Other outlets, like auction houses, where the percentage they keep is based on how much your card or item sells for. Some shops may offer you less than what the card is worth in order to make a profit on it. Experts at your local card shop or sports memorabilia store can help appraise your item, as can those with auction houses like Heritage Auctions.īe wary of where you’re selling, though. If you have any of the previously mentioned cards, or your own set you feel could be of value, it’s important to do your research before rushing to sell. Rookie cards can be largely valuable as collectors “love the book ends,” or those from the beginning and end of a player’s career. “Those one-of-one cards do sell for six and seven figures, even though it’s just manufactured rarity,” Provenzale said. Manufacturers have created their own rarity, sometimes making cards known as ‘one to one,’ meaning they’re the only one available.
Previously, many cards were mass-produced, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, Provenzale explained.
When the cards were printed, they misspelled his name as ‘Maggie.’ Being that the card is unique and from one of the most iconic card sets, Provenzale said it could “do high five figures.” What’s next?īut what about today’s market? Is there a card today that will be the next Honus Wagner or Mickey Mantle? Provenzale noted another from the 1909 T206 set, Sherry Magie. Some error cards are lucky enough to be worth more than three figures. These are largest unclaimed Mega Millions, Powerball jackpots Cards that aren’t edited can go for a couple hundred dollars, according to Provenzale. After Topps discovered the error, the original cards were pulled off the market and replaced with an edited version. He was initially photographed holding a bat that had an obscene phrase written on the bottom of the bat that went unnoticed at first. One of the most well-known error cards is that of Cal Ripken’s brother, Billy Ripken. “But, that isn’t always the case,” Provenzale explained. There is a particular subset of cards that many collectors thought would be incredibly valuable – those with an error. Still, more examples of Mantle’s card are known to exist than Wagner’s. The remaining cards from the series, including Mantle’s, were then loaded onto a barge and dumped into the Atlantic Ocean, according to Provenzale. The final round of cards didn’t sell well and most sat in a warehouse for over a decade.
That put him in the final series but, because of production delays, that series wasn’t released until after the season had ended (and after the Yankees beat the then-Boston Dodgers in the World Series). Mantle, a New York Yankee and “the face of 50s baseball,” was card number 311, Provenzale said. Due to their rarity, cards graded authentic – meaning they’re in worse condition than what is covered on the traditional one-to-10 scale – still have the potential to sell for millions of dollars. Now, 105 years since Wagner took the field, his T206 cards are bringing in millions of dollars at auctions. He was a shortstop who played primarily with the Pittsburgh Pirates during his 21 seasons and was among the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. Wagner is widely revered as one of the greatest players of all time. Only about 60 cards are known to exist, and “most of them are in horrible condition.” “That one is all about rarity,” he said, referring specifically to the Wagner card from that set. Notably small compared to modern cards, Provenzale referred to the run of cards as the “first landmark set.” The first, the 1909 T206 set, was found in cigarette and tobacco packs from the American Tobacco Company. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Newsmakers via Getty) The famous T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, is shown Jin New York City.