Its a good time to figure out what that Pete Rose baseball card or Shaquille ONeal-autographed T-shirt is worth.
Now, really is a good time to go digging in your attic or garage.
Heres whats involved in a sports memorabilia appraisal.
Blake Kennedy, left, and his twin brother Brett co-own Kennedy Brothers Auction Services in St. Petersburg, Fla. They sell collectibles including sports memorabilia. One piece of advice from them: get your sports memorabilia authenticated to bring in the most money for it. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
But he waives his fee if the item is found to be worth less than his fee.
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Part of me being a certified appraiser is I have ethics and morals, he said.
If an item has an autograph, it will bring more money if its authenticated.
Their websites offer an idea of the pricing and shipping requirements.
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But if it is a true autograph from a top-notch player, it will bring more if its authenticated.
What Else Affects an Items Value?
Kennedy and Osacky shared these other factors that influence how much a piece of memorabilia is worth.
How old is it?
Are there red flags for mass production?
Anything that has the words limited edition or commemorative are going to have no value really, Osacky said.
Did a player own it?
A World Series ring worn by a player will bring more than one worn by team owners or staff.
How successful was the player?
How closely is the piece connected to the player?
What about items bought at charity fundraisers?
First, consider if it has a certificate that came with it.
Signed with a Sharpie?
Sharpies didnt exist when Joe DiMaggio was signing balls.
Felt pens didnt come out until the 1960s.
Is the signature personalized?
I later took out the page with Jordans signature and framed it.
The signature has faded over time because it was exposed to so much light.
Osacky appraised the game program for $200.
But if it wasnt personalized and was still intact with the Jordan autograph it would be worth $2,000.
The signed Jordan page is appraised at $1,000 to $1,500.
If it were not personalized or faded it would be valued at $2,500, he said.
Go to eBay if you want to get rid of it right then and there, Kennedy advised.
If its a really good piece, put it on an online auction that specializes in sports memorabilia.
Numerous companies online take consignments for upcoming auctions.
Like anything, check reviews.
Its all about the marketing and the keywords, Kennedy said.
It sounds appealing right?
Check it out here!