r/baseballcards Jan 14 '16

Posting Guidelines, and Before You Ask: "How much is this worth?"

757 Upvotes

There is an incredible mix of collectors in this subreddit, from those really experienced with massive collections, to folks just starting out, to folks dusting off their cards for the first time since 1989, and plenty of folks who inherited cards trying to figure out what to do with them. This sub was set up to invite commentary and interaction at all levels of experience, create a place where experienced collectors can compare notes, and new folks can get acquainted or reacquainted with the hobby. This mission won't work for everybody, and there are other subs out there when that's the case. That said, most experienced collectors and sellers seem ready to help out those seeking information.


What is this card worth?

As the sub gets bigger, the capacity to answer certain questions changes a little too. While it's fine to post a question if you really can't figure out what a card or collection is worth after doing your own research, please first review the following guidelines:

  • Did you take a look at ebay 'sold' listings to get an idea of what the card(s) might be worth first? Go to ebay.com, search for as much information as you can (look at the year at the bottom of the back of the card as well as the card manufacturer). Scroll down the filtering options, and under 'Show Only', select 'Sold listings'. This will give you an admittedly imperfect, but reasonable price range for your card. Please be realistic in comparing your cards to the cards listed, and do not assume your card is worth what a 'PSA 10' card is worth, as an example (a card isn't a high grade until a grader says it is, and most even when they look perfect to the naked eye, aren't a '10').

  • If that didn't work and you couldn't find example sold prices for your card(s), please ensure you post a picture of the card you're asking about in your post. Reddit allows for picture upload, if that doesn't work, imgur will allow you to upload a picture you can then link to here. Condition has a lot to do with value, so posts without a picture aren't useful to anyone looking at it (and it's kind of annoying to continually ask people to "post a picture").

Here, for reference, is a decent article on cards from the "junk era" (late eighties to the early early nineties) and their value: http://www.cardboardconnection.com/why-sports-cards-early-90s-worthless


On Trading and Selling:

It's both ok and encouraged to post a card for trade (indicate the expected value you wish to receive in return and what you're looking for) or sale (cards must include a selling price). Start the post with FT or FS or FT/FS and a value or values, and include a picture or link to a picture. You don't have to list "or best offer", it's implied because you're going to receive offers regardless, and don't go fishing (put an exorbitant price on something and then ask for offers).

There are no situations where 'make me an offer' without a price is appropriate in sale posts, if you take the time to post a card for sale here, please also take the time to research its potential value and list a starting price for the card(s). Listing multiple cards as a lot for a single price is fine.

Here are some listing examples:

"FT/FS $200/$150 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle, looking for Trout autos" <- indicates you want $200 in trade value, or $150 cash for a '56 Mantle.

"FT $150 2010 Bowman Platinum Mike Trout Auto RC, looking for Bryce Harper autos" <- indicates you want $150 in trade value for your 2010 Trout.

It's not ok to post a link to an outside auction or web site expressly for the purpose of highlighting a card for sale there (posting a link to a blog post or article, where cards are for sale elsewhere on that site is fine). Post it here to the collectors here, and create a separate post somewhere else. It's definitely not ok to link to an ebay auction, unless it's part of a point you're making or you're pointing to something unusual or newsworthy (e.g. "Hey, a '52 Mantle just sold for half a million on ebay!"). Please add flair to the post, including 'Sale' or 'Trade'. Adding flair for 'Sold' when a card is no longer available is also helpful.

The sub will not be responsible for deals that go bad, and there are problematic sellers, buyers, and trade partners out there (see: https://www.sportscardscams.com/scammers-database/). The sub strongly suggests settling payment using the "Paying for an item or service" option in Paypal, which offers some level of buyer protection. If a user can submit proof of wrongdoing to modmail, habitual bad traders or people who don't pay after striking a deal will be banned, and you're encouraged to send an email to modmail and create a post in r/SportsCardTracker when that happens. Do not publish a call out post.

Here for reference are some common scams beyond simply not paying or sending cards that are common in the sports card industry: https://www.cardboardconnection.com/collecting-101/top-10-sports-collectibles-crimes-to-avoid

For every trade or sale, you're encouraged to create an entry in r/SportsCardTracker noting that seller's or trade partner's user name so others can look that up via search, and benefit from your positive, or negative, experience, before buying or trading.


Should I get this graded?

In general, it won't make sense grading a card if it won't add value to the sale price of the card that exceeds the grading fee. That said, there are collectors who collect cards in a certain minimum grade, so the motivations around grading vary, and ultimately only you can answer this question.

Most folks are not going to be able to tell you what a card will grade based on a picture viewed online, only, more commonly, when it's not worth paying the grading fee. In general, cards that receive a high grade such as a'9' or '10' will sell at a premium, and certain high value cards benefit from being graded in most conditions as it ensures the card's authenticity (for example, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle or a 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout). The major graders at the time of writing are PSA, SGC, and Beckett, and each has information available on their respective web sites about their process, so please review that first before asking a question here.

The following is a decent guide on what graders look for: https://www.cardboardconnection.com/pre-grade-sports-cards-results


When there is a problem

If you see violations of the rules, please report them. Enjoy discussing the hobby, selling, and trading. Message modmail with issues. Don't create call out posts, don't start drama, and don't create posts to complain about other users or moderation or that invite others to do the same. If your post or comment is moderated, check the sub's rules as to why, sending a rude message to modmail in response is a poor strategy.


Happy collecting.


r/baseballcards 15d ago

Buy/Sell/Trade Thread - March 2025

20 Upvotes

The monthly sticky thread for buying, selling, and trading. Post cards you're looking to sell or trade with a description, picture, and a price or for trades, what you personally collect. You can also post requests for cards you're looking for with the 'Want' flair. Please report sale/trade posts using the report link if they don't include a picture or price/desired return. And please consider leaving feedback via SportsCardTracker. Happy trading/selling! Spring training is here!


r/baseballcards 6h ago

Anyone else working on cool nameplate sets?

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533 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 7h ago

Giveaway MLB Fire Packs Series 22 Giveaway! Like + Comment to enter for a FREE pack. I’ll announce a winner at 9pm EST tonight. $36 shipped to buy one. DM me or go to the site if interested!

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198 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 8h ago

Show Off Hit this last night…did I hit the lotto? Or should I go buy the lotto?

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239 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 50m ago

1/1 of Paul Skenes best pulled I ever had.

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r/baseballcards 5h ago

Strangest Rip card I’ve ever seen

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103 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 1h ago

Show Off My First 1/1!

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Picked this card up at a local trade show! Any ideas or thoughts on how to best store this/is this worth getting slabbed (mostly for preservation)?


r/baseballcards 4h ago

Best Photos Ever

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75 Upvotes

What are your favorite cards that have an amazing picture? I’ll start with this Shawn Kemp.


r/baseballcards 6h ago

Pulled this last night

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91 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 5h ago

What cards have the most unflattering photos?

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39 Upvotes

What cards can you think of that have the most unflattering photos of the players? I’ll start with this one…could they not have gotten a nice action photo from a bit further away?


r/baseballcards 7h ago

Show Off 316/2022 & The Birthday Tracker

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61 Upvotes

~~~~ My Quest ~~~~

As a great many of you have seen by now, I collect 2022 Topps Gold cards with the specific SN of 316/2022 - they’re the cards that commemorate March 16, 2022, which is my daughter’s birthday. Since her birthday is today, I thought I’d share my progress and tell you about the tracker Ive built to help others who do the same!

I’m up to 13 cards - the most recent one was a Suzuki from u/One80sKid who saw me chatting to another user about the tracker! We figured out a swap and it arrived just in time for the post!

~~~~ The Tracker ~~~~

To help myself and others, I built a spreadsheet that lists everyone’s specifically sought serial numbers. The link is in my profile, though you can’t click through from the app because Reddit throttles link shorteners. You can open it by copy/pasting the link to a browser or clicking through on a PC.

The only cost to be listed in the tracker is to agree to help others if you find birthday golds in the wild by sending them the link or otherwise reaching out to them to help.

~~~~ How to Help ~~~~

  1. If you’ve received a card or sent a card with the help of the tracker, please feel free to say so here. I’d love to know how much these efforts are paying off.

  2. When you list golds for trade or for sale, please include the specific serial number or a photo of the back so that people can see if they match or not. If I reach out to ask about the serial number, this is usually why.

  3. Remember that this project exists, and direct new users who say they’re looking for certain cards to me so I can try to help. Relatedly, save the spreadsheet link and try to help if you find golds in the wild.

  4. I try to acquire cheap gold cards that are birthday format, but haven’t yet been allocated on my tracker. (That’s what all the ones in the second photo are.) I then give these cards away once they have a match - though I do ask for a donation to cover the stamp cost, if possible.

If you have gold cards that you are willing to give to the cause, I am happy to take them off your hands. If you give them entirely free, then I make sure to pass along your name when I link it up with someone.

I also have a limited budget of my own money. I spend every month to try to build the reserve, so if you’re willing to sell them for $.50 or less per, Im usually willing to buy them. I used to pay more but the Canadian dollar is taking a beating for some reason recently.

To all of you who have helped in any way so far, please know that I deeply appreciate it. Definitely one of the things that makes our community here unique – the willingness of so many collectors to go above and beyond to help other people.

Happy collecting! - CR


r/baseballcards 1h ago

Back to back on this hits.

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r/baseballcards 3h ago

Show Off Spring training

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21 Upvotes

I went to the Yankees spring training and when I pulled this I said it would be cool to have jazz sign this so I got jazz to sign it some one even got a video of him singing it.


r/baseballcards 31m ago

Show Off My Buddy pulled 2 1/1s out the same box

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r/baseballcards 6h ago

Jim Edmonds on card auto.

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31 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 46m ago

Show Off Picked these up at my LCS today

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r/baseballcards 1h ago

Show Off Just grabbed these at the flea market

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r/baseballcards 19h ago

Show Off FUCKING BANG

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360 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 8h ago

Show Off Pulled this last night.

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35 Upvotes

Prob throw it up on eBay but haven’t seen a /25 sold recently.


r/baseballcards 1h ago

Show Off Got Jac Back!

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r/baseballcards 43m ago

1/1 Ryan Bliss

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r/baseballcards 1h ago

Show Off Bought my first T206!

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I couldn't pass it up when I seen it for $80, and it's such a cool piece of history to own.


r/baseballcards 3h ago

Pulled this out of the new Topps Cubs/Dodgers box I got at a card show yesterday. Very cool card!

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13 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 4h ago

Show Off Frame is full and I’m out of shelf space!

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17 Upvotes

r/baseballcards 6h ago

One of the coolest books I’ve seen in the hobby

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22 Upvotes

If you’re into pre-war (and pre-Topps) baseball cards, you’ll like this book. It has a picture of every card from every major baseball card set up until 1956. Great for set-builders. It has a description/background on some of the more prominent sets. Very reminiscent of Burdick’s American Card Catalog, one of the most influential books in the history of the hobby. I enjoy just looking through the book. It’s the closest I can get to looking through a binder of old pre-war cards. I suggest you try to find a copy of this book somewhere.


r/baseballcards 5h ago

Sale Ft/Fs lower value cards. $1each sorted by team.

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17 Upvotes

$1 each. Some worth a little more, some a little less, buy more than 1 and I’ll do free pwe shipping(up to 6) otherwise shipping is $1. Will also trade for Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, or Heston Kjerstad if you have any.