Early Baseball Memorabilia Auctions

Modern baseball cards and memorabilia aren’t generally worth much at auction, but very old pieces, like those from the 1800s, tend to do very well at auction, especially if they’re in excellent condition.

Early baseball memorabilia can include posters, trophies, tickets, art, baseball cards, pennants, uniforms, and other memorabilia. We’ve even seen old baseball board games fetch high prices at auction. Baseball is the classic American sport, and there are many enthusiasts and collectors eager to expand their collections.

Central Mass Auctions can help you sell your early baseball memorabilia at auction (live or online) for all it is worth.  You can contact us now, or read on to find out more about the potential value of your piece or collection.

How much is early baseball memorabilia worth?

In general, we’re referring to pieces from the 1800s to the 1900s.  Here in Red Sox Nation, a good rule of thumb is: if your piece belonged to a player who played on or may have played against the Boston Braves, it’s probably worth something.

If you have a piece from that long-ago era you may be surprised to find out how much it can sell for. For example, a well-preserved poster from the right era, that features the right players, could be worth as much as $100,000.

What if you have an autographed baseball? It depends on the player. An authentic signed baseball might go for several hundred dollars. The clarity of the signatures and the provenance of the ball could make a difference in the pricing. Vintage gloves can also go for anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars.

If you have a great deal of memorabilia, those smaller pieces can add up. Don’t haul your collection to the Goodwill bin because you don’t have one big “home run” item. 

How can I sell early baseball memorabilia?

Before you get excited and before you dismiss what you have it’s important to get an appraisal. If you don’t collect this memorabilia yourself and if you are not an antiques expert it is very easy to either overprice or undervalue the memorabilia that you have.  Next, you need to work with an auctioneer who can get you in front of the right collectors.

A collectible is really only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. Serious collectors don’t scan eBay and Craigslist. They attend auctions like ours, where the demand for certain items can drive up the prices, benefiting you and ensuring your items are ultimately treated with respect. 

Start selling your early baseball memorabilia

Contact Central Mass Auctions to schedule your free appraisal today. We’ll help you present, position, market, and move your baseball memorabilia. Together, we’ll knock your baseball memorabilia auction out of the park.

For the safety of both our buyers and sellers, all of our auctions are online (for now). We will still appraise, transport, handle, and market your items for you.