{"id":1573,"date":"2024-09-12T15:05:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T15:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneymade.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=1573"},"modified":"2025-05-27T14:04:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T14:04:00","slug":"best-sports-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/best-sports-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"From Steph to Mickey Mantle: Best Sports Cards to Invest in"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From Steph to Mickey Mantle to the up-and-comers, here’s how to find undervalued sports cards and turn your hobby into an investment.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Got a thing for sports cards? Well, you’re in for a treat because this hobby just leveled up to a mad obsession. And the best part? You can make some serious dough from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the score: We\u2019ve had a wild ride since 2020, witnessing card after card smashing records and becoming the most expensive sports card ever sold. As of October 2021, it’s game on with 13 cards sold for over a million. The top dog? A Honus Wagner card that scored $6.6 million. The kicker\u2014those splitting the windfall had only bought them only a few years back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, investing in sports memorabilia isn’t without its own set of curveballs. High-stakes game translates to high risks. One minute you’re riding the wave, the next you could be wiped out. But then again, fortune favors the bold\u2014think windfalls in the territory of seven figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how do you score big without betting the farm? Buckle up and get ready for the lowdown on the best sports cards to invest in. We’ll spill the beans on how to sniff out undervalued cards and even how to get your mitts on multi-million dollar holy grail cards with just a Hamilton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Invest in classic sports cards like Mickey Mantle for safer, long-term investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research undervalued sports cards by predicting players’ future value and the value of specific card sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider factors like card condition, rarity, rookie cards, brand, and design when selecting cards for investment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

Are you looking for a short-term ROI or a long-term investment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s kick things off with a key decision. What’s your endgame? Are you a quick hitter, looking to flip sports cards like buckwheat pancakes? Or are you going for the long haul, wanting to hold on to them like precious heirlooms? There’s no right or wrong, both approaches can crunch out some cream. But your choice will send you hunting for different kinds of cards. Each has its own set of perks and downers\u2014let\u2019s dribble over them, shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for a long-term investment, you’re going to want to go for the classic cards. Like blue-chip stocks, ‘blue-chip’ sports cards are well-established and have already shown to hold value over longer periods\u2014your mint-condition Mickey Mantles and Babe Ruths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going for these cards is like a less scary money adventure. Ok, there’s less risk, but you also might not make bucket loads of cash, mainly because these top-notch cards can cost an arm and a leg upfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Over time, they often do a subtle moonwalk upwards in value. Sometimes, they even beat the S&P 500 in a footrace. Plus, they can help you diversify your portfolio and keep things stable when the stock market starts rocking the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re after a quick buck, you might be looking at a smaller initial investment, but you’ll be taking on more risk. When you want to flip a card for a short-term return on investment (ROI), you’re mostly looking for up-and-coming cards you believe are currently undervalued but will skyrocket with time. These are often the first or second-year cards of athletes with promising careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to spot undervalued sports cards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best sports cards to invest in aren’t always the big-ticket ones. They’re the hidden gems you reckon will go up in value down the line. Your mission is to make a profit. Meaning, you’re on the hunt for cards that are bargains right now but have the potential to be worth a small fortune later. So, the million-dollar question is, how do you sniff out these diamond-in-the-rough sports cards?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find cards that will go up in value, you need to be able to predict two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Which players will go up in value<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Which cards and card sets from those players will go up in value<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Predicting which players will go up in value<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Being able to predict a player’s market value mostly comes down to your knowledge of the sport and how closely you follow the player. You probably can’t become an expert on everything, so it makes sense to focus on your favorite sports and players. If you watch basketball more than baseball, focus on NBA cards. Keep in mind that the popularity of your chosen sport will impact the value of its cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The card-collecting business has been around since the 19th century, but the 80s, with the Michael Jordan wave, gave it a serious adrenaline rush. In the world of sports cards, four superstars sit on the throne: basketball cards, football cards, baseball, and soccer. Hot on their heels, though, is F1, screeching its tires in the popularity race but not quite in the fast lane yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So here’s the lowdown: there are two main camps in the card-collecting world\u2014vintage cards (those golden oldies from before the 1980s), and modern cards. Modern packs are a mixed bag with base cards, shiny new rookies, signed autographs, and, cool memorabilia cards featuring a piece of the player’s gear. The hefty paychecks are hanging out with the last three. But when you pull out a rookie card kissed with an autograph\u2014boom, you’ve hit the mother lode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Next, pick a few players you reckon are the bee’s knees. Follow them and learn their stats like the back of your hand. Remember, the more trophies and awards they rack up\u2014like MVPs, world records, hall of fame entries\u2014the more their card’s worth shoots up. So, if you can tell a rising star when you see one and nab their cards early, you’re on a fast track to some good money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Predicting which sports cards and card sets will go up in value<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Tom Brady might be one of the most valuable athletes of all time, but that doesn’t mean every card with the Bucs quarterback’s face on it will go for top dollar. A rookie Brady card sold for over $3 million in June 2021, but you can also find Brady cards on eBay selling for $5. So what sets the valuable cards apart from the pack? Some important factors, which are detailed in the next section, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n