down if it is off center typically by two full grades. A card graded PSA 9 MINT (OC) will likely wind up a straight PSA 7 NEAR MINT if you request no qualifiers on your submission form. While some collectors shy away from any kind of qualifiers, the card with the qualifier will often sell for a bit more than the card with the lower numerical grade. You can buy cards and have them graded again, selling them for profit.

If you want to bypass grading companies there are other way to make money buying and selling sports cards. Negotiating skills come into play here. There are two kinds of dealers you will encounter at card shows. Some are full-time dealers or serious part-times who move from show to show and city to city displaying their wares. They are often in no hurry to sell their products because they know eventually they will receive the true value for their cards. Other dealers, weekend warriors, who set up a table at only a few shows per year or even collectors who have decided to liquidate their hobby to make a major purchase or earn enough to pay off some debts. Talk with dealers as you walk a show and discover those who willing to wheel and deal. When you find one, be prepared to spend a large amount of money. Many dealers are more than willing to negotiate with a buyer who has large amounts of cash he is willing to drop.

The final area you can profit buying vintage cards is eBay. Look for listings with poor pictures or those that end at inconvenient times. I have bought many cards from auctions ending in the middle of the night and sold the exact same cards for profit by ending them on Sunday early evening just because late bidders never materialized.