The Sports Collector

Put Mickey Mantle in his Place

Are sports collectibles taking over your living room, dining room, or bedroom?  Mickey Mantle took over every shelf, table top, and ironically, mantle in the house.  If someone in your life is an avid sports memorabilia collector, you probably have experienced an “enough is enough” moment.   

Rather than lash out at the prized inanimate objects, here are a few tips to help reduce the clutter and bring you peace of mind:

1. Keep it behind closed doors.  If you have space in your house or basement (keeping moisture and air temperature in mind), devote one room to the memorabilia.  It will keep the clutter contained while creating a “Sports Room” that’s free of ruffles, lace, or frill.

2. Display it nicely.   If you can’t devote a whole room to the collectibles, purchase glass or acrylic display cases.

3. Show your support.  Buy him/her something new for the collection.  If you are not a sports guru, go to a sports collectible website, and ask customer support for recommendations.

4. Make a deal.  If he/she keeps the display cases cleaned, shelves dusted, etc. then you won’t guilt them for purchasing more memorabilia or even that prized big ticket item.

5. Don’t refer to it as “your stuff.”  At least pretend to respect the passion for collectibles and treat it with respect.  After all, in a few years this investment may help put your kids through college.

“Quality sports memorabilia should be organized,” says John Damboragian, CEO of Authentic Sports Collectibles. “Display cases and closed shelving will improve the longevity of the investment, as well as make it more aesthetically pleasing in the home.”

The next time a precious Yogi Berra ball rolls off the mantle, remind him/her that Yogi would be much safer from the Golden Retriever in a display case.  Compromising will encourage cleanliness and prove that you respect the passion for collectibles.  Then, you can use it as a good argument for why you need to purchase a big ticket item like those glamorous kitchen counters—after all, that is an investment too!

Don’t Get Faked Out!

Faking—it happens all the time in sports, and when done right, it’s a beautiful sight to see. A point guard fakes to his left, then drives right and lays it in. A pitcher makes his pick-off move and catches the runner heading towards second base and throws him out easily. A quarterback fakes the hand-off up the middle, rolls right and runs two-yards into the end-zone, completely unscathed.

However, in sports memorabilia collecting, getting “faked out” is the worst thing that can happen to you. According to the FBI, it happens nearly 90% of the time. 

Take the following scenario: Jane knows that her significant other, Bob, has a passion for the New York Rangers. At the mall, she spots an autographed photo of Mark Messier raising the Stanley Cup after the 1994 championship victory, and it’s only $100.00! What a deal! So without hesitation, she buys it as a surprise gift for Bob. 

What’s wrong with this picture? Jane just bought a perfect fake. She never asked for a certificate of authenticity. She has no idea that the “market value” for that piece is at least $225.00. She knows nothing about the store’s reputation. In short, Jane did not ask the right questions or do the correct research in order to avoid a scam. 

Don’t let this happen to you! 

Stay aware of pricing. Buying memorabilia is like purchasing shares in the stock market. If Apple stock is selling for $98.00, no one is going to sell it to you for $50.00. If you aren’t familiar with pricing of collectibles, then talk to an expert or do some online research, before you get ripped off. 

Make sure you have an authenticity certificate. It’s important to be aware of your reputable certificates of authenticity. You may indeed strike a good deal, but without that certificate, your piece is worthless. And yes, there are fake authenticators out there, as well, so make sure you know what’s what. Some of the better authenticators are Steiner Sports, Upper Deck, Mounted Memories and Pro Tour Memorabilia. These companies deal directly with the athletes, and in many cases, have someone personally witness the signing of collectibles.

Look for a fraud-proof hologram. Many athletes today are aware of scams and in order to prevent them, will only sign items with an agent to witness the signing and to affix the piece with a fraud-proof hologram. This hologram is put into a company database in order to track it and ensure its authenticity. 

Know the preferences of athletes. Sometimes there are ways to detect if something is fake right away, just by having knowledge about particular athletes. For example, some sports stars just don’t sign certain things, or prefer to personalize their goods for fans only on specific “signing days” with third party witnesses. Tiger Woods hardly ever signs a golf ball, so if you find one, odds are he didn’t sign it. So the next time a dealer claims to have had something signed in a locker room, it’s ok to be skeptical and find out more about that athlete before buying. 

Whether you are buying a piece of sports memorabilia as a gift or have a passion for collecting them, don’t be like Jane. Be smart and savvy—so you don’t get faked out!

Sports Collecting 101

Welcome to my post to The Sports Collector, where you can find helpful tips and exciting news about collecting sports memorabilia. I hope you’ll weigh in too with your stories and recommendations. 

How do you avoid one of the biggest mistakes a collector can make—accidentally purchasing an inauthentic piece? Whether you are buying sports memorabilia as a personal keepsake, special gift, or an investment, the “true value” can often be questionable.

Do your homework: “Good value” doesn’t necessarily equal “cheap.” We’ve all found pieces of memorabilia that seem too good to be true, and usually that’s because they are. Before purchasing a collectible, research that item on the Internet. If you find a Derek Jeter signed baseball at the current rate of $450.00, but then a Google search brings you to a site where the same baseball is offered for $200.00, that should immediately make you suspicious.

Always know exactly where the item comes from. Every reputable collectibles dealer will be able to produce certificates of authenticity from a top company, such as Steiner Collectibles or Upper Deck.

Invest in the future, but don’t buy randomly. Always make sure whomever you are buying from has a good reputation. It is important to research rookies before buying their collectibles.

Take care of precious finds. You probably will want to invest in a good storage system, such as a display case, so your valuable items can be enjoyed, but at the same time kept protected from wear and tear. (This will be a topic for a future post.)

Next up: how to avoid fakes. You know they are out there, and, unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of the novice collector. Don’t be another one who falls victim to their tricks!