This past year, the market for sports cards has skyrocketed. This is not surprising. For example, Lebron James' logoman from the 2020–2021 Panini Flawless set just sold for $2.4 million. Who wouldn't want to obtain their favourite player's signature or other memorabilia? Sports cards range from high-end to low-end, making it a hobby for everyone! Now, here are some tips on how to make a profit when dealing with sports cards:
1. Find Collectible Players
Players with high collectibility appeal to and are valued by customers. The cards of players they know and like are the ones that they are most inclined to buy. The player: Is he a superstar? Are they well known? For instance, if they are a prominent social media influencer or manage a charity. The player is the most significant element. People are drawn to the top players who excel and draw attention to themselves. Would you rather have a Yoshi Tsutsugo trade card or a Wander Franco card? Many of us might not even be familiar with Tsutsugo. Finally, collectibility makes mention of impulsions. Is the athlete performing well? If they are retired, have they been in the media? People want attention-seekers, not those who are often forgotten.
![2022 Topps Series 1 - [Base] #215.1 - Wander Franco (Pounding Chest, Blue Jersey) - Courtesy of COMC.com](https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/2022/Topps-Series-1---Base/2151/Wander-Franco-(Pounding-Chest-Blue-Jersey).jpg?id=c637ea90-6a5c-403f-977a-4880c8003315&size=original)
2. Age
The potential profit is significantly impacted by age. Collectors choose players who have the greatest possibility of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. This forces players to make their breakthroughs early. A player who enters the NHL at the age of 18 has a better development plan than a 30-year-old depth player on the verge of retirement. Thus, the younger player has a greater collectibility due to the potential perceived by investors. Injury concerns are another factor that correlates with a player's age. Even with injuries, a player who makes a name for themselves early is likely to have a successful career. But if a player suddenly becomes successful later in their career, a single injury might end their playing days. Would you rather invest in a risk or in a player with a higher floor?
Who do you collect?