Buying Rookie Cards- How to Choose

Long before most of us started to buy, sell and trade baseball cards, "The Rookie Card" was a players most desirable card to have. Before autographed cards, game used memorabilia cards and numbered insert cards were produced, The rookie card was the collectors most prized possession. When we talk to card collectors about collecting today, the rookie card still seems to top want lists for both vintage and current players. You would be hard pressed to find a Ruth, Mantle or Jackie Robinson card that would be valued higher or more desirable than a mint rookie card. There is a certain desire when collecting most things to want to own the first of something and with baseball card collecting it’s the players first card, his “Rookie Card.”

Pre 1981 there was usually only 1 Rookie Card for your favorite new player because Topps was the main producer of baseball cards. Roberto Clemente Rookie Card:1955 Topps. George Brett Rookie Card: 1975 Topps, etc..

In 2008 there will be many rookie cards for each new player. How do you choose which to put in your collection? Naturally we are all guided by our availability of funds so that will help us to choose which rookie cards we are able to purchase.

If we go back to 2001 and look at a future Hall of Famer like Albert Pujols we find that he has many rookie cards ranging in value from $20 to $15,000. Value is dependent upon different factors including brand, limited numbered cards,autographed cards and of course graded cards.. An Albert Pujols Topps rookie card may be $50.00 however an Pujols Bowman chrome rookie card that was issued autographed might trade for more than $10,000 in a PSA 10 holder It’s all about supply and demand fueled by ultimate condition in a graded holder.

So which cards should you buy?

For the 22 years I’ve been in business I have always made the same recommendation when it comes to choosing what rookie cards to buy. Buy the best you can afford and also a card that appeals to you visually. Eye appeal is an important factor when collecting so make that one of your considerations when choosing. A baseball players rookie card will most likely appreciate based on supply and demand coupled to his recent and past performance and popularity. The best keeps getting better so buy the best you can afford to buy. However it doesn’t make sense to put all your apples in one basket when you have a large pool of rookie cards to choose from. If you like David Wright and Alex Rodriguez then try to spread your current budget so you can acquire both cards. You’ll have to do some homework but it pays off in the long run so do your research and ask questions before you start buying blindly.

Rookie Cards will always be in demand and will surely gain popularity as a players career continues to get better as he heads towards stardom.

Scott Allen is owner of Southbay Baseball Cards (a family owned business since 1986) and avid lifetime collector of vintage and modern sports cards as well as memorabilia.

SBayCards offers quality sports and non-sports cards, collectibles and more. Order Online at low competitive prices.Wide selection. Check them out- http://www.sbaycards.com

Know Who You Are Buying Your Collectibles From

There are only a few sports card stores in the country that have been in business for 25 years or longer. If any of these stores are near where you live or work then you know that they are great places to go to help you build your collection. Most businesses that have been around for that period of time know a lot about what customers expect and treat their customers right.  These business owners are pioneers in  their field. They take pride in their establishments and value the return patronage of their customers placing great emphasis on customer service, fair pricing and good accurate advice when asked. They are still in business because you, the customer, sincerely like doing business with them and they are for the most part responsive to your needs and are willing to educate collectors along their way collecting. I commend them and I commend you for shopping in these stores.

For many collectors  there isn’t a really cool card store in your area. The big sports card and memorabilia shows are only 2 or 3 times a year and you have to take trains, planes and automobiles to attend them. Then there are the hotels, food, cabs and admission costs. Thank goodness for the internet, right? The internet has brought these collectibles to your finger tips and then to your front door. You've seen cards and collectibles you never thought you'd see. You can see hundreds of items in minutes. The down side is that you have also encountered crooks and scammers that you never thought would prey on you. They won’t go away any time soon. It’s the law of averages for them and they’re good at what they do. It’s your hard earned money that they‘re after and you have to face the realization that you might get stuck some day.

 I’m not a negative person by nature and I don’t like playing the devil’`s advocate . The facts are however that fake autographs, trimmed and doctored cards, paying for an item and not receiving it are but a few of the pitfalls of internet collectible buying. Have any of these things happened to you or someone you know? Many collectors....thousands of them have been burned.  The internet is a huge playground for crooks to play in. They prey on the uneducated buyer and the greedy buyer.. When a deal looks like it’s too good to be true then it probably is. Stay away, BEWARE!!!!!  They will take your money and run and you may not have any recourse.

Protect yourself with your number 1 defense- common sense! Only buy from a secure web site. You also might possibly phone in your first couple of orders. Purchase from an Ebay, Naxcom or Beckett.com  business with lots of  positive  feedbacks.  Gather as much information as you can about them and their companies reputation. Ask your collector friends about their positive experiences. Referrals are great and can offer valuable info.  Do as much homework about the seller you are buying from as you do about the items you are buying.

The sports collectibles business is a billion dollar industry. This means that in 2008 collectors will spend millions of dollars on fake  autographs, doctored cards, damaged goods and undelivered merchandise.

  I prefer to hold an item in my hand when I’m buying, but when I can’t, I expect a reputable online business  to hold my hand when I’m making my purchases!

(SBayCards offers quality sports and non-sports cards, collectibles and more. Order Online at low competitive prices. Wide selection.)