How much are my old baseball cards worth?

Value comes down to the player, the year, the card number and condition. Rookie cards of Hall of Fame players are the most sought after, and cards from the 1950s and earlier are scarcer than later ones because fewer survived. Condition is critical: sharp corners, clean edges, good centering and no creases make an enormous difference, and a professionally graded card in high condition can sell for many times the price of the same card in average shape.

Be realistic about cards from the late 1980s and early 1990s. Card companies printed them in huge quantities and many people saved them, so most cards from that era, even of famous players, sell for very little unless they are in top graded condition or are rare variations.

Identify each card by brand, year and number, which is usually on the back. Then look up completed sales, not asking prices, for that exact card in similar condition. For older collections or star rookie cards, a sports card dealer or auction company can help you decide what is worth grading.