by Pamela Siegel
Whether you call them fanatics or shorten it to fans, there’s no doubt that folks are perennially passionate about sports. From college alma maters to pro squads, it’s all about cheering for those favorite teams and players.
And where there are sports, you’ll find sports memorabilia. From picking up a souvenir at the stadium to hunting down collectibles associated with a beloved athlete, fans can get just as fired up about collecting memorabilia as they do about titles and tournaments.
Ready to jump into the collecting game? Here’s some guidance to help you get started.
What is Sports Memorabilia
In a nutshell, sports memorabilia is anything you can own, save, or collect related to sports. The first thing you might think of is trading cards, and that’s a huge subset of the hobby. Anything relating to sports can qualify as memorabilia, though, even a seat from a stadium that no longer exists. Pro sports items relating to baseball, football, hockey, and basketball are offered in the collectibles marketplace frequently, whether new or used.
Other professional sports like boxing, golf, car racing, and tennis have related memorabilia as well, although they are more limited in comparison to what is available associated with professional team sports. There are also subsets relating to amateur sports, including college teams and Olympic athletes.
Collectible bobbleheads and action figures
How to Collect Sports Memorabilia
Some sports collectors simply buy what they like when they see it. That’s certainly okay. However, being a bit more intentional and putting some thought into the type of collection you’d like to build can lead to a curated grouping you can be proud of rather than accumulating heaps of unrelated stuff.
For example, maybe your dad was an ardent fan of the New York Mets who collected trading cards depicting his favorite players, and you want to carry on the tradition. Or, when you were young, your grandfather took you to watch the Green Bay Packers play every season, and now, waxing nostalgic, you’d like to commemorate those outings. Whatever the sport or team, narrowing your focus from the onset can help you create a grouping of memorabilia you can display with pleasure.
Gaining some basic knowledge about what you want to collect will also be important as you start a collection. Perusing books in your area of interest and building a library is something most collectors find themselves doing over time. Searching for the best online resources also makes sense. A way to make this a bit easier is hooking up with other collectors online. Seek out social media groups related to your favorite sports teams and collecting memorabilia. Ask for advice on the best print-based and online resources for someone just getting started.
As you move forward, your budget will also dictate the types of items you’ll seek for your collection. You may find that shopping online sports memorabilia auctions like those on AuctionNinja offer the best variety, whether you’re looking for vintage collectibles or newer selections. Browsing an extensive baseball card estate sale or focusing on football card auctions online, for example, can yield options of varied date and price ranges.
Snagging bargains at garage sales, thrift stores, and in-person estate sales are a very real possibility, too. It takes a lot longer to build a collection that way in comparison to shopping online or at shows where sports memorabilia is sold, however. You also must be wary of forgeries and fakes that might crop up. If the price is right, it might be worth the gamble. Just be sure you’re shopping with a reputable dealer when paying top dollar for an item to add to your collection.
Autographed football helmet
Grading and Authenticating All Types of Collectible Sports Memorabilia
Authenticating and grading collectibles is a big deal these days. The practice protects buyers from unscrupulous sellers who may try to pass off a fake or forgery. They also help sellers get top dollar for what they’re marketing.
Two respected names in the sports collectibles grading business are Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA/DNA) and James Spence Authentication (JSA). While most any sports-related item can be authenticated and/or graded, these are some types of memorabilia they often evaluate:
Autographed gear. Sports equipment signed by players is one of the most popular categories in this genre of collecting. Autographs can be easily faked, though, so if you’re investing in a big-ticket item, keep that in mind. Buying a collectible that has been authenticated with a letter or certificate of authenticity is wise. Even if you obtained an autograph from a sports figure in person and you know it’s the real deal, having it authenticated will make it easier to sell should you decide to do so later. Authentication services also offer encapsulation in plastic for autographed items which can keep them safe while on display.
Photographs. Original photographs relating to sports teams and stars, whether signed or unsigned, are also sought by collectors. This is another ambiguous area of collecting since photos can easily be duplicated now. Having a back-in-the-day original will always be more valuable than a reprint, so buying authenticated photos is advisable if you’re not picking one up for a song. These can also be encapsulated for protection by a grading service.
Tickets and programs. Since most were taken or torn on the day of the event, complete tickets from the big game are also considered to be very collectible. The bigger the tournament or match, the more expensive they are to acquire. Programs saved from these events are also collected. They are not generally graded and encapsulated like tickets being preserved for posterity unless they are autographed by a notable team member, though.
Trading cards. While they are a subset of sports memorabilia, trading cards make up a collecting genre on their own. In addition to PSA, there are other grading services specializing in trading cards, including Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and Sportscard Guaranty (SGC). Whether you’re into golf, wrestling, or basketball cards, all types of cards can be graded and encapsulated by these services.
1986 World Series New York Mets team signed bat with letter of authenticity
How to Value Sports Memorabilia
The adage to buy what you love is just as important with sports memorabilia as it is with other types of collectibles. The main reason is that your stuff, no matter how cool it is, might not increase in value. In fact, in some instances, prices go down over time. This is true even for rare collectibles, although those do tend to go up, or at least hold their value, and are sometimes purchased as investments.
Determining the value of your collection can be accomplished in one of two ways: you can do it yourself, or you can hire an appraiser. The first step either way is to inventory and catalog your items. You might start out with a basic notebook, although computerized spreadsheets and special apps for collectors are also options. Log what the item is, where you bought it, how much you paid, the grade, if applicable, and any other notes that bolster the provenance. This is important if, for instance, the item was purchased from the estate of a well-known player or received as a memento directly from an athlete.
To look up the values yourself, accessing sold item records from online auctions is one option. Just be sure to seek sold values rather than asking prices for objects as close to yours as possible. You can also find some types of collectibles listed in price guides. As an example, Beckett offers trading card value guides through books updated annually and online resources. Remember to log the value and the date in your inventory for future reference as you look up each item.
If you have a high-end collection and want an appraisal for insurance purposes, several services can assist you with written documentation. One is PSA/DNA, which can be a one-stop shop for authenticating, grading, and appraisals. Another is Leila Dunbar Appraisals & Consulting LLC, which has experience with high-dollar sports memorabilia. Contact them for pricing on appraising multiple items, as the cost can vary depending on the scope of the collection.
Ready to start a sports-related collection of your own? Browse our sports memorabilia auctions on AuctionNinja.com.
Written by:
December 28, 2022 Updated 01:06 PM
As a freelance writer, Pamela Siegel covers lifestyle topics ranging from antiques and collectibles to interior design and everything around the home. Her work appears on The Spruce where she shared tips and research as the site’s antiques expert for many years. She also writes for House Digest, Kovels Antique Trader, Worthpoint, and Mashed. In addition to penning thousands of articles for online resources and print-based pubs, Siegel authored several books including “Warman’s Costume Jewelry” and “Buying & Seling Antiques and Collectibles on eBay.” She also shares her expertise with other magazine writers along with doing television, radio and podcast interviews. As often as possible, Siegel loves shopping flea markets and estate sales for her next great find, home decorating, foodie pursuits, and exploring the world on cruise ships.
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