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The Hobby of Collecting Sports Memorabilia |
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Written by Zeke Wallace
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Monday, 23 July 2007 |
When we talk about sports memorabilia and collectibles, what immediately comes into your mind? Do you think of baseball cards or do you think of the signed jerseys, the throwback jerseys, jackets, hats, helmets, the pictures, and hero posters? Fans know that there are several ways of showing their loyalty and patronage by accumulating items of their favorite team or sports star.
People collect for other sports as well, such as NASCAR, golf, baseball, football, and basketball. Some items that are found to be fun to collect are die cast models, Bobble Heads, Hero Posters, and the newest items are The Fat Heads items. These are life-like, life-sized replicas of sports heroes that can be safely stuck to your wall. With all of the memorabilia that a fan can collect, sometimes it is no wonder that some are confused as to where to start or how to start collecting sports memorabilia and sports collectibles. Collecting any sports memorabilia or sports collectibles is a very personal hobby that has significance based more on the collector’s likes and passions as much as the accomplishments of the individual athlete or team.
For those of us who want to buy that special someone a gift that is related to their favorite athlete, team, or sport, what do we look for? If they are into baseball memorabilia, you might want to consider the New York Yankees. This baseball team is one of, if not the most famous baseball team in the world, plus their rosters from past to present has been studded with all-time greats. On the other hand, maybe they are into NASCAR. Then you have Tony Stewart, Jimmy Johnson, and lots more. We cannot ignore the unforgettable Dale Earnhardt Sr. whose memorabilia have not only doubled up but tripled after his demise, and seem to be growing in value even more each year. As with many great painters like Picasso, Earnhardt fanatics consistently decline to permit his ambition and legacy to give-up the ghost.
NASCAR collectors do not only have a wide selection of cars to choose from, but Plush Bears designed after the driver, bios, annuals, key chains, lighters, plates, and much more. You will even find out that baseball memorabilia and sports collectibles have spread into the Christmas decorations, with entire villages and decorations for the tree to the roof of your sports fan’s home.
However, there are other great sports stars as well, like Ben Roethlisberger, Shaquille O'Neil, and Nomar Garciaparra. Moreover, let us not forget the legendary Michael Jordan. Sports memorabilia collectors may or may not have realized how much throwback jerseys have influenced sports memorabilia, but in 1980, when the NBA, MLB, and NFL began selling both new and the ones used in games, the collectors wanted even more.
Die-cast collectibles have also evolved. Fire trucks were a hot item at one time, but they went around back to the muscle cars and the newfangled hotrod collectibles. Of course we always have the sports collectors who grab anything from a picture of Tiger Woods to a vintage Los Angeles Lakers team photograph. Even the seven-time conqueror of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, has an extensive fan base for memorabilia and sports collectibles.
When it comes to the monetary value of the objects you collect, remember that the more famous the star, the more costly the sports memorabilia will be. If the item can be verified as authentic in some way, that really adds to the value. Make sure you keep any items related to your sports collectible or sports memorabilia. These would consist of the original box, any messages or signatures, receipts, etc. These will all help to make the item more valuable and collectible.
Zeke Wallace is a researcher and writer for http://www.shop4collectible.com, where you can get all the best sports memorabilia at the best prices. Visit us for all your sports memorabilia.
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Memorabilia