Sports Cards and Memorabilia Marry
Game-used Collectibles Autographs Trading Cards
Patches of game-used jerseys and equipment on sports cards offer collectors and investors alike the chance to acquire pieces of sports history at a very reasonable price.
About a decade ago, sports card manufacturers set out to take the hobby to the next level. Their solution: inserting autographed cards into packs, boxes, and sets.
Then, a few years ago, the industry took it even further by creating cards with pieces of game-used memorabilia on them: patches of baseballs, bats, uniforms, basketballs, footballs, and so on. That trend continues today and has made the hobby more exciting than ever for both collectors and investors looking for an affordable opportunity to own a part of sports history, along with their favorite athletes.
Many cards being produced even offer the dual benefit of both game-used memorabilia and an autograph.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of all this, however, is that legendary and in some cases long-deceased athletes are receiving new life along with renewed popularity and interest by having their memorabilia placed on cards as well. In some cases, autographs are available in addition to memorabilia. These cards make for fantastic opportunities to purchase authentic game-used memorabilia, and possibly autographs, by these legendary sports greats at a much more affordable price compared to what plain cards from their playing days are going for.
Consider the following:
- The retail chain Target teamed up with the major sports card manufacturer Topps to provide a limited number of 2007 baseball card sets that came with a memorabilia card of legendary New York Yankees slugger and Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle. The cost of the special set: $60. The set without the Mantle card sells for $50. At this time, values of these particular Mickey Mantle memorabilia cards are not yet clearly established. However, by comparison, older Mantle memorabilia cards produced within the last few years are easily going for well over $100 in sports card shops.
- Mickey Mantle cards from his playing days (1951-68) range from hundreds of dollars to many thousands and do not come with game-used memorabilia.
- Target also collaborated with Topps to offer a limited number of 2007 football card sets that came with two memorabilia cards. The cards were also rookie cards. The cost: $60. The set minus the two cards sells for $40.
- In 2007, Fleer, another major sports card manufacturer, came out with a special 200-card set solely devoted to legendary basketball star Michael Jordan. Each set was guaranteed to have at least one game-used memorabilia card. The cost: a mere $60 for the entire set.
- Superbowl-related memorabilia is being distributed now by manufacturers as well. In early 2008, shortly after the New York Giants won Superbowl XLII, Topps released a special 27-card set honoring the team. The set, retailing for $20, comes with an authentic ticket stub from that game.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. Many, many more athletes, both current players and long-time Hall of Famers alike, are having their game-used memorabilia manufactured on cards. Many of them feature autographs as well.
Even Superbowl ticket stubs are finding new life.
