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Gifting Sports Collectibles This Holiday Season

Holiday season is in full swing. The lights are going up, the fireplace is being lit, and the family is coming to town. 

We all have our favorite “holiday gifts” that we receive each season. Dad loves his golf lesson, mom loves her spa session, and the kids love spending the winters in Aspen/Vail.  

Buying the perfect holiday or birthday gift for dad can be difficult. He already has everything he wants and doesn’t always vocalize what he would like. Another golf polo or set of golf clubs may not be ideal this holiday season.  

Sports cards and memorabilia are common gifts for wealthy men. Sports Collectibles can invoke an emotional response unlike anything else. 

Is Thurman Munson your husband’s favorite baseball player? Did your husband wait in line at Yankee Stadium after a ballgame to get Thurman’s signature in the 1970s? The one thing that may be missing from the ultimate mancave or business office is a Thurman Munson signed baseball. Not only are sports collectibles a huge “flex,”, but they are also an appreciating asset. Cards and autographs are an asset class. The inflows of private equity/ hedge fund dollars have never been greater in this market. 

Part of the reason is inflationary concerns. However, I do believe the majority of it is the understanding of scarcity. You can’t reproduce more signed Babe Ruth baseballs. 

You can’t print more Jackie Robinson rookie cards. The great thing about cards and autographs is that you can buy your favorite card at multiple different price points. There is a Jackie Robinson Rookie Card in Mint Condition that is two million dollars. 

Or there is a Jackie Rookie Card in poor condition that is five thousand dollars.  

One of the beneficiaries of the COVID lockdown was the sports collectibles industry. Prices are significantly higher today than in 2019. 

Billions of dollars are coming into the market in terms of acquisition, technology, and new entrants. Topps will no longer be manufacturing and printing baseball cards in 2024. Fanatics will now be manufacturing and distributing baseball/football/basketball cards. In 2025, we will see commercials during baseball and football games promoting the Fanatics brand and trading cards.

Michael Osacky is a certified USPAP Compliant Sports Appraiser. He is also the lead appraiser for PSA which is the World’s largest third-party grader of sports collectibles. Michael is happy to answer your questions on the sports collectibles market. If you are looking to purchase sports cards or autographs, reach out to Michael and reference the Family Office.

michael@baseballintheattic.com

312-379-9090

Www.baseballintheattic.com