Sports Card Radio Blog

Buying a beautiful multi-color patch or swatch jersey card on eBay is always exciting as these cards seem few and far between when opening up packs or boxes. Typically these cards sell for a premium over just plain or single color jerseys cards making them very popular with collectors.

With prices sometimes hitting the $1,000’s for NFL logo’s or Reebok or Laundry Tag style jersey cards, the money is huge. Whenever you have big money, you undoubtedly have crooks.

One of the best ways to identify Fake Jersey Cards is to visit a large forum of sports card collectors. I visit as many boards as I can (even if its just to read what others are saying) and I see the threads about fake jersey cards.

Check out this thread at Sports Card Forum for an example of what I’m talking about.

Starting a thread like this when you’re about to spend some decent money on a card might not be a bad idea. Collectors have seen a lot of these cards and they’ll be able to give you their best advice if they think it is fake.

3 Things To Know About Spotting Fake Jersey Cards

1. Larger print run jersey cards #/100, #/250 …ect tend to NOT have patches and NEVER league logo’s (at least I haven’t seen something like that) These patches and logo’s on the jersey’s are saved for low print run cards (25 or less) or expensive high end products like Exquisite, National Treasures, SP Authentic…ect.

2. Sellers with poor feedback. If they do something like make fake jersey cards….they’re doing other shady things and their feedback should reflect that. Also sellers with auctions or stores just filled with nice patch jersey cards. Sure, there are sellers that have nice eBay stores..but not every card will be a patch.

3. Common sense. If someone is selling a Patch/Logo jersey card for less than what you’ve seen it go at auction before…it might be fake. If the jersey piece doesn’t fit tight under the edges of the cutout of the card, be careful. The card companies do a nice job making cards these days, the jersey fits tight under the window they cut out.

Hope these tips help the next time you get one of these nice trading cards. Jersey and Patch cards are really nice and you want to make sure you get the real thing when you spend the hard earned money on it.

Check out a show I did a while back on the subject of Fake Jersey Cards over at Sports Card Radio Show #7 Fake Jersey Cards + Prospects

Good luck with your collections, have fun but be careful out there.

1: Sell or Trade some of your collection

Even if you get pennies on the dollar for your common trading cards, pennies do add up! Find a player, team, brand, sport, era….ect… that you are interested in (it could be many things) and collect those cards until you max out your visa. Everything else, I say sell it. There are many ways to sell your cards, I have done a few podcasts on the topic. Check them out below if you are interested.

Show #28 The 3 P’s of Selling Your Sports Cards

Show #2 Selling Your Sports Cards

2. Buy During The “Off-Season”

It seems like there is no off season in sports these days and if you collect multiple sports there is always a regular season to follow. If you are serious about collecting a certain player, team or sport what does it matter if you have the cards 6-12 months later? (or longer) You save money because there will be new product on the market and new RC’s that tend to drive up sports card prices in the first or current year of release. Last years product is like a year old BMW, great car…drives as well as any car on the road…but its not “New” The other difference is probably about $10,000 and the same thing happens in sports cards. Obviously 1/1 and special cards need to be purchased when they come up, however more common jersey and autograph cards can be had for less in the off-season.

3. Set A Budget

Sounds boring…but tell me any great money making (and saving) business that doesn’t have a budget? I’m not trying to say that you should run your collection like a business but we can learn from the power of budgeting. The easiest place to start is make a guess at how much money you have to spend each month on cards. Once you get that $$ down give that to yourself every month for your trading card collection. If you don’t spend as much simply carry that amount over to the next month, just try not to go over. Modify you sports card budget as other things in life give/take more money from your pocket…but always have a dollar amount you can spend every month. This will help you be more choosy when shopping…and keep you from overspending. Plus it will help focus your collection and eliminate cards that you don’t really want or need.

4. Check eBay

Even if you don’t buy your sports cards eBay or rarely do. Check the prices on their site. It gives you a decent idea what the market is for the trading card or box you are looking to buy.

5. Have Fun Just have fun collecting whatever you decide to collect. Every great sports card collector goes through ups and downs but the main thing is to have fun. If a RC or Player you collect doesn’t pan out, don’t be discouraged…there is always another card to move on to. Enjoy the cards you cherish and pass on the ones you don’t want to someone that will cherish them. .

Send me an e-mail with your tips: sportscardshow@gmail.com

Here is another podcast I’ve done on saving some green when buying sports trading cards:

Show #29 Tips on “Buying Low”

More Insider Sports Card Hobby Tips

I found out that I got a new job the other day. After being unemployed for over a year you can probably imagine how excited I was!

One of the first things that came to mind was what cards will I want to buy now that I probably will have a little extra spending money for my PC. Here are my wish lists that I’m going to try and pick up once the checks start rolling in!

Magic Johnson Autograph
I’ve always been a big fan of Magic and never had one of his Autograph cards. I’ve seen many on eBay in the $40-$50 range and I will try to find a nice one in that price range.

Madison Bumgarner Autograph
I don’t think he will get a call-up this year, so its possible his autographs will soften in the off-season. Either way I don’t see them going up much unless he does get a shot in the majors. But if he doesn’t make it up to the Giants then I will try to scoop an auto in the winter.

A Box Of Cards
I’ve bought thousands of boxes of cards…but probably have opened less than 10 in my lifetime! I used to sell on eBay and when I had a card store. I’d like to be the one opening now, and I’ll probably try my luck at a Football box before the year is up.

That’s about it, I’m sure I’ll have more to add as I start trolling eBay and other places to buy cards. I’ll still be a tight wad and look for the deal but that’s my style and how I shop.

I’ll keep you posted over at Sports Card Radio

Good Luck With Your Own Collections!!

I have applied to my fair share of sports card wholesale and distributor outlets. Most are really great and are looking to help you make money.

I made a list of all the ones that I know and will be adding more as I find them.

See My List Here Over At Sports Card Radio

Check them out even if you don’t buy wholesale just so you know what kind of wholesale outlets are out there.

www.sportscardradio.com

sportscardshow@gmail.com

As if you needed more reasons to tune in!!

We will be running several contests over the coming months thanks to a generous NinerFan!!!

Keep Tabs on the show by listening at: www.sportscardradio.com

And The Fan Forum (which will have its own exclusive contests as well) www.sportscardradio.com/forum

Thanks! Here is a sneak peak of some of the cards being given away FREE!

On a personal note, my Playstation 3 has been broken for about 6 months. After shelling out $160 a week later I had a brand new 60G at my door (not too bad considering I had a 20G)

I only have NBA 2K9 which is a bit old at this point but I haven’t played it yet so I’m having fun with it. I plan on getting the new UFC game that has come out and maybe get a used copy of GTA4 so I can play online.

BENGALS ON HBO!!!
HBO runs a series called Hard Knocks where they cover an NFL’s team training camp. I was happy to hear the Bengals were selected!! I’ll have to find it on the internet or somewhere so I can catch it as I don’t have TV let alone HBO, however it will be fun to catch that when it run in August I think.

I like that they will have camera’s around because it may get them to focus and be on point while at camp instead of going through the motions. Even super-star athletes know when the lights are on and no one wants to look silly on TV.

That’s about it!

Check Out Our Website!

This month’s contest runs until the last day of May!

100% FREE – NO MONEY – Box Break Spots are up for grabs!

Visit: www.sportscardradio.com/forum

Find the Contest section, and get your spot. If you are not a member…Sign up, and send me an e-mail: sportscardshow@gmail.com with your user name.

The rest is in the forum! ALL FREE, ALL FOR FUN!!

Get in before it fills up!

I’m not big on judging the NFL draft before the guys get to play, and I won’t here for the Bengals.

However with the 6th pick, I’m hoping we didn’t blow it again with Andre Smith. If this guy doesn’t get in shape he’ll be a bigger bust than Ki-Jana ever was.

Taking some risks is cool if you’ve proven that you can control the kids…Marvin has proven that he can’t and we better start hoping things are turning around instead of going further downhill.

Made it to my first minor league game in quite some time yesterday. I was excited to see the SJ Giants because there team is loaded with highly touted SF Giants Prospects.

Buster Posey
Madison Bumgarner (who pitched)
Angel Villalona are the players I was most excited to see.

Madison pitched well, giving up only one run. I’m no pitching expert but he cocks the ball kind of funny behind his body as he is about to throw, maybe it helps make his motion tougher to pick up, I’m not sure. I thought he looked sharp and ready to probably start facing some AA talent. His pick-off move is excellent.

Buster Posey banged one off the center field wall for a double and looked great behind the plate. His only miscue was having the bat fly out of his hands after a big cut at a fastball during his last AB.

Angel Villalona looked like a professional at the ripe age of 19. An RBI single and a Solo Blast to left field were his offensive highlights. I was impressed with his balance at the plate. Defensively he was impressive catching two high pop-ups on the first base line in front of the dugout. It was impressive because its a ballpark he’s never played in before and it was a windy day in Stockton and balls were tailing toward the outfield on all pop-ups. He looks like the real deal already.

I had Row 3 Seats along the 3B Side

The SF Giants Future Superstar....We Hope!

One Lanky Left Hander!

My Camera Wasn't Very Good When The Sun Went Down!

Stretch It Out!

Buster Posed & Madison Bumgarner Going To Warm-Up

Buster on Second after his 2B