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Sport Memorabilia Analysis

While on vacation in Orlando, FL I stepped into an annual sports memorabilia convention. If you are like me and are into sport memorabilia, specifically game-used Memorabilia you would have loved to see this store. Game-used memorabilia is usually balls or articles of clothing that were used during an actual sporting event. The most common things requested are usually a game-worn jersey and autographed baseballs. I actually purchased a game-used jersey that was worn by Cal Ripken Jr, the very famous Baltimore Orioles shortstop, during a home game on the third of July in 1985. He was one of my heroes as a child.

This place had literally everything and I mean literally everything. Looking for a baseball autographed by the entire 1929 Chicago White Soxs? How about a jersey worn by any record holder you can think of? Even if you are looking for an obscure, not so famous player, I’d say a sport memorabilia convention is your best bet at finding it.

I have always been drawn in by baseball memorabilia in particular since I am a big follower of the sport. However, the convention did not just showcase baseball items. It had options from the more popular sports like basketball, football, golf and tennis to the less popular such as lacrosse, wrestling and swimming. The assortment was incredible and overwhelming. The place itself was so big it was hard to take in all at once. A veteran collector would know his or her way around the place but a beginner would probably need some time to get his or her bearings.

The place was so large that it was overwhelming. You did not know where to look. A regular collector probably knows his way around though but I was still just an amateur. Collecting is an investment and like all investments has a level of risk involved. Some of the great players of today might get injured and not be able to finish the great career they were expected to. Acceptance into the hall of fame is an automatic large boost in the value of collectables for that player and if a player is not able to finish out their entire career due to an injury that can kill your investment. Other things can like poor personal character or illegal activities can also hurt a player’s career and your investment.

Take Roberto Alomar, for example, who spit in the face of an umpire or Pete Rose who was caught gambling on baseball and given a lifetime ban. If you were holding some game-used memorabilia of these players during these down times then you surely took a hit to your investment. Whether you are in it for the fun or the money I strongly urge you to check out a sports memorabilia convention like the one I attended in Orlando. You will not be disappointed.