Sports Memorabilia Certificate of Authenticity a Must for Savvy Collectors I found this article about the extreme of where the sports industry and memorabilia have gone and will continue to give the loyal fans the protection they need to help you. In the days prior to a, collectors had to rely solely on the word of vendors and merchants and were sometimes taken advantage of by deceitful dealers. The last several years has seen an explosion in the sports autographed and collectibles memorabilia market. With the increase in demand for sports memorabilia, collectors have also seen an increase in the number of forgeries in the marketplace. Undoubtedly, the best way for sports memorabilia collectors to protect themselves would be to actually witness the signing of their sports memorabilia items. Unfortunately, for most collectors, this is not a viable option. Most sports collectors acquire or purchase their collectibles from a third party. The problem becomes with so many dealers making available such a wide range of inventory and prices, even the most well intended collector can find it challenging when it comes to actually authenticating their memorabilia. Two basic rules of thumb that all sports memorabilia collectors should utilize to protect themselves against corrupt sellers is: 1: “if the price seems too good to be true, it most likely is.”be wary of. 2: Always demand a sports memorabilia certificate of authenticity from a known and reputable source. Curretnly, sports memorabilia certificates of authenticity are a requirement for serious collectors who want to be sure that they are buying legitimate sports memorabilia. The sports memorabilia world has forever changed with the application of sports memorabilia certificates, which, basically guarantees that your memorabilia is 100% real and authentic. How to Get a Certificate of Authenticity for Sports Memorabilia Before committing your money on authentic sports collectibles, you need to be sure that the items you’re purchasing is not a facsimile signature. A lot of colectors can be easily fooled by bogus signatures, which are printed on, as opposed to authentic hand- signed signatures. ![]() For example, if a signature is signed with a felt pen, the ink will most likely tend to be heavier at points where the pen started, stopped or slowed while signing. With a facsimile signature, the ink will more likely be more uniform throughout. The procedure of authenticating sports memorabilia begins when an authenticator precisely and meticulously inspects the item in question to guarantee the validity of the sports memorabilia. Normally, more than one authenticator will inspect the item or items in question and all must be in agreement before it can be validated authentic. The insight and knowledge of these inspectors has been developed after years of examining thousands of pieces of. These well-trained experts are uniquely qualified to judge and exam a variety of sports memorabilia items and can identify knock-items and signature irregularities in forged memorabilia. Sports memorabilia items that fail their strict examination standards for certification are declined and returned with a letter itemizing their inconsistencies. Designed by JT SPORTS COLLECTIBLES & MEMORBILIA © 2013 using Homestead website templates. Create a website today. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. Welcome to JT SPORTS COLLECTIBLES & MEMORBILIA. If you're looking for high quality Sports Memorbilia, you've come to the right place. A professional authenticating company can certify your sports memorabilia as authentic and provide paperwork that will forever prove that your sports memorabilia collectibles are true and valid. A sports memorabilia certificate of authenticity quickly legitimizes any sports memorabilia, leaving no room for discussion as to whether or not it is a fake signature or reproduction. The system used for verifying the authenticity of sports memorabilia is a tested and proved method that leaves any doubt as to the authenticity of any sports collectible. Sports memorabilia certificates are the single most legitimate way of ensuring that an item is real and should be required for collectors before investing in sports memorabilia. When sports collectors invest in authentic memorabilia, it should come with a certificate of authenticity. This certificate guarantees that the collector has purchased genuine sports memorabilia, which makes these items more valuable. Certificate of Authenticity Autographed Template Trying to sell an expensive piece of sports memorabilia without having the required sports memorabilia certificate of authenticity is like attempting to sell a car without having the pink slip. Serious collectors are not interested in stories and empty promisies; they need hard and fast evidence that what they’re investing in is genuine and above board. Imagine purchasing sports memorabilia product on trust and blind faith, only to take it to a sports collectible appraiser and have them inform you that it is not authentic. Heartbreaking at best, a tangled legal battle at worst. Almost every sports memorabilia collector that spends the money and time amassing great pieces of sports history loves to show them off to guests. When you can show your sports collectibles with an accompanying certificate of authenticity, it makes it that much more impressive to visitors. Owning a piece of sports history feels less genuine unless it has been been properly authenticated, and the same goes for viewing. Any vendor worth their weight in baseballs has each and every one of their sports memorabilia items that they are offering for sale authenticated. A lot of reputable trade shows won’t even allow a vendor to set up shop without the proper warranties proving what they’re selling is real. Purchasing sports memorabilia that has been authenticated with a sports memorabilia certificates of authenticity is a surefire way to avoid hassles, confusion or just plain getting ripped off. Certificate of Authenticity Companies Two of the top, and most trusted authentication companies are: PSA Sports Authenticators James Spence Authentic By utilizing companies such as these for your sports memorabilia certificate of authenticity you can have piece of mind that your sports memorabilia collectibles are authentic and worthwhile. ![]() If you have enjoyed this post and think other sports memorabilia collectors would benefit from reading this story, please click the LIKE button and bookmark this site to stay informed on the collectible sports memorabilia market. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed and receive our weekly sports memorabilia newsletter. Story published by Posted in, Tagged,,,,,,,,, Post navigation. A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Sports Memorabilia Before delving into the specifics of purchasing and collecting sports memorabilia, you should become familiar with the definition of the term. • Photos, trading cards, jerseys, helmets, balls, bats, or related sports equipment that have been signed by an athlete are considered sports memorabilia when that signature has been certified by a reputable distributor. • Remember, however, that the words “memorabilia” and “collectible” are often used interchangeably. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced collector, anyone can benefit from learning the ins and outs to the sports memorabilia industry in order to purchase authentic, valuable sports collectibles. Although constantly looking to further your sports knowledge is key for all collectors, beginners should pay special attention to the sections that deal with buying and taking care of sports memorabilia. Key points to remember when you’re starting to build your collection are: • Decide on a price range you’re willing to spend or create a budget. This will help prevent you from making any impulse buys, as well as help you determine what type of memorabilia you’re going to collect. A sports memorabilia collection grows over time, and starting small never puts you at a disadvantage. • Do your research! Buying sports memorabilia can be expensive, but also tends to be a profitable investment with the aid of some research. Always research any sports memorabilia retailer for credibility and be sure to consider collectibles trends to buy items that are in high demand. • Know how to avoid buying fraudulent memorabilia and how to spot fake autographed collectibles. Common tips are - If a deal sounds too good to be true, chances are it is. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t come with some documentation proving its authenticity. Buy from reputable dealers. • Spend the time and the money to preserve your collection. This keeps your pieces looking great and sets you up to make top dollar if you do decide to sell all or part of your collection. The goal of this article is to provide sports fans and collectors with a crash-course in memorabilia collecting. If you take the advice you read here, you’ll take your collection from a hobby to an investment in no time. How It Started: A History of Sports Memorabilia At the turn of the century, baseball was in every way America’s sport and the ballpark was an affordable oasis for working class factory workers and farmers across the country. The first baseball players had to perform heroic feats to impress crowds who’d love them if they won but heckle them mercilessly if they were losing. Kids across the country grew up playing and loving the game. As you start collecting, you’ll begin to notice that signed equipment from before the Great Depression is extremely rare. The earliest sports memorabilia collected was much simpler than baseballs and jerseys, instead people began to collect baseball trading cards which eventually led to the creation of the sports collectibles industry that exists today. Tobacco companies were first to capture the national enthusiasm for baseball and direct it towards a collectible market. Back in the late 1800s, when advertising techniques and mass production were being developed, companies would often provide insert cards in everything from tobacco to soap. These popular printed cards would have a rhyme or an image suitable for display. The tobacco companies were juggernauts of the American economy and their products was already popular with sports fans. Creating an insert card that featured popular baseball players seemed like a natural next step, but even the ad men behind the original run of “tobacco cards” couldn’t have begun to imagine the collecting fever they’d unleashed. The Goodwin Company of New York was the first to market a numbered set of baseball cards in 1887. Many companies soon followed and the printing of the card on the back of the cigarette and cigar boxes went on for another 30 years. It was during this time that the baseball cards were produced, and then quickly pulled due to Wagner’s objections. These early cards are extremely prized, but collectors should remember that they were originally afterthoughts to the cigarettes and tobacco they were packaged with, which does negatively affect the print quality. Keep in mind that even if a card looks pristine, off-center printing will lower its industry grade. Recognizing the opportunity, bubble gum companies decided to manufacture collectible cards to be included with bubblegum packs in the 1930’s since idol-worshiping kids enjoyed collecting and trading these cards even more than tobacco-chewing adults. Today, these cards are considered the hobby’s “golden age”. It all started when Goudey chewing gum began numbering cards for collecting and releasing one set per season. This allowed fans to assemble complete sets, which was a completely new idea. However, once World War II began, manufacturing of cards ceased until 1950, stalling the industry’s momentum. Then in 1952, Topps changed the game when they released the first card to have a player image, team logo, player vital information, and up-to-date career statistics. Topps took a gamble that the cards would sell themselves and left only a token stick of stale chewing gum. As other professional sports leagues were formed, trading cards were modeled after baseball cards to be printed and sold. In the post-war 1950s, sporting equipment became economically feasible and waiting around stadium back doors for a signed glove or jersey was a rite of passage for any young sports fan. Today, collectors look back on those days with wistful nostalgia. As sports memorabilia collecting became more popular and profitable, the opportunity for fraud was irresistible to unscrupulous dealers. This recklessness peaked with the FBI’s massive fraud crackdown, called Operation Bullpen, in 2000. Throughout the movement, twenty people were arraigned on fraud charges and $10 million worth of fake sports memorabilia was seized. To combat the bad press, the industry instituted the hologram-based authentication system that has been since revolutionized and is currently used by all authenticators. Some fans were dismayed by the standardized price scale instituted by the authorized dealers, but the sports collectibles industry as a whole had never been healthier or more exciting. SportsMemorabilia.com has instilled its very own authenticity guarantee and certification system via tampered proof holograms and witness authentications on every available product. The Smart Collector’s Guide to Purchasing Memorabilia and Avoiding Fraud Whether you’re looking to purchase your first piece of sports memorabilia or a dedicated collector, there are many factors to consider when shopping for autographed sports collectibles. From determining what type of collection you’d like to build to selecting key pieces to buying authentic signed collectibles, buying sports memorabilia requires a lot of strategic decision-making. When beginning a collection, you must first decide what you would like to collect. As you may have noticed, the sports memorabilia industry is huge and offers a variety of autographed products from across all professional leagues and sports. Some collectors start with either a specific type of item, like baseballs or jerseys, meanwhile others build their collection around a favorite team or athlete. Once a theme for your collection has been determined, it’s usually best to start small while you’re still getting an understanding for the industry and process of purchasing autographed sports memorabilia. Then, once your collection has a foundation and you are ready to buy more expensive pieces, you’ll be able to shop with confidence. In order to narrow your search, you must figure out how much you’re looking to spend. By determining your budget, you’ll be able to narrow down your search to specific product types or athlete signatures. For example, there’s no need to check out jerseys and helmets signed by Hall of Famers, like or, when you’re operating with limited funds. Keep in mind that, in addition to buying sports memorabilia you will also need spend money on frames or display cases to protect and preserve the quality of your collection. When buying collectibles, it’s necessary to remember that items will only retain value if kept in mint condition. Before making any purchases, it’s absolutely vital to do research. The Internet is a great place to start when researching tips for buying sports memorabilia and how to avoid buying fraudulent sports collectibles. For the novice collection, it’s always a good idea to join a sports memorabilia forum or check out sports blogs with posts dedicated to collecting. These are great spots to gather insight and meet other collectors, including more experienced ones who can point you in the right direction to building your collection. Additionally, serious collectors can also help you find reputable deals and direct you to trustworthy retailers that sell authentic sports memorabilia. Another great resource on the Internet is price guides, like the Beckett’s Price Guide. Compare Beckett’s Guide with a few other industry price guides in order to get an estimated price range for specific collectibles that you’re looking to add to your collection. Unfortunately, whether you’re a beginner or a veteran collector, sports memorabilia fraud is something that should always be in the back of your mind. It is estimated that a staggering $500,000,000 is lost annually due to fraudulent sports collectibles. According to a study done by PSA/DNA, only 20 percent of all memorabilia they found for sale was genuine. Even disheartening, it’s estimated that half of the autographed merchandise on the sports collectibles market is fraudulent. Considering that fake autographed memorabilia is causing that much damage, sadly, it’s quite easy to fall victim to fraud unless properly educated. Protecting yourself from purchasing fake collectibles just takes awareness and a keen eye. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself from a scam is to get familiar with the signing habits of specific athletes that you’d like to include in your collection. Many athletes enter contract agreements with memorabilia retailers, where they commit to autograph product that will only to be sold through that particular company. If an athlete falls under contract with a specific retailer, there’s only one reputable source to purchase that player’s memorabilia. Another helpful bit of information is to find out how much an athlete charges for their signature. Athlete autograph signings and show appearances are typically announced on the web, along with price ranges for their autograph that can provide an estimated signature value. Knowing these two factors is vital for defending your collection against fraud. For example, let’s say you see an signed helmet on eBay for $200 and when you ask the seller where he bought the helmet, he tells you it was purchased from Upper Deck. However, if you found out through your research that Manning only signs with Steiner Sports and he charges $250 for his autograph, you’d know the helmet you’ve found was a fraud. It’s always worth it to know these details, as it could prevent you from making a very expensive mistake. One of the biggest rules to keep in mind when shopping for autographed sports memorabilia is: whenever you come across a deal that seems too good to be true, chances are you’ve run into a scam. For example, you come across a signed baseball listed on an online auction at an astounding $150. You’ve been comparing prices online and know that this is less than half of what other sellers are asking. Without thinking twice, you click buy. When you’re purchase arrives at your door, you find that you’ve just spend $150 on a low-quality fake. It doesn’t even look like the ball in the picture, and the “signature” is clearly printed on the ball. Remember, forging signatures is easy money and no honest memorabilia dealer has anything to gain by selling to you too far below average market price. Similarly, if the dealer of a cheap item claims to have a certificate of authenticity, it’s recommended that you try and find out who issued it. Some forgers will go so far as to print their own certificates and you’ll get something you could just as easily have cooked up with your home printer. You should look to solely purchase autographed collectibles that have been authenticated by reputably third-parties, such as PSA/DNA, James Spence Authentication, Mounted Memories, Upper Deck, Panini, and Steiner Sports. Sports memorabilia retailers truly revolutionized the authentication process when they began using witnesses to verify that signatures are genuine. These retailers guarantee that all signed items are witnessed by a representative and inventories from the signing session are signed-off by both the witness and the athlete. The witness then affixes a unique, serialized hologram sticker to each piece and the item is registered in an online database, so buyers can verify if the piece has been authenticated. The hologram system has been adopted by most major memorabilia sellers and is quickly becoming an industry standard among legitimate dealers. In the long term, it pays to make sure that your collectible is authentic and the only way to reap the future benefits of your collection. On a final note, it’s important to constantly catalogue each item in your collection. Keeping a good record of your inventory when you first start collecting has a number of advantages. Once you’ve built up a solid collection that you’d like to have appraised, a written record is extremely beneficial. It’s also a smart idea to keep track of your memorabilia for insurance purposes, or in the event that one of your pieces goes missing or is stolen. Buying autograph sports memorabilia requires much hard work, from extensive research to strategic decision-making, and a large amount of finances, so documenting the contents of your collection is a small effort that will go a long way. What Leads to the Value of Autographed Memorabilia One of the most crucial gauges in estimating the value of your collectible is who signed it and what type of item they signed. Obviously, signatures from athletes with greater success at their sport and a lengthier list of achievements are more valuable. The same goes for merchandise of larger value, such as helmets and jerseys. Although these two factors have the largest impact on a piece of sports memorabilia’s worth, there are many other elements that can affect its value, especially when a player is still early in their career. Often buyers will nose around the rookie market, looking to catch an amazing bargain that will produce a large financial gain. Despite the potential for a big return on your investment, there is a large risk when buying collectibles that are signed by rookies and professional newcomers. Draft placement and breakout moments, which are often accompanied by a large amount of hype, can’t always be a reliable indicator of a future sports legend. For instance, how many people would love an autographed jersey from the second pick of the 1984 NBA draft Sam Bowie? A more iconic and valuable basketball collectible might be a signed jersey from the third pick of the 1984 draft,. It might not have been that easy to see at the time, but the young Jordan had all of the traits to make a stellar basketball player, including off-the-chart talent, ambition, charm, and marketing savvy. With of all of these elements combined, Michael Jordan went on to become one of the most beloved and respected mega-stars in sports and the value of authentic Michael Jordan memorabilia reflects that. Jordan is just one example of how the athlete who signed your collectible is the biggest indicator of how valuable the piece is and that the risky rookie market is not easy to navigate. All-in-all if an athlete is successful during his career and celebrated after his career with a Hall of Fame entry, it can only increase the value of that player’s autograph. Another variable that affects the value of autographed collectibles is the amount of memorabilia that an athlete signs throughout their lifetime., for example, is notorious for avoiding autograph signings and his grumpy refusals to sign in public have become legendary. His negligence when it comes to autographs may be disappointing for fans, but to sports collectors, a Barry Bonds autograph is golden. The single season home run record holder is doing memorabilia collectors a tremendous favor by being stingy. Similar to all other markets, sports memorabilia collecting operates on the principle of supply and demand. Therefore, a limited supply of a player’s sports merchandise is increasing the demand and ultimately the value of a collectible. Since the demand for an autograph and its rarity are key drivers for the value of memorabilia, researching a player’s signing practices and the general market availability of their collectibles is a must before purchasing items for your collection. Also, don’t forget to keep your eyes for any limited edition pieces to add to your collection. Autographed sports memorabilia that is part of a limited edition set, especially those produced in very low numbers, are extremely valuable because of their restricted availability. Many novice collectors assume that if one signature is worth money, two signatures on the same item will be worth even more money. It’s a logical concept that is often true, but in some cases more signatures actually devalue an autograph. The value of a baseball signed by both and would be very high, considering both were attempting to surpass ’s single-season home-run record in 1961. Since these tandem signatures make sense in a historical context, an item autographed by both Yankees legends is highly valued. On the other hand, some dual-signed collectibles are not valued as highly in a situation when one athlete is a super star and the other is a second string player or has absolutely no relation to the primary athlete. A baseball autographed by is very valuable due to his success and iconic place in the MLB, but a ball signed by Big Papi and Carl Crawford would reduce the value of the Ortiz signature since Crawford’s time in Boston was mediocre. Collectibles autographed by a full team roster that won a championship also holds high worth. For example, a 1986 signed photograph would command a high price because they were a whole team of wild personalities who went on to win the World Series in an unexpected and unforgettable fashion. However, collecting all the signatures of the dismal 2005 Kansas City Royals would be more a labor of love and team loyalty rather than an investment. The market is unpredictable when it comes to a multi-signed item where one athlete is a Hall of Fame legend and the other signatures are from relatively unknown athletes with no historical connection to the marquee player. Sometimes a fan will get multiple athletes to sign an item just because they're all present, thinking the more autographs, the better. Unfortunately, if you had a superstar, like and second-string catcher, Ramon Castro, sign the same baseball, two players that are completely unrelated to each other, there would be some confusion over how to value the piece. Appraisers will frequently disregard the lesser-valued signatures and value the piece on the quality of the most famous athlete who signed. However, some feel that extraneous, unrelated signatures actually distract from the main star and devalue the item. Also, aesthetically, they can make a piece of sports memorabilia look cluttered. Think of it like having a guitar signed by Jimi Hendrix and the replacement drummer for The Rolling Stones, it just doesn’t make any sense. To maximize the value of your collection, steer clear of distracting minor signatures and dedicate each piece to one athlete. In the sports collectibles industry, autographed merchandise such as jerseys, bats, balls, gloves and helmets will always be big sellers since they make sense, look cool, and it’s hard not to get a thrill holding a replica of items used by the pros. However, not all products with an autograph are equally popular, which is largely in regards to how the item holds a signature. A golf ball signed by Tiger Woods would be difficult to display and the signature would probably be nearly illegible due to space constraints. While, a Tiger Woods signed visor would at least be readable, but difficult to display and of interest only to a specialist collector. Similarly, a Tiger Woods signed baseball would probably retain some value based on the quality of the signature, but potential buyers would be seriously confused. When it comes to shopping for signed merchandise to add to your sports collection, stick to the classics. In recent years, the governing bodies of sports associations have begun offering official game-used items that are highly prized by collectors. These items are usually available directly from their respective sports commissions or from reliable memorabilia retailers to allow fans to truly take home a piece of the action. The value of game-used collectibles is determined by similar factors as traditional signed sports memorabilia, but the event the item was used in also contributes to its worth. An official NFL game-used Super Bowl football will have inherent value due to the significance of its use, even without a signature. But with an authentic autograph, that ball becomes a real treasure that will someday hold a nearly priceless value. A final consideration when it comes to buying household name athletes is exactly what kind of headlines they’re making and how this will ultimately affect their careers. This is completely in regards to the next 10 years, not just the next season. For example, no one can forget the 1998 baseball season, when and were chasing Roger Maris’ record. Everyone was talking about those two players every day and even tracking the race in spray paint on car hoods or garage doors. The public was absolutely captivated by the race, and all that interest increased the value of anything that either athlete signed, from helmets to baseball caps. If fans show lasting interest in a particular player, then the demand for that athlete’s signature creates far more value that will last well into the future. Maintaining the Quality of Your Sports Memorabilia It shouldn’t be a surprise that maintaining and preserving the condition of any autographed sports collectible is of utmost importance, especially when these items are both costly and considered an investment. Anything that damages the integrity of the signature or the item itself hurts its overall value. If you’re going to take the time and money to invest in serious sports collectibles, spending the extra money to properly preserve and display your collection goes a long way. It probably sounds like common sense not to wear your signed jersey, but you’d be surprised how many non-game used, mint-condition jerseys mysteriously acquire stains and smudges. With the right display and preservation techniques, that jersey, or any other sports memorabilia for that matter, will retain its value and sell for top-dollar should you decide to part with it. In order to protect and preserve your sports memorabilia, invest in a nice for sports paraphernalia like balls and helmets or a quality frame for photos and jerseys. Quality cases are available in all prices ranges, from a basic $8 glass baseball holder to a $100 custom bat case with polished wood base and mirrored bottom. Although any case will keep most memorabilia safe from harm, there is a benefit to investing in a more superior case with added benefits. Acrylic is a popular alternative to cheaper glass cases because it’s less likely to smash and offers the added benefit of UV protection. Typically, framing often costs an extra $40-$50 which may seem like a lot at the time, but professional framing will protect photographs and jerseys from damage, plus look great in your home or office. When buying items for your collection, adding the framing option through a sports collectibles retailer is also extremely beneficial. Since their framers are experienced with framing sports memorabilia your collectibles will be framed to the exact specifications for protecting your items. If you didn’t purchase your memorabilia pre-framed, look for a framer who specializes in sports collectibles rather than going to your local bargain store to buy any old plastic frame. There are all kinds of unexpected framing considerations that could diminish the collectible’s value. For instance, cheap paper in the matting of the frame may contain high volumes of acid that will stain and fade your signed photo. Remember that framed sports memorabilia should never touch the glass part of the frame as this may cause smudging or staining. Remember, that even if your memorabilia is framed or otherwise protected, there are environmental factors that can still cause damage. The long-term, harmful effects of UV rays, for example, cannot be overemphasized. Sunlight is often labeled the number one danger when it comes to sports memorabilia, so don’t keep a autographed photo on the windowsill where the sun can directly affect its quality. Fluorescent lighting is also harmful and can cause significant UV damage and fading at a more gradual pace. On the other hand, a 60-watt incandescent light bulb is harmless and will make your collection look great no matter where it’s displayed. Consequently, you wouldn’t want to store your collection in damp, dark location either, since water damage can do irreparable damage to your collectibles. If you’re not going to display your signed sports memorabilia, invest in some air-tight storage bins to store all or part of your collection. A tip for collectors that may have an extensive selection of autographed photos or chooses not to frame and display their signed photographs, plastic storage sheets in binders are a popular alternative that also allows for portability. Just make sure you buy sheets with the PVC-free logo to keep those autographs intact on the actual photographs. If you buy cheap storage sheets, the ink from the autograph will rub off on the sheet, lowering the quality of your autograph. If you’re collecting sports cards and trading cards, the extra step of having your cards graded and physically protecting them is worth it in the long run. You may be surprised that a card you think is mint condition actually might be near-mint or worse, and this is especially important if you plan on reselling your cards. Besides obvious flaws like rips and smudges, card collectors place a value on printing quality and centering. If the card stock wasn’t evenly loaded into the printing machine, the whole thing could be slightly or severely skewed, which will decrease its value. If you are serious about your baseball cards, you need to get them officially graded and Beckett provides the industry standard. For a fee, they’ll grade every card in your collection and also seal each card in a tamper-proof protective holder, thereby insuring that a prospective buyer won’t be able to claim the card’s grade has lowered while in your possession. Knowing the exact condition of a card gives you a more accurate idea of what it is valued in the market and most serious buyers won’t touch cards that haven’t been graded. Players to Watch In order to help jumpstart you’re collection, the list below features a few suggestions for athletes you might want to target for autographed sports memorabilia. A handful of athletes in each major league and professional sport have been suggested. These are individuals who have, or are on track to have, major career success. Memorabilia associated with these athletes is expected to increase in value, so it might be a good idea to use these picks as a starting point for your own collection. Basketball LeBron James and are the most electrifying players in the NBA who are well on their way to writing their name in sports history. Wade is just coming off back-to-back championships to add to his remarkable resume, while LeBron James is quickly becoming the most internationally recognized face in the game, and possibly all of sports. These charismatic, talented players are hot commodities in the sports memorabilia world and their autographs are sure to skyrocket in value after their eventual retirement. However, seasoned veterans and former NBA icons are very valuable on the sports memorabilia market due to memorable achievements and much success. Naturally, Michael Jordan tops the list of best-selling basketball memorabilia, but fellow legends of the game,,, and, follow close behind. Meanwhile, is closing out on a career that will be remembered forever, as upcoming NBA sensations, and, are just beginning to write their unforgettable stories. Any of these current and former NBA players would make a good long term purchase for your collection. Football Being America’s most popular sport, football has it fair share of superstars, consistently making game-defying plays and raising the market value of their autographed memorabilia. Denver Broncos quarterback, continues to solidify his name in NFL history as he breaks league records with ease, while little brother,, continually remains popular as the face of the Giants with a winning legacy. The New England Patriots quarterback, T, is a popular household name that will eventually retire with an unforgettable legacy, making him a valuable asset in any football collection. As power players continue to write history, legends of the game, such as and, remain among the top-selling and most historically valued signed collectibles on the market. Although football icons are a surefire addition to any sport collection, young stars that are the future of the game, like and, make a smart investment due to their early success. Baseball Baseball memorabilia provides tradition for any sports collection. As a sport with a storied historical context that sparked the trend of collecting sports memorabilia, items signed by MLB legends are always a great piece to own. Players that shaped the game during its early days, such as and, add historical context to any collection and already hold a large value. As do many players, like and Cal Ripken Jr, who transformed the sport in recent history. Is one of the most clutch players in recent memory retired after the 2014 MLB season as the longest standing captain and an absolute sports icon, making Jeter memorabilia a great piece for any collection. Of the Boston Red Sox is a similarly well-liked player with a winning legacy and constantly delivers on the field. As a collector looking to invest in a young player with large potential, considering upcoming stars of the game, like and. Hockey As one of the most up and coming major sports leagues, hockey memorabilia is increasingly popular with collectors. From NHL legends to big names in the game, hockey memorabilia is add uniqueness and value to any sports collection. One of the standouts on the ice is undoubtedly Calder Memorial Trophy winner, of the Washington Capitals. Began his career under nearly unbearable hype, and has lived up to most of the pressure put on him by NHL insiders and the media. As what many consider the face of the sport, Crosby memorabilia is the perfect addition to a collection looking to add some NHL lore. Adding to the NHL’s greatest talents is former Rangers star and six-time Stanley Cup champion,. Another one of the recent senior greats in the sport is, a former Hart Trophy winner who’s racked up over 1,500 career points. Champions are always a smart addition to any collection, so look to shop for items signed by recent Stanley Cup winners and big names in the game, such as and. Other valuable hockey collectibles that will consistently increase in value include items signed by Hall of Fame legends, like and, and fan favorites, such as and. NASCAR, Golf and Tennis NASCAR is booming in the United States. The sport’s skyrocketing popularity is unprecedented, and collectors can’t get enough of NASCAR memorabilia. Still, while the market races to catch up, and are the big guns on the NACAR collectibles market. Scoring a signed photo or miniature car by either of these drivers would be a good idea if you’re looking to bring racing memorabilia into your collection. The golf world is currently dominated by two superstars of the PGA: and. Although golf is a hugely popular amateurs sport, the professional circuit is shaky as a collectible market. A player wins the British Open and then disappears from the professional world, making it risky to spend serious money on their collectibles. Mickelson and Woods are by far the most consistent players in recent history and both of their signatures are worth adding to any serious sports collection. Tennis, like golf, is dominated by a few players. On the male circuit, and are the two largest names of the game. They have played each other multiple times in finals matches and were the first two players to meet each other in back-to-back French Open and Wimbledon finals in 54 years. This rivalry is still going strong while quickly gaining legendary status, making Federer and Nadal the powerful superstars of tennis. Is a former world number-one player that proved to be a dominant force and consistent threat at all major tournaments throughout his career. On the female circuit, the Williams Sisters don’t look ready to ease their unbeatable choke-hold on the court for another few years. Combined with their charm and popularity, and memorabilia is always a safe bet. About A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Sports Autographed Memorabilia & Collectibles Collecting sports memorabilia has always been a hobby for passionate collectors. Our sports experts have written a comprehensive guide for sports memorabilia collectors that showcases what the industry is all about. People live and die for their teams, and being able to display a piece of the game means a lot to life long fans. Being able to show off an in your living room or office just feels great. Major League Baseball is one of the biggest and oldest area of sport collectibles, and a or an authentic can be both a great conversation starter in any setting. Some sports teams will always be classics, so if you have a collection of sports memorabilia it's important to stay up to date on the sports memorabilia market and be aways of the value of your. Sports memorabilia can also make a great gift, and any fan would appreciate a or a pair of.
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March 2018
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