Fractional Sports Card Investing: A Collector’s Guide
I’ve always viewed sports cards as an alternative asset. Vintage sports cards are equivalents to your other stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
Some view baseball cards as pieces of cardboard. But once you dig into the supply/demand dynamics, it is clear why sports cards should be considered investments.Â
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been in this first as a collector. I agree that the popularity of breakers and flippers gives rise to a bubble-like, greed-infested hobby.Â
But I also think it’s fine to be both a collector (in it for the love of the hobby) and an investor at the same time.
Yet, with many vintage sports cards out of budget for most collectors, a new stock market-like dynamic has evolved.
Fractional sports card ownership allows a collector to buy a small piece of a high-priced card at whatever amount they desire.
In this piece, we will dive into the details of this burgeoning new market.Â
A Guide To Investing In Satchel Paige Cards
Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige was one of baseball’s most legendary pitchers and a trailblazer in that he was the first black baseball player to play in the American League.Â
He played for an amazing 21 years in the Negro Leagues and was ready to call it quits at the age of 41, but then joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948.
While most baseball fans are familiar with the legend of Jackie Robinson, many aren’t as familiar with the story of Satchel Paige.Â
It feels like collectors are finally starting to give Paige’s cards a bit more respect, as all of his baseball cards have increased significantly in value.
In this piece, we examine the baseball cards of Satchel Paige and help collectors determine whether his cards are still a good investment.
Top 10 Travis Kelce & Jason Kelce Football Cards
The Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason, have become cultural phenomena, and their rookie cards are now highly sought after.
The documentary "KELCE" premiered on Amazon Prime Video, and their "New Heights" podcast has catapulted them into the media spotlight.
Travis Kelce's relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has taken his popularity to new heights.
Travis is on his way to becoming the greatest tight end ever, and Jason has put together a Hall of Fame career as an offensive lineman.
In the following piece, we'll delve into the top football cards featuring the Kelce brothers.
Top 10 Knicks Rookie Cards: Retired Jersey Icons
Discover the best rookie cards of the New York Knicks' all-time greats, delving into the rich history of this iconic basketball franchise.
This guide highlights the top basketball cards of the exceptional Knicks players who earned the honor of having their jersey numbers retired.
These honored jerseys now grace the rafters of Madison Square Garden (MSG), acclaimed as 'The Mecca' by legends like LeBron James.
10 Best Undervalued Vintage Football Rookie Cards To Buy Now
Unlike their baseball or basketball counterparts, vintage football cards haven't always been in high demand.
This has been a boon for collectors, allowing them to acquire legendary players' rookie cards at reasonable prices.
But as interest grows, top-grade PSA vintage football rookie cards are getting snapped up.
Here are my Top 10 undervalued vintage football cards, ripe for consideration as long-term investments
Top 10 LeBron James Rookie Card Picks
LeBron James is often hailed as one of history's most outstanding basketball players.
He has consistently exceeded expectations since his early days as a high school sensation.
Last season, he clinched the title as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
As he gears up for his 21st NBA season in 2023-24, he remains an undeniable powerhouse on the court.
LeBron's sports cards rank among the most coveted collectibles for enthusiasts.
Let's delve into the top 10 LeBron James rookie cards, selected based on their popularity, value, and sales volume.
Hidden Gems: Top 10 Undervalued ’70s Baseball Rookie Cards
The 1970s featured many baseball stars, Hall of Fame players, rookies, and some players who made a significant impact during the decade.
Still, today many rookie cards from that era fly under the radar. Rookie cards from this decade, especially high-grade examples, continue to increase in value.
In previous baseball rookie card articles, I have discussed rookie cards of players not yet in the Hall, including Dave Parker, Keith Hernandez, Lou Whitaker, Thurman Munson, and Dwight Evans.
In this piece, I dive deeper into ten rookie cards from the 1970s that still look like excellent buys.
The 10 Most Valuable Cards In The 1949 Bowman Baseball Set
The 1949 Bowman Baseball card set is an important one for the hobby and one of the best sets of the 1940s.
The set (along with the 1948-49 Leaf Baseball Card set) marked the start of colorized baseball cards.
Also, the set contains the first cards of some of the first black players in baseball, such as Jackie Robinson, Satchell Paige, and Roy Campanella.
It's a small set by most standards (only 240 cards). But, completing the entire set is an expensive endeavor for collectors.
Herein, we outline the ten most valuable cards in the 1949 Bowman set, providing our thoughts on the investment potential of the set.
Top 10 Rookie Cards of Players Not In Baseball Hall Of Fame
Many great baseball players are still on the outside looking in when it comes to earning a Hall of Fame nod. Of course, big-time stars like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson made mistakes in blocking any path to the hall and will never get in.
Today, a player with the right credentials can earn a HOF election via either a committee or ballot vote. Yet, baseball has changed the Hall of Fame process in the last few years.
A player only has ten years to earn election through a ballot vote (down from the previous 15 years). Another change was the committee vote process, where MLB has designated which era of players will be voted on through the committee vote each year.
The upcoming 2023 MLB Hall of Fame vote will be announced on January 24th, with some players on this list up for election.
Let's look at the rookie cards of ten potential Hall of Famers, whose cards look like an attractive buy right now. We've identified specific PSA grades that look attractive based on affordability.
Even if they don't get elected this year, their rookie cards are still priced right, especially based on the future chances of getting into the HOF.
10 Best Vintage Baseball Cards Under $1000 To Buy In 2023
Vintage sports cards remain hot, especially rare examples with low PSA graded populations.
Investing in rarer and more sought-after sports cards can pay off in the short and long term.
Plenty of vintage sports cards are flying under the radar and remain good values for budget-conscious collectors.
I have researched and examined ten vintage baseball cards to buy that are $1,000 and under.
These cards would be great additions to any collection or as shorter term flips.
