Collections, whether composed of toys, automotive items, or sports memorabilia, are possessions that can stay in the family, and be passed down for multiple generations to treasure and enjoy. Sometimes, people collect items as investments and plan to sell their collectables if and when the item’s value goes up. Others collect things simply because the objects offer a personal connection and the reasons are purely emotional. When purchasing collectibles for the purpose of creating permanent family keepsakes, or to sell later down the road, sports memorabilia is the way to go.
Collecting from the heart
In some cases, we collect memorabilia without thinking twice as to what its dollar value may be worth on the market. If you are die-hard fan, you know first hand that, win or lose, your team is infused within the very inter-workings of your soul. In an article published by The New York Times, the author reveals findings from a study in which researchers found that fervent fans become so bonded to their teams that they experience hormonal surges and other physiological changes while watching games, much as the athletes do. The article also says that self-esteem in some male and female fans also rises and falls with a game’s outcome. Being one such fan myself, I can attest to this and say that when my team loses, especially against a hated rival, I feel so angry that the apocalypse could be happening out my window, and I would still be fuming with rage over that dropped ball. As a fan with emotional ties, I therefore collect items from my team and I don’ care what their financial value is. For example, I was a child of the 80s, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are my favorite National League team. But I was born in the Chicago suburbs and am also a die-hard Cubs fan. Therefore, my autographed Steve Sax baseball and my Ryan Sandberg autographed pennant may not be worth much on the sports market, but to me these items are worth a small fortune and I plan on passing them down to my nieces and nephews. Go online and shop around for sports memorabilia items from that special team of your youth. Chances are, these items can be purchased for cheap, yet their meaning and personal symbolism will be priceless for you.
Get a touchdown, hit a home run
On the other hand, if you want to start a sports memorabilia collection as an investment, then you need to be well informed and educated into the world of professional sports, the history of the franchises, players, and market trends. Buy autographed items from players that you know will make the Hall of Fame. This will secure the item’s value. If you are looking at Green Bay Packers memorabilia, and you can either spend $50 on an autographed football by B.J.Raji, or spend $300 on an autographed football by Aaron Rodgers, a solid investment would be to pick up the Rodgers ball and run it in for a touchdown, as he has done so many times. Rodgers is already breaking records, and if he keeps it up, he will become the greatest quarterback in Packers history. Also, in his first few years, he already far surpassed former QB Bret Favre’s early records. Rodgers has also won MVP and a super bowl, which makes his signature a coveted item.
On the flip side, not all pro athletes who have broken records are suitable targets for collectors. For example, former San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds has had an asterisk stamped next to his name in the record books, thus branding him as a notorious cheating pariah who has metaphorically spit in the faces of great players before him who never doped to set legitimate records. Bonds is a notorious drug user, and a public disgrace. It is extremely doubtful that Major League Baseball will induct him into the Hall of Fame. Rather, he sits in the Fall to Shame. Therefore, records or not, it is advisable to not purchase his autographs.
Let me drop some names
You may want to start your collection by picking up autographed items from up-and-coming players who seem to be headed to bright futures. These items are a gamble in the sense that they are cheaper, yet their destined value is unknown. For example, purchasing a Bryce Harper autographed ball will be cheaper than buying one signed by Albert Pujols. We all know that Pujols will make it into the Hall of Fame, but all we know about Harper is that he is a hot new player who can make it into the Hall of Fame if he stays consistent throughout the rest of his long career ahead. If you like to gamble, get a Harper ball for cheap and pick up some items signed by Mike Trout or Ryu Hyun-Jin; they are new to the game, but have already secured a huge name.
Investing
Whether you invest from the heart, or invest for the dollar, have fun, and do your online research in securing those coveted items you so desire.
