Don’t throw your old Red Sox jersey, the Garden or Fleece Center ticket stub, or the signed football that’s been sitting in the closet since accompanied you home from Gilette. Whether or not you’re not a sports fan yourself, you might have something of great value to a Boston sports fan around here or far away.
What kinds of items are valuable to Boston sports memorabilia collectors?
Collectors look for everything from autographed game balls to tickets. Even old uniforms and pennants can be worth a great deal to the right collector.
Most are looking for older memorabilia, that is, pieces from the 1800s and 1900s. Newer memorabilia is generally only useful if it is linked to a modern star player, a legend (e.g. Bill Russell or Ted Williams), or to a significant team. Those epochal teams may include the Red Sox of 1967 or 2004, the 2001 Pats, the 1980s Celtics, or the 1970 Bruins, to name only a few examples.
How much is sports memorabilia worth in general?
It depends on the memorabilia. Is it in great condition? Is it autographed? Is it associated with a famous player?
The highest auction price ever paid for signed sports memorabilia was $4.3 million, paid in 2010 for an original copy of James Naismith’s 13 Rules of Basketball, signed by Naismith himself.
Though you may not have a million-dollar sports book sitting around in your attic, you might well have other pieces worth a significant amount. For example, an autographed bat might be worth $200 or more. Autographed photographs can fetch anything from $100 to $1000.
What makes sports memorabilia valuable?
Besides its association with Boston and our many legendary teams, players, championships, and historic moments in sports, the value of an item depends mainly on what collectors are interested in. It’s difficult to pinpoint market trends if you aren’t already an antiques or sports memorabilia expert.
The sport itself can make a difference. For example, in the United States, baseball memorabilia (particularly baseball cards) tends to be more valuable than hockey memorabilia, whereas in Canada the reverse would be true.
As with most collectables, the condition and history of the piece will also make a big difference.
Finally, the way you sell the memorabilia can make a huge difference. If you try to sell the memorabilia on eBay or via Craigslist you’ll find people who are looking for deals. They might be passionate collectors, but they’ll have limited means. They may also know the value of the memorabilia better than you do yourself. You could end up cheating yourself out of thousands of dollars.
The best way to know what you’ve got and to sell it for maximum value is to get a professional appraisal. Then work with an auctioneer who can get your piece in front of collectors willing to pay top dollar for any pieces of value that you happen to have in your collection.
Contact us
We work with clients throughout Massachusetts and the rest of New England, both in a live-auction setting and in an online auction. If you’ve got Sox, Pats, Celtics, Bruins, or other Boston sports collectibles, Call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111, or email us.
