Complete Sports Cards Collecting and Investing Guide

Cards releasing prior to World War II are generally considered to make up the first era of sports cards. This includes tobacco cards, newspaper cards, food products, and of course, bubble gum cards.

The mid-1940s - 1950s delivered card products nearly every year. We will cover the significant brands and the battle between Topps and Bowman.

Like American culture in the 1960s, the sports card industry was marked by change and struggle.

By the 1970s, the NFL had established itself to rival Major League Baseball, while pro basketball cards were finally emerging.

Everything changed in the late-'80s. This is what you need to know that sent the hobby into its golden age.

Everything changed in the 1990s. We'll cover the innovations and technologies that made the hobby explode in popularity.

We group the 2000s through present day, looking at the emerging brands, innovations that went away and those that stayed.

Understand why collectors and investors value card condition, how it affects value, and how to identify the main areas on concern. Includes several examples.

How to identify corner damage and why it's important.

Why edges are important and how they affect the overall condition and value of sports cards.

Surface is probably the most important issue for card collectors and investors. Here's why and what to look for.

Why centering for most cards is an important issue, and how it has evolved over the decades along with card design.

This one might seem obvious, but just because a card is older doesn't necessarily mean it's MORE valuable.

Understanding retired, legendary, and active star players is a big part in knowing how players affect card value.

Some cards stand out as milestone cards throughout history, even if they may not feature legendary players.

Rarity can affect card value, but there are a few other layers of what creates rarity and scarcity.

We'll build on condition and look at how the main areas of concern affect the overall value of cards.

Is your card a FAKE!? How do you know? We cover the common issues with counterfeit cards, what to look for, and an example with the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card.

The pros and cons of buying sports card boxes. What to expect and which way should you go for collecting, investing, or just having fun.

Different sports card products have different packaging configurations. Here's what you need to know when buying packs vs. full boxes.

Buying and selling single cards has its advantages if you want to target specific players or individual cards.

What you need to know about the top three grading companies: PSA, BGS and SGC

How the four condition factors affect the grading process, and the role autographs play.

How vintage and modern cards differ when it comes to grading - the key factors to know.

All the important grading terms and understanding the point scale used to determine the condition of sports cards.

Vintage cards are more popular for collecting and investing in sets, both graded and ungraded. Here's why.

How to use online and print price guides to help build sets, use checklists, and identify cards.

The major role key cards in sets play - how to identify them.

Buying partial sets or card lots can be a great way to get started building a complete set.

Like with most investments, buying low and selling high is the game. We'll look at an awesome chart tracking the rise in value of Tom Brady's key rookie cards over 20 years.

NEW ADDITIONAL LESSON! 

The ESPN 10-part documentary "The Last Dance" on the 1990s Chicago Bulls has helped fuel incredible interest in Michael Jordan Rookie Cards, especially high-grade examples.

In this lesson, we look at sale prices before the documentary aired, and now as the final two episodes release. It's a great real-time case study of how sports culture and entertainment combined with national attention and timing can greatly affect card value.

KNOW YOUR SPORTS! Understanding which players are popular, on the rise or on the decline is important since there is a coloration in player performance and card popularity/value.

The reasons sports cards get popular or increase and decrease in value can vary by sport.

Keep your card protectors, especially graded card slabs, free of scratches and scuffs with these sleeves. It's also a great way to protect cards when shipping.

Searching for sports cards online can be confusing. Here's what to look for to help you identify what you're looking at.

Bidding on sports cards in an online auction is a bit different that looking at fixed-price listings. Here's what you need to know for each.

Searching completes sales is a great way to get an idea of how much cards are going for. Here's the best way to do it!

Knowing how to properly title your sports card sales listings, writing descriptions and using the proper images based on what collectors expect can help you maximize your sales.

Knowing how to properly package your cards safely and securely when selling is critical in building a reputable and trustworthy reputation as a collector and seller.

Buyer expect a certain level of security when receiving their cards in the mail. 

So many sports card products and brads release every year. How do you keep up with it and how do you know which are most popular?  We cover all that here.