How to Buy and Sell Sports Memorabilia

Whether collecting auction memorabilia sport items is your hobby, you want to make some extra money or you just want to find unique Christmas gifts this year, searching for sports memorabilia can be fun and engaging. However, to ensure that you purchase legitimate memorabilia, be sure you do some research so you don't become the victim of a con. 

Define a Category

Before you can even start shopping, you must narrow down your search. Are you looking for a particular team, player or general category of memorabilia? General categories for sports memorabilia can include:
  • antiques
  • autographed items
  • game equipment
  • playing cards
  • posters
  • toy action figures
  • trophies.
Once you've decided what type of item you are looking for, it will be easier to find the best sources for the sports memorabilia you are seeking. While most sport team souvenir stores sell a little bit of everything, other stores will specialize in one thing.

Learn the Terminology

There are a few terms that you should familiarize yourself with before you start searching for sports memorabilia online:
  • Limited edition: If an item is a limited edition, it means that only a certain number of that item was produced or signed. There should be two numbers on the piece. The low number indicates the one you have and the high number indicates the total number produced.

    For example, if a limited edition autographed baseball has the numbers 145/500, this means that you have the 145th baseball out of 500 that were produced and signed. The fewer that are produced, the more valuable that piece will be.
  • Officially licensed: When an item is officially licensed, it means that the athletic association gives a company permission to display its name or logo on merchandise. You can usually find a sticker on the item, letting you know that it is officially licensed.

Where to Look for Sports Memorabilia

As with other specialty items, you can search for and find quality pieces of sports memorabilia by:
  • attending collectible shows: Visiting vendors and dealers at collectible shows will not only help you get a feel for what items are out there, but it will also help you become more familiar with buying authentic sports products. Keep your eyes open for potential trades. You have a better chance of getting a higher price or better trade from someone at a collectible show.
  • being aware of fakes: Unfortunately, fake pieces of sports memorabilia are scattered throughout the market. To avoid being conned into buying a fake, do your research before making any purchases.

    Before you hit an auction or collectible show, scan price guides and get opinions from dealers on the value of your items. If you know you have something of real value, do not let a dealer talk it down. Get an appraisal or two from an authentication service.
  • checking out price guides and online auction sites: One of the best price guides out there for baseball cards and other collectibles is Beckett periodicals. In them, you can find the item you are looking for and the current value of that item. Remember that sports memorabilia values will continue to change for current players, so your best bet is to look for retired players.

    Online auction sites, such as eBay or Amazon, are also helpful in determining the current prices collectors are willing to pay for an item.
  • looking in sport team souvenir stores: You may be able to get to know the owner of a local team sport souvenir store, and he may offer you assistance in your search for collectibles. Reputable dealers can also help to prove an item’s authenticity.

There are many factors that go into determining sport memorabilia values, including:

  • authenticity certificates
  • condition of the item
  • Hall of Fame inductees
  • limited editions
  • popularity of the athlete.

Pricing

Depending on what you are buying and its value, prices can range from extremely low to extremely high. You should always make sure you refer to current price guides, dealers and reputable auction sites before purchasing any sports memorabilia or collectibles.
 
Sports memorabilia can make great gifts for the sports fan in your life. If your loved one is a sport fan, the suggestions listed above may help you to get him the best birthday present ever. You can also get your favorite sports fan a gift of a signed team jersey to make for an especially memorable holiday. 
 
Resources
 
2 Clicks Sports Memorabilia Staff. (n.d.). How to buy sports autographs. Retrieved September 25, 2009, from the 2 Clicks Sports Memorabilia Web site: http://www.2-clicks-sportsmemorabilia.com/article/how-to-buy-sports-autographs.html.
 
Dick’s Sporting Goods Staff. (2008). How to buy sports memorabilia. Retrieved March 16, 2008, from the Dick's Sporting Goods Web site: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/info/index.jsp?categoryId=725951&infoPath=222988. 
eBay Staff. (n.d.). Sports collectibles buying guide. Retrieved September 25, 2009, from the eBay Web site: http://pages.ebay.com/buy/guides/sports-collectibles-buying-guide/.