All Vintage Cards, Author at All Vintage Cards

Chris Rogers, is the founder of All Vintage Cards. Launched in 2018, All Vintage Cards is the hobby's leading resource for vintage sports cards. Chris is also the author of 'The Complete Guide To Selling Your Sports Cards'. Chris remains an avid collector and can be reached at chris@allvintagecards.com.

Bubble To Bust: A History Of The Junk Wax Era 1986-1993

Sports Card History, Vintage Baseball

The 'Junk Wax Era' of baseball cards, spanning from 1986 to 1993, marked a period of massive overproduction by card companies, leading to a market saturation that significantly diminished the value of these cards.

Initially swept up in a wave of hysteria, collectors once believed their cards would be worth fortunes, only to find them nearly worthless today.

This era served as a stark lesson for card companies, catalyzing a shift in production strategies to balance supply and demand—a cornerstone in today’s thriving sports card hobby.

In this article, we'll delve into the Junk Wax Era, exploring its lasting impact and the subsequent evolution of the hobby.

Top 20 Most Valuable 1986 Fleer Basketball Cards

Vintage Basketball

The 1986 Fleer Basketball set is one of the most iconic basketball card issues ever.

It was issued at a time when basketball was finally getting its due in terms of fan support. Driven by the continued dominance of the likes of new players such as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and, of course, the legend himself, Michael Jordan.

The set was small in number (132 base basketball cards plus 11 stickers) but loaded with big-time rookie cards, including the iconic rookie card of Michael Jordan.

The cards themselves aren't necessarily rare. However, gem-mint (PSA 10) copies are a challenge due to the propensity of easy damage to the red borders of the cards and common centering issues.

In this piece, we will provide a look at the top twenty most valuable cards in the 1986 Fleer Basketball card set.

CSG Card Grading 2023 Update – Are They A Legit Contender?

Card Grading

I wrote a piece on CSG Card grading in 2021 and there have been some requests for an update, given some of the changes at CSG.

The most significant change happened in 2022, with the launch of a new label and a revamped grading scale.

In my last article, I noted the following about CSG's slabs:

In a simple word--ugly. This is where I wish they tried to survey the collecting world before pulling the trigger on a slab/flip design. I have to admit, I don't like the design--it feels too busy and suited for a more modern day card.

Well, maybe they were listening to me? Because they made a significant change.

Here was the slab before (that I was highly critical of):

SGC Can’t Seem To Identify Trimmed Cards

Card Grading

I've been pretty supportive of SGC over the years, even used their card grading services for a lot of cards in my own personal collection.

However, another recent discovery of a trimmed card in an SGC holder has me somewhat concerned.

Here's the deal: a Blowout Forums user (who else?) discovered that an SGC 6 1936 Goudey World Gum Joe Dimaggio card was trimmed, resubmitted to SGC and ultimately rewarded with a new SGC 8.5 grade.

Check out the comparison from user CornDog below.

The 10 Most Valuable Cards In The 1949 Bowman Baseball Set

Bowman Baseball, Card Investing, Most Valuable Cards, Vintage Baseball

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.

The Top 10 Most Valuable Pele Rookie Cards

Card Investing, Rookie Cards, Vintage Soccer Cards

When it comes to soccer players, none have had the same level of impact on the game as the late Pelé.

Here in the US, soccer has only started to gain in popularity over the past decade, and soccer cards of past stars are becoming highly sought after.

Pelé's greatness in soccer can be equated to the other greats in sport history; think Tom Brady in Football, Michael Jordan in Basketball, or Wayne Gretzky in Hockey.

Given his recent passing, Pelé's soccer cards have spiked in value, especially his rarest and most valuable rookie cards.

In this piece, we take a look at the ten most valuable cards of Pelé, providing guidance to collectors considering an investment in the soccer legend's cards.

20 Most Valuable Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Of The 1970s

Card Investing, Rookie Cards, Vintage Baseball

During the 1970s, there was an uptick in the production of baseball cards. Topps, the only licensed baseball card issuer at the time, was at the forefront of this trend.

Kids were still the target customer, but adults started to become more fascinated with the hobby.

Some of the Topps baseball card sets from the 1970s are among collector favorites. And many big-name Hall Of Fame players had their first issue card released during the decade.

This post will examine the twenty most valuable Topps baseball rookie cards from the 1970s. Including iconic rookie cards from the likes of George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Dave Winfield.

Top 15 Most Valuable Basketball Rookie Cards of The 1970s

Card Investing, Rookie Cards, Vintage Basketball

The 1970s was a seminal decade for basketball, with some of the greatest players in the history of the sport making their debuts.

As such, rookie cards from this era are sought after by collectors and can fetch high prices at auction.

This post will examine the fifteen most valuable basketball rookie cards from the 1970s. I'll explore values and the investment potential of each card.

If you're a long-time collector or a newcomer to basketball cards, this post will provide insight into some of the best vintage basketball cards from the 1970s.

A Complete Guide To The Best Derek Jeter Rookie Cards

Card Investing, Rookie Cards, Vintage Baseball

Derek Jeter is considered by many to be one of the best baseball players of his generation.

He played his entire 20-year career with the New York Yankees, winning five World Series titles and becoming the franchise's all-time leader in hits.

Values of Jeter's rookie cards saw a significant increase upon his election to the Hall Of Fame in 2021, but have since cooled dramatically. Still, his rookie cards remain highly sought-after by collectors.

Here's everything you need to know about the top Derek Jeter rookie cards, including a gallery of some of the most valuable cards and investment ideas.

The Best Places To Sell Your Old Sports Cards For Top Dollar

Vintage Baseball, Vintage Basketball, Vintage Football, Vintage Hockey

Has your old sports card collection been collecting dust in a closet?

If so, it's time to get rid of them and make some extra cash in the process!

Today, there are many options for collectors to sell sports cards online or offline.

I've had decades of experience buying and selling sports cards, so this guide will help you avoid some of the same mistakes I have made in the past.

Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards: Top Ten To Invest In Right Now

Card Investing, Most Valuable Cards, Vintage Baseball

Mickey Mantle was one of the most accomplished players in the history of the game, and his baseball cards continue to reflect that status.

As a recent example, investors in a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps card would have tripled the returns of the stock market over the past eighteen years!

So, it's not unusual to consider some of "The Mick's" baseball cards as an investment right alongside our other savings or stock investments.

We've analyzed all Mickey Mantle baseball cards and decided on ten cards that should be solid long-term investments.

Remember, this is not investment advice, please do your own research!

The 14 Best Baseball Card Books Every Collector Should Read

Vintage Baseball

When I'm not scouring the web or local card shows for deals on vintage cards, I enjoy reading a good book.

I've discovered some excellent baseball card books over the years.

Here, I wanted to share a few different ideas for fellow collectors.

Not by any means an exhaustive list, so if you have a vintage baseball card book recommendation, please leave a comment below.

What’s The Rarest Football Card Of All Time?

Most Valuable Cards, Vintage Football

The 1894 N302 Mayo's Cut Plug John Dunlop card is one of the rarest football cards in existence.

However, the 1925 Star Player Candy Red Grange has a lower graded population.

The Cut Plug Dunlop card is often referred to as the 'holy grail' of football cards and is a part of the first football card set in history-the N302 Mayo's Cut Plug set.

The cards featured ivy league football stars of the day and are the first 19th-century trading cards dedicated solely to football players.

What Is The Rarest Basketball Card Of All Time?

Vintage Basketball

As we noted in our discussion of The Rarest Baseball Card of All Time, identifying the rarest basketball card of all time is a challenge.

The reason? Over the history of basketball cards, many oddball misprints, or error cards or type cards were produced with a very low population.

In addition, basketball truly had a late start in terms of becoming a mainstream sport (as compared to baseball); hence, the first widely produced basketball sets didn't begin until 1948.

Thus, in answer this question, I like to focus first on the players that people care about, thus avoiding the common players that might be rare but aren't really in demand aside from set builders.

In addition due to the dearth of early mainstream basketball card sets, we need to also examine some of the regional basketball card issues.

What Is The Rarest Baseball Card Of All Time?

Most Valuable Cards, Vintage Baseball

It's a question I get constantly 'What's the Rarest Baseball Card?"

While immediate thoughts for many center on the T206 Honus Wagner card, the population data that shows the card isn't as rare as most people think (about 50-75 copies of the T206 Wagner are thought to exist).

So, what is the rarest baseball card? The question is not an easy one to answer.

As follows, we dive into several pre-war tobacco cards to examine existing population reports and relative scarcity.

1913 Fatima T200 Team Cards (An Underlooked Pre-War Gem)

Card Investing, Vintage Baseball

Most collectors eyeing an investment in the pre-war tobacco baseball cards shoot for the big time hall of famers like Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Christy Mathewson as a few examples.

And most without a strong familiarity of tobacco card options, head straight for the premier sets from the early 1900's such as the ever popular T206 White Borders set.

However, what if I were to tell you there's a much cheaper (and rarer) option than the T206 set, with the ability to get cards featuring multiple hall of famers on one card?

That set is the 1913 T200 Fatima Team Card set, and although there are only sixteen cards in the set, it is one that all vintage card investors need to be familiar with.

PSA Grading Costs – 2023 Update

Card Grading

PSA's card grading prices have been quite volatile thoughout the past several years.

To offset an onslaught in demand during the midst of the pandemic, PSA shut down all card grading services at its most affordable price points

The acquisition of Collector's Universe (the parent of PSA) has brought about a multitude of operational changes to improve PSA's grading service.

Still, that hasn't stopped collectors from thinking PSA (aka Professional Sports Authenticator) is the devil of the industry, controlling the fortunes of the hobby, and squeezing every last dime from grading fees.

The 52 Topps Mantle Has Trounced The S&P 500 (Can It Last?)

Card Investing, Vintage Baseball

If you've followed some of my past writings, you might know that I often opine on the investment side of the sports card business.

And even pure collectors need to keep an eye on market activity!

Since one might be foolhardy to not at least take advantage of some of the immense market gains (or at least think about it).

Last January, I suggested that the vintage sports card market might indeed be in a bubble. And in March, I said we definitely might be there.

While, the card market definitely deflated in 2022, the most damage was done in the modern card market and newer vintage cards (think Jordan rookie card) with more overall supply.

Understanding The eBay Sports Card Authenticity Guarantee

Card Grading

It's been a little while since eBay announced the first steps to help alleviate the wrath of counterfeit cards sold on its platform.

I thought it would be a good time to update collectors on some of the feeback from the program, while helping to provide more clarity on the details.

First things first, let's take a step back to discuss the details of eBay's Authenticty Gurantee for sports cards.

PSA Grading Star Basketball Cards (Again) – Time To Buy?

Card Investing, Vintage Basketball

In a move that I knew was only a matter of time, PSA announced recently that it would tiptoe back into grading 1980's Star Basketball cards.

PSA used to grade Star cards and after getting burned multiple times on Type II counterfeits decided that it would put a halt to any Star Basketball card grading.

In our past conversations with Star expert Steve Taft he noted that fear among the grading companies (aside from Beckett) is what drove the decision to avoid the cards.

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