| is kicking off their series about alternative investing. | | | | account or CD have made us more money? |
| Today we’re going to tackle the subject of | | | | Next, how does supply and demand look? Are |
| selling baseball cards. Baseball cards can sell for a | | | | there more baseball cards on the market than there |
| few cents or thousands of dollars so it would only | | | | are people looking to buy or is the supply and |
| make sense that it could be more than a hobby, or | | | | demand either balanced or more demand heavy? |
| at least we would think so. Let’s see if | | | | Last, is the amount of time it takes to make money |
| that’s true. | | | | selling baseball cards justify the cost? |
| | | | | Taking a look at our first question, baseball cards can |
| It is said that the highest valued baseball cards are | | | | be a good long term holding but most are not. |
| valued at $40,000. Robin Roberts, Jim Konstanty | | | | While a few cards may appreciate to high values, |
| and Eddie Stanky were withdrawn from the series in | | | | most will not and in order to own a high value card, |
| 1952 due to contractual problems with a rival baseball | | | | you will either have to buy a card that is already |
| card company. It is not known how it happened but | | | | valued high or have some very specialized knowledge |
| somehow a small amount of these cards found their | | | | that allows you to recognize a card that will be worth |
| way in to circulation and because of that mistake, | | | | a lot in the future. Unfortunately, selling baseball |
| these cards are the highest valued cards. | | | | cards doesn’t pass the test of our first question. |
| There are many sports cards that can catch more | | | | Second, supply and demand. Because this is |
| than $1,000 in the market but we still haven’t | | | | considered a hobby, the market for baseball cards is |
| answered the question: Is selling baseball cards | | | | quite specialized. While supply and demand appears |
| worth an investment? | | | | balanced within the hobbyist community, it |
| Often, we only think of investments as stocks, | | | | doesn’t appear to have a lot of appeal outside |
| bonds, mutual funds, etfs, and other paper | | | | of there. This requires the investor to have ties to |
| investments but it’s important that we also think | | | | the hobbyist community. Without that, this probably |
| outside of Wall St. Anything that appreciates in | | | | doesn’t make for a good investment. |
| value is an investment. Classic cars, art, and even | | | | Last, talking to the baseball card enthusiasts, it is |
| Beanie Babies are collectables and could be | | | | clear that true wealth belongs to the select few. |
| considered an investment. | | | | The experts who have specialized and are buying and |
| In order for us to evaluate baseball cards, we have | | | | selling baseball cards full time. |
| to answer a few questions. First, like a stock, how | | | | If you love your baseball card collection, the facts |
| much upside? After selling baseball cards that have | | | | are clear. Rather than selling baseball cards as an |
| been held for a period of time, did we make more | | | | investment, do it as a hobby and have a lot of fun. |
| money holding these cards or would a savings | | | | For investments, look elsewhere. |