Downsizing? Determined to get rid of stuff no longer needed? Cleaning out a home or an estate? Stop! Know Before You Throw.
Spring training is one of the Valley’s most prized events. It’s upon us in full swing (pun intended) with tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors joining us for our fabulous weather and the opportunity to watch their favorite team work out the winter rust. It’s always a wonderful time for fans of all ages to come together, relax and have great fun.
It’s no wonder then that the sport has inspired generations of collectors. With a long-storied history and ability to inspire tremendous nostalgia for one’s youth, it’s perfect for a broad range of collecting. From baseballs to cards, from clothing to stadium bases, everything is fair game for the collector.
Baseball cards, in particular, are one of the most popular items to collect. Many of us grew up with them, chewing the sweet bubblegum that came with the cards and then trading duplicate cards with our friends in order to fill out our collections. Some might say it was the first form of social networking.
So, for the most part, baseball cards are considered ephemera—something that was not meant to last and usually produced on low-quality, inexpensive paper. The mid-80s kicked off the explosion of the hobby with card manufacturers like Upper Deck, Donruss, Fleer and Topps printing cards like there was no tomorrow. This time period is referred to as the Junk Wax Era, when so much product was produced that it eventually crashed the baseball card collecting market in the early 90s. In fact, it is still possible to find unopened cases of these cards available today.
While there are certainly some valuable and sought-after cards from that era, most of the really valuable material comes from the early 1900s through the 1960s.
And the most expensive card ever sold? It is the 1909 to 1911 Honus Wagner card, which reportedly sold for $3.12 million in 2016. Other notables include a 1952 Mickey Mantle card, at $1,135,250 and a 1915 to 1916 Babe Ruth card, for $717,000. So, what’s in your closet?
Jon Englund has more than 30 years of experience in appraising and liquidating personal property, jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques, furniture, printed items and more, as well as more than 15 years of experience in real estate. A Midwest transplant, Jon trained at New York University in appraisal studies.
Donna Luger has assisted during that time, and is a veteran Associate Broker and Realtor with HomeSmart Realty—Elite Group.
For more information, call (480) 699-1567. You also can send an email to Jon@KnowBeforeYouThrow.INFO.