Even before the Patriots were any good, football has been part of New England life for many, and we have a decades-long comet trail of fascinating and valuable collectibles to show for it. Likewise for the rest of the teams and the rest of the country: Professional football has been a part of the American sports landscape since 1876, when the first rules for American football were written. To many, football is the great American sport, with the NFL season surpassing even baseball in the hearts and minds of its enthusiasts.
It’s not hard to imagine how your old football memorabilia might be worth something, perhaps more than you think. The football memorabilia market is as active as ever, which makes it a great time to see whether your item or collection can make it into the endzone and add a few points to your scoreboard.
What kinds of football memorabilia is valuable to collectors?
Collectors look for every kind of memorabilia you can think of, including signed footballs, pennants, jerseys, football cards, helmets, photographs, ticket stubs, and more. They build all sorts of collections and have all sorts of reasons for collecting. Some focus on the history of football while others hyper-focus on specific teams.
Of course, the whole ballgame is to get your pieces in front of collectors who are willing to pay for what you’re offering.
How much is football memorabilia worth?
It just depends on the piece. A 1921 Green Bay Packers Franchise Certificate once sold for $19,550 recently, and a Patriots AFC Championship Game Deflategate-era ball sold for $43,750.
The value of smaller pieces can add up. A signed helmet might be worth $300 to $1000 or even more. A signed, framed jersey in good condition could go for $100 to $500 even if it isn’t signed by a Hall of Fame player.
You’ll need an expert to help you determine the value of your own collection.
What makes a piece of football memorabilia valuable?
The best pieces are associated with or signed by Hall of Fame members. You might also have an outstanding piece on your hands if it relates to some historic or memorable date in the sport. As with all antiques and vintage items, the condition of the memorabilia matters a great deal.
Finally, you’ll want to look at the era. Pieces from the 1800s and 1900s tend to be the most valuable, with more modern pieces fetching large prices only if they were attached to historic seasons, games, teams, players, or moments.
Contact us
You don’t have to do guesswork about whether your football memorabilia is worth anything. You also don’t have to go through all the work and headache of selling it yourself.
We work with clients throughout Massachusetts and the rest of New England, both in a live-auction setting and in an online auction. Call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111, or email us.
