Do you need to find a unique gift? Are you looking for a way to let everyone know that you are a sports fan? Have you started a collection of sports memorabilia that you want to build? With a wide variety of sports collectibles reflecting all sorts of interests, it may be difficult to determine how to buy sports collectibles. This sports collectibles buying guide is here to help you determine which sports collectibles are right for you, how to buy sports memorabilia and what to do with your sports collectibles.
Sports memorabilia is anything related to sports, from photos, to game-used balls, to uniforms, to logo accessories and beyond. Sports memorabilia become sports collectibles as soon as someone wants to collect them. When you love sports, there is a good chance that you will love sports collectibles. Before you start your collection, think about how you want to collect and what you want to collect. Determine a budget so you don't go overboard, and then start buying the collectibles that you like.
Ways to collect
When you are building your collection, you'll want to start by selecting one sport to focus on. Next, decide how you want to build your collection. There are many ways to collect sports memorabilia:
Once you have decided how you want to build your collection, decide which collectibles you want. Sports memorabilia comes in many forms, but here are a few of the most popular types.
Sports cards
Trading cards are the easiest collectibles to begin collecting. New trading cards come in sealed packs, so you don't know which cards will be inside. Buying a new pack of sports cards can be exciting and a bit of a gamble, since you don't know if you'll find any that will fit into your collection. Luckily, trading cards are relatively inexpensive, and they usually come in large quantities, so you have many chances to find a few hits.
If you've already decided how to build your sports card collection (full sets of one brand, certain athletes or teams, etc.), you can go through your newly opened packs and decide which cards fit and which you don't need. This is where the "trading" comes into "trading cards." Get together with other sports card collectors and make trades to help each other build trading card collections. You may have friends who also enjoy this hobby, or you can meet people at hobby stores or on the Internet who want to trade sports cards. (Kids, make sure you ask your parents permission before trading with anyone from the Internet.)
Bobbleheads
Since bobbleheads first came out in the 1950s, their popularity has grown, and today they have become one of the most popular collectibles around. It's no wonder people love bobbleheads with their funny, oversized nodding heads. And while sports bobbleheads used to be the only bobbleheads around, you can now find bobbleheads that look like cartoon characters, celebrities, pop culture icons and real life heroes in addition to athletes. When you see how many different bobbleheads are available, you'll want to start a bobblehead collection of your own.
Bobbleheads were originally made of papier-mâché, but now most are made of ceramic with a few exceptions made of plastic. The bobbling head is on a little spring, and some collectors like to put a few cotton balls inside to prevent bobbling and prolong the life of the spring. Many bobbleheads can be purchased in sets, so you can trade with other bobblehead collectors.
Diecasts
Diecasts are the perfect collectible if your interests involve planes, trains and automobiles. If you are a fan of sports cars, you may want to collect NASCAR diecasts. A NASCAR diecast on your desk or bookshelf will remind you of the exciting times you've had with your friends and family watching the races. If vintage cars are more your thing, you'll want to add vintage diecasts to your collection. The charming details of vintage cars or trucks reproduced in sturdy metal make vintage diecast cars some of the most appealing collectibles. If you are an aviation enthusiast, add a military helicopter diecast to your collection.
Made out of die cast metal, diecasts are usually heavy and sturdy. Diecasts will have a ratio listed with their descriptions. This denotes the size of the diecast relative to the size of the item which it duplicates. The smaller the number, the larger the diecast will be. For example a 1:6 diecast will be much larger than a 1:25 diecast. Often, the larger the diecast, the more details can be included, and the more details diecasts have, the more valuable they are. Working doors, chrome details or lights will all make diecasts look more realistic, and many collectors look for these sorts of details.
Sports plaques
Sports plaques and framed team photos are a stylish way to collect sports memorabilia. You'll find sports plaques of teams, athletes and even historic stadiums. Many sports plaques are limited editions and will be numbered to reflect that. There are no secrets about how to buy sports plaques; just buy the ones that appeal to you, as you will likely hang them on the wall and look at them often. Sports plaques make great items to have autographed.
Sports figures
Sports figures are small models of athletes, but don't call these "dolls." More statues than toys, sports figures have been crafted to reflect the passion and intensity of your favorite athletes. You can find sports figures of athletes from many different sports, often posed to show how they look in action on the court, field or course.
Sports figures are made out of many different types of materials, so you may choose to focus your collection on sports figures made of pewter, ceramic or brightly-painted plastic, or collect each member of your favorite team. Many brands make sports figures, so you could also try to collect all of the sports figures made by one brand.
Sports jerseys
Sports jerseys or other pieces of team uniforms can be fun to collect. You can choose between new uniforms or game-used uniforms.
Other sports collectibles
Sports memorabilia comes in many different forms; if you are building a collection that relates to a team or athlete, keep your eye out for other collectibles. These could be many different things: key chains, glassware, plates, cereal boxes, postcards, pens and pencils, patches, hats and much more.
Show off your collection of sports memorabilia with an interesting display. Grouping all of your sports collectibles together on a shelf or wall will look impressive and will show off all of your hard work. Display your collectibles in a place where you can enjoy them. A bedroom, office, den or recreation room can each be the perfect place for a sports memorabilia exhibit.
To maintain the value of your sports collectibles, make sure you have them displayed or stored safely. Keep them out of direct sunlight in a place that won't be damp or dusty. Bobbleheads, diecasts and sports figures should be gently dusted with a dry, soft rag occasionally. Many collectibles can be stored in special containers. For example, trading card binders, plastic sleeves and storage boxes will protect this type of collection.
I love my collectibles, but how do I know if my collection has any monetary value?
A few ways to speculate about the value are to consider the age of the collectibles, their conditions, whether they commemorate a team or player that was popular or if the player is still alive. These things can all affect the general value of sports collectibles. For a better estimate, look for price guide magazines. There are also companies that will give you an estimate, but these usually come with a fee, so decide first if your collectibles are valuable enough to cover that cost. The bottom line, however, is that your collectibles are worth whatever someone is willing to pay for them.
What are the differences between buying new sports collectibles and buying them from the secondary market?
When you purchase your sports memorabilia new (such as most of the collectibles you'll find on Overstock.com), you are getting collectibles that have never been owned before and are in pristine condition. Often, you'll find collectibles commemorating athletes who are currently playing.
On the other hand, sports memorabilia from the secondary market has been owned before and, depending on the previous owner, may show some signs of age. Older pieces have had time to increase in value, so they may be more expensive. When purchasing expensive pre-owned sports collectibles, it is often a good idea to have the piece authenticated by a third party before you make the purchase.
How can I have my collectibles autographed?
Watch for sponsored events where athletes will be signing items, such as book signings or in-store appearances. You can also obtain signatures at sports games. If this is how you plan to have your collectibles autographed, make sure to show up early; athletes are more likely to take the time to sign during a warm-up than once they are in competitive mode. You can also try to get signatures during a pre-season event, such as during spring training for baseball. Here's a tip: many athletes are more likely to go out of their way to autograph collectibles for women and children, so you may want to have your younger sister ask to have that ball signed.
Read all about it
When you love sports enough to collect sports memorabilia, you want to know everything about it. With sports books, you can learn the rules of the games you love, read more about the lives of your favorite athletes and study the history of sports. You'll be an expert on sports with a little help from the book store on Overstock.com.
Display your collection
Many of your sports collectibles can hang on the wall, but for the collectibles that don't, you may want to find some new bookshelves in the home store on Overstock.com. Collect all of your sports memorabilia together or spread them out among your sports books for a complete display.
Play along with your favorite athletes
If you love watching sports and collecting sports memorabilia, then you will probably love playing those sports as well. Whether you want to join a team or just play a pick-up game in the park, you need sports gear. From balls to bats, you'll find everything you need to play sports on Overstock.com.