April 4, 2004

Clearing Off My Desk

At the end of the football season and during the long cold and snowy New England winter, I try to get caught up with the many questions, comments and possible trades/purchases that individuals communicate to me.  In this column I will be clearing off my desk and discussing several of my readers’ questions/comments about the world of football memorabilia.

One of the biggest issues that many of my fellow collecting friends have is what is a good price to pay for a particular item.  I have always tried to be objective with other collectors as far as value of an item is concerned.  You as a collector are the one who places a value on a particular item for your collection.  The price you pay must satisfy you the collector and the dealer or other collector you have purchased it from.  A price guide is just that, a guide to a range of prices of an item.  I do not always agree with what I read in price guides.  For example you will be hard pressed to sell a 1991 Pacific football card set for more than $5.  Many individual priced cards from 1989 and up are in my opinion way off base for pricing.  The remaining store dealers have basically stopped buying, yet many prices I see in the remaining stores are way too expensive and why I think the product remains on the dealer’s shelves.

On an older piece of memorabilia I do believe that the price is market driven.  How many collectors yearn for an actual game player jersey of Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr?  I know I would want it and would be willing to play a steep price for it rather a newly produced “game card” of a present day player that goes for over $100.  Older paper can also be expensive.  Super Bowl Programs from I to IX are more valuable and tougher to come by than the current Super Bowl program that can still be found on the newsstands. 

The value to me is in older material and that material will always have a market and value to it.  I can’t see any aftermarket for many newer items that are available to collectors.  Supply and demand will dictate the future.  Be aware of what you are buying.

Another question is from many beginning or intermediate collectors-what should I collect?  What do you as a collector like?  A set, a favorite team or player, a favorite era?  I am a throwback to a different time in collecting.  Back in the 1980’s I actually thought I could collect every football card set produced.  And it was realistic back then because there were only two sets produced.  Today forget it.  So I reexamined my collection, parted with a few items and decided to focus on my run from the 1935 National Chicle set to the 1948,49 Leaf sets, 1960-63 Fleer sets, 1964-67 Philadelphia sets, 1976-88 Fleer In Action sets and the 1951, 1955 to 2003 Topps sets.  I still would have loved to keep collecting each year all of the sets but it is impossible.  To focus and complete this run is my goal.

Some suggestions; team set collectors can collect a team set of their favorite team from the year of their birth.  A collecting friend of mine is putting together and has basically completed a team set run of Minnesota Vikings cards from 1968 to the current year.  He only collects Topps low-end sets and his run is complete.  A nice collection that is doable and reasonable in cost.  He did not get caught up in trying to finish off 66 different team sets for the current year but kept it practical and reasonable.  Another friend is trying to put together the classic complete set run from 1954 to the current year’s Topps set.  Again with some hard work that is doable.  Collect what you like, stay within a reasonable budget (do not buy football memorabilia and not pay the mortgage!) and most importantly enjoy your collection.  It is supposed to be fun, relaxing and educational.

I hope this column answers a few of your questions.  Please note I do try to answer my emails and letters in a reasonable amount of time, but I also work for a living and am raising a 15-year-old daughter, so please be patient.  I will try to get you an answer for your question.

Until next time good luck with your collections.

Past Articles of "The Football Collector"

1965 Coke Football Caps

Bob Swick has been collecting football cards since 1965.  He also collects programs, yearbooks, media guides, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, and team photos of the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder.  He is also a member of The Professional Football Researchers Association.