Remember checklist cards? Before the days of the Internet, the only way to know which players you were hunting for in your packs was by reading those boring, yet super-helpful checklist cards. Placing a big check mark right onto the card was how you knew whether you needed a Don Mattingly All-Star card or if you found yourself a double. Our once-savvy actions as kids now make those same checklist cards desirable and valuable!
Keeping track of your card collections today is pretty simple. There are websites, apps, and set registries such as PSA. Before this thing we call the Internet came around, there was only one way to know which players were going to appear on your cards and how to keep track of your collecting while building the complete set - the checklist card.
Checklist cards were often included in sets. A boring, bland list of card numbers and respective player names. The main purpose was to place a check next to the player to indicate you had that card. GASP! Writing on a sports card? Yep. Growing up, that's how we knew whether we needed card #300 or had a double to trade. While helpful to you and I back in the day, now those same checklist cards could be valuable. Nearly EVERY collector marked up the checklists so now an UNMARKED checklist might be tough to find, commanding a premium price.
VAULABLE CHECKLIST CARDS
The 1986-87 Fleer basketball set is home of the iconic Michael Jordan rookie card. The last card in the set is the checklist. A PSA 10 copy sold for $4,850 last month! A PSA 9 is valued around $1,000 now. Even an ungraded copy in VG/EX condition is worth around $20.
1969 Topps baseball marked the last time Mickey Mantle was featured during his playing career. The didn't play a regular season game having retired just as Spring Training was opening up in 1969. Topps still included Mantle in their release so not only did he receive a base card (#500), Mantle is also featured on checklist #412. Recently a PSA 9 sold for $514.99.
You'd think by 1996 kids like us would have stopped writing on cards. Actually, the value here is attributed more to the value of a Kobe Bryant rookie card that hides in this release. A box of 20 packs with 4 cards per pack is around $30,000. Refractors fall 1 in 12 packs, so a high-grade refractor is valuable. A PSA 9 checklist sold for $525.67!
The Great One made his debut this year. Wayne Gretzky rookie cards are highly-sought after items, driving the value of the 1979-80 OPC set price. In a grade of PSA 8, a checklist sold last month for $323.06.
These are only a handful of checklists worth a pretty penny. Checklists to be on the lookout for would be those that are unmarked, from iconic sets, released in higher series (later in the set), and those that feature hall of fame players. While marked cards do hold value the key for checklists is an unmarked card. Make sure to check your collections; you could have a diamond in the rough.
If you're interested in selling a collection, we are buying! Maybe you just found an unmarked checklist from the 1969 Topps Basketball set and would like to sell. Did you know that card in a PSA 8 recently sold for $5,355?We'd love to hear from you, and we offer a FREE appraisal.
WE ARE ALWAYS BUYING
Just Collect is always buying vintage sports and non-sports cards from 1879 to 1979 as well as select modern cards. If you have a collection that you are considering selling, contact us today to discuss or get our industry-leading purchase offer. If you have a collection that you want appraised, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your collection and help you understand the real cash value of your collection in the current marketplace. Check out the Just Collect Buy List.
We always offer a FREE APPRAISAL for your collection here at the Just Collect site. Just click here:
We offer may ways to evaluate your cards other than or using our website, too.
If you can make the trip here like the son from my hometown did for this collection- we can make a deal at the office. We once met a father-son duo that drove eight hours from Virginia to meet us to sell a Michael Jordan rookie card stored in Tupperware since 1986 - great read here.
We keep a LIST of card shows we'll be attending. Come stop by the Just Collect table and chat.
If you have a valuable collection and want us to come to you, we'll hop on the next plane out.
We have another location in New York you can meet us at; read all the information here.
If you choose to mail your cards for an appraisal, we will evaluate your cards for FREE still. If you choose not to sell the cards, we'll ship them back shipping fees paid by us! We can offer our FedEx account with 2-day shipping, fully insured, all covered by us. Simply contact the office to set up this option.
OUR BUYING PHILOSOPHY
We've run into a wide range of people and collections over the last 25 years. Although Just Collect is known for buying vintage sports cards and especially vintage baseball cards, we are also extremely interested in buying non-sports cards, too!
Every collection and every collector is different and we treat EVERY collection with the respect and attention that we show for our own collections. We understand that many have put their heart and souls into building their collections. So when you're ready to sell, we understand the feelings that you're going through and will work with you to help you reach a decision that is a WIN/WIN, because if you're not happy, we're not happy.
CONTACT US ANY TIME
Whether you have vintage cards or modern wax you want to sell, you can reach out to us any time!