Factors Affecting Price Of Sports Cards – An Overview

Player featured on the card: Cards of players who have earned an Iconic stature such as Mantle cost much more and at times even double the amount of any other cards in that set.
Condition: The condition of the card is a very important factor affecting its desirability. No matter how ancient and rare a card, it may not be worth much if it is bent or creased. Cards are graded based on their condition as poor to mint or very good condition. Some cards may have printing defects, defects in the way they have been cut but most defects in the cards develop due to improper storage.
Age: The age of the card is one of the factors affecting price of sports cards. Some cards may not have been of much value when they were printed way back in the early 1930's but may be worth quite a bit if they have been well preserved over the years.
Manufacturer: It is always said that cards manufactured by brand names such as Topps, Fleer, Upper deck etc. fetch a higher price.
Autograph: Autographed cards also seem to increase the price of the cards. Ancient autographed cards have to be purchased with care as there is not much hope of authenticating the signature if there is a doubt. Autographed cards that have been certified by the brand name that markets them may fetch a higher price.
Scarcity: Some cards are printed in limited editions and these cards fetch a higher price.
Demand: Some cards such as the Mantle card are incredibly popular and in demand even today which is why the price of the card is comparatively higher.
Future Potential: The future potential for further growth is a factor that may influence the price of a card. Some current rookie players who had a great show in a couple of games may have a higher priced card where as if a rookie did not perform as expected the price of his cards may nose dive to incredibly dirt cheap prices.
Professional Grading: Professional grading is one of the factors affecting price of sports cards. The higher the grading of the card the higher its price. Many firms offer professional grading services to help keen sports card buyers.