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Message
Selling Baseball Card Collection
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:27 pm
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:27 pm
My brother and I may be interested in finally selling our baseball card collection that we started when we were kids about 50 or so years ago, and we’re looking for advice. Our collection starts in the 50’s with Mantle, Mays, Clemente, etc (all the greats) and goes through the 70’s then jumps ahead to 1985 Topps baseball and stops there, where we are loaded with Puckett, Clemens, McGwire, and Davis. However, our “money cards” are basically from the vintage years.
None are graded and quality is not great on a lot of the older cards. That’s because as kids we had little money and just wanted to get our hands on the star players, so we bought what we could. We simply loved collecting and still love looking at all of them. However, the collection still has pretty good value.
Everything is in plastic sheets in binders, even all of the commons from all of the years, and I’ve gone though everything and priced each card. We also have a collection of football and basketball from those same years, heavy on 1975-1978. Football includes two Walter Payton rookie cards in great condition.
My understanding is the best way to ensure getting the highest value for a collection would be to sell in this order:
Sell on eBay ourselves
Sell to an individual collector
Card shows
Sell to a card shop (absolutely the worst option)
Ebay is not going to happen because of how labor intensive it would be and how long it will take. We simply aren’t interested in doing that. There was a BTR card show set for this month but it was cancelled. We will be going to all the local card shops, just to get an idea what value they put on the collection and what they are willing to offer. I’ve spent weeks sorting, organizing and pricing so I know what we have and what they may be worth. I used historical eBay sales for all cards. Not eBay prices, but actual sale amounts.
With all of that said, what am I missing? Also, I thought the board would be a great chance to possibly make a connection with a collector who may be interested.
Any advice is appreciated.
None are graded and quality is not great on a lot of the older cards. That’s because as kids we had little money and just wanted to get our hands on the star players, so we bought what we could. We simply loved collecting and still love looking at all of them. However, the collection still has pretty good value.
Everything is in plastic sheets in binders, even all of the commons from all of the years, and I’ve gone though everything and priced each card. We also have a collection of football and basketball from those same years, heavy on 1975-1978. Football includes two Walter Payton rookie cards in great condition.
My understanding is the best way to ensure getting the highest value for a collection would be to sell in this order:
Sell on eBay ourselves
Sell to an individual collector
Card shows
Sell to a card shop (absolutely the worst option)
Ebay is not going to happen because of how labor intensive it would be and how long it will take. We simply aren’t interested in doing that. There was a BTR card show set for this month but it was cancelled. We will be going to all the local card shops, just to get an idea what value they put on the collection and what they are willing to offer. I’ve spent weeks sorting, organizing and pricing so I know what we have and what they may be worth. I used historical eBay sales for all cards. Not eBay prices, but actual sale amounts.
With all of that said, what am I missing? Also, I thought the board would be a great chance to possibly make a connection with a collector who may be interested.
Any advice is appreciated.
51
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:29 pm to Python
I’ll give you $3.50 for the lot.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:29 pm to Python
All depends on condition
Check prices for graded and see if any are worth it
Check prices for graded and see if any are worth it
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:29 pm to Python
I’ll take them off your hand if you pay me $3.50 in disposal fees
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:31 pm to Python
AntiqueTiger will use them to wipe diarrhea off his estate sale toilet seat
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:36 pm to Python
Respectfully, keep the collection or pass it down.
With ungraded cards you aren’t going to get what you want out of them and to sell them in a collection you aren’t going to get the Individual sale value out of them.
If you still want to sell them, temper your expectations.
Good luck
With ungraded cards you aren’t going to get what you want out of them and to sell them in a collection you aren’t going to get the Individual sale value out of them.
If you still want to sell them, temper your expectations.
Good luck
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:38 pm to Python
I would pick out my most valuable cards, have those graded regardless of condition, then sell the rest in bulk.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:38 pm to Python
Let your grandkids clothespin them to their bicycle forks to hit the tire spokes and make noise, they’ll enjoy them. The cards will be gone in no time and you’ll be their hero.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:44 pm to Python
Prepare to be disappointed.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:46 pm to Python
r/sportscards on Reddit and Sports Card Nonsense on Facebook are better resources for this kind of question. Unless they look like that were drug through the garden attached to your bike, the Mantle, Mays, and Clemente cards are worth grading with SGC. Do not take them to a card show (if you do, be sure to bring along someone who knows what cards are worth).
As for the order, the individual collector is always going to bring you the highest return. feeBay will bend you over worse than a card shop. I dropped these two off at SGC's National booth and got them back a few weeks ago. Bought for $125 and grading for both (+ return shipping) was $45. Comps put them around $300.
As for the order, the individual collector is always going to bring you the highest return. feeBay will bend you over worse than a card shop. I dropped these two off at SGC's National booth and got them back a few weeks ago. Bought for $125 and grading for both (+ return shipping) was $45. Comps put them around $300.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:50 pm to Python
quote:
Ebay is not going to happen because of how labor intensive it would be and how long it will take.
Consider trying Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor.
It’s an easy way to set up in-person viewing without the labor of shipping.
Just show some wisdom about WHERE you meet up.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 1:54 pm to Python
Stuff from the 80s and 90s is pretty much garbage, unless they're graded. I've thrown a ton away just so I could stop moving it.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:02 pm to Python
If it isn't too much work break them up by team. A more casual collector might be interested in a bunch of commons from whatever team they like.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:08 pm to Bestbank Tiger
Great overall advice so far. Thanks
I already did this. Every common card is sorted by team and in binders.
quote:
If it isn't too much work break them up by team. A more casual collector might be interested in a bunch of commons from whatever team they like.
I already did this. Every common card is sorted by team and in binders.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:12 pm to Python
I'll give you $100
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:22 pm to Python
Pull out and separate all HOFers, HOF RC, and any players RC.
If you have the patience and capital, do some self “grading” and send primo cards into PSA and/or BG depending on decade.
If you have the patience and capital, do some self “grading” and send primo cards into PSA and/or BG depending on decade.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:30 pm to PerryWinkleBlue
Any of the Mantle, Mays, etc from the 50s is worth taking the time and effort to get graded. The common stuff is whatever but graded vintage is your money.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:38 pm to Python
quote:
I already did this. Every common card is sorted by team and in binders.
I'd be interested in the Pirates, depending on what they are. I have a lot of team sets from the late 70s to early 80s but would be interested in 50s through mid 70s.
For the HOF cards check eBay just to see where the auctions are.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:50 pm to Bestbank Tiger
Not just another pretty face….
Posted on 9/6/25 at 2:55 pm to Python
I’ll make you an offer on all of these fwiw
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