Now is a great time to buy signed sports memorabilia.
Though, some recent sales suggest there’s a strong market for sellers to cash in on too.
Almost every year now we see new records set in the sector.
The web means it's never been easier to buy signed sports shirts, cards, programmes, tickets and trophies to celebrate your favourite teams and players.
Earlier in 2024, $24.1 million was spent on Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey setting another new high for any item of sports memorabilia.
What’s the return on that item?
It sold in 2005 for $940,000.
I make that a nearly 2,500% increase.
Wow.
Babe Ruth leads the way in value.
The mechanics of value in signed sports memorabilia
That Babe Ruth shirt wasn’t signed, but it stands at the pinnacle of value in sports memorabilia so the reasons why it is so valuable are interesting.
First of all:
Rarity: it’s a unique, one-off item from a storied moment in US baseball and popular culture history. It was described as a “Mona Lisa” when it was sold.
Authenticity: This is the foundation on which all value rests. In order to prove this jersey was not just Ruth’s, but the jersey he wore on the day of the Called Shot, high tech photo-matching was used.
Condition quality: Had Ruth’s shirt been torn to shreds after the game it would have lost some, but not all, of its allure. But this one was in great condition, and it was obvious to even the untrained eye that it would make a wonderful display piece.
Legend: Another Babe Ruth shirt sold for $5.6 million in 2019. The main difference? The story. The Called Shot is the most famous moment in baseball history, and it was caught on camera and captured the eye of newspaper reporters at the 1932 World Series game where Ruth possibly - maybe probably - indicated where he was going to hit the next pitch; and then hit it there.
Sport is a phenomenon of moments, of heroes.
Bobby Moore in action. The trailing Scotland player can only make this image more attractive to nostalgic England fans.
The most valuable football shirt? A Maradona one. But specifically, the Hand of God jersey.
And it carries that name although it’s also the shirt in which the Argentinian number 10 scored probably the greatest ever world cup goal too.
That’s the legend you see.
What is sports memorabilia?
We’re looking at a very broad category here.
If it’s associated with a sport or with a sportsperson then it’s sporting memorabilia.
To go back to the list of the most expensive ever items of sports memorabilia, alongside the shirts and the trophies you’ll find the Olympics Manifesto, a document that started a movement.
When it comes to signed articles, you’re likely to encounter shirts, jerseys or uniforms most of all.
But also programmes, tickets, certificates, possibly other items of sports equipments, like footwear.
Signed bats and balls are very popular among baseball collecting communities. Likewise cricket.
It was the main tool of his trade, so why not enjoy a signed Pele boot? Click through to buy it now.
Then there is the phenomenon of card collecting.
Collectible cards have been produced for a number of sports since the 19th century.
They started as a cheap way to make a product - initially cigarettes, later sweets, especially bubble gum - more attractive.
They were aimed at children, who were encouraged to collect team sets of players, or - famously and destructively - to stick them in the spokes of their bicycles to mimic a motor.
Later, album collecting was introduced with self-adhesive stickers, of which Panini are the most famous brand.
All of these cards were produced in massive numbers.
But, a select few become extremely valuable in their own right.
The attrition of time reduces their numbers. And, no child in the early 20th century had any idea that the free, disposable but of card they got with their sweets might one day have value.
Like any collectible, value is most often to be found around items that are rare or that commemorate great achievements or debuts.
And sports collecting cards signed by their subject can be very valuable.
One of the most valuable cards is a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps, and a signed example of that is available now online with a $150,000 opening bid.
Authenticity and provenance in signed sports memorabilia
If you’re a regular on these blogs much of this will be familiar to you.
Anyone shopping for memorabilia, and particularly shopping online, needs to be aware of the basics of authentication and provenance.
Naturally, a decent knowledge of your rights as a consumer and how they operate online is good.
Memorabilia relies on authenticity for its value.
With signed memorabilia you may have two items to authenticate - an autograph, and an item on which it is signed.
I’d suggest that for most people the autograph is the main thing.
But, if an item has significant rarity value because of the circumstances around the item that is signed then that too would need to be authenticated.
For example, that Maradona “Hand of God” shirt was subject to some controversy when a member of the little Argentinian genius’s family claimed the shirt for sale was the one he had worn in the first half only of the game.
That would still be a significant item. But it wouldn’t have been the Hand of God shirt.
It took photo matching to prove that England midfielder Steve Hodge was selling a shirt that he had collected at the end of the game.
(Hodge can claim an assist on the goal, so it’s only fair he should get to sell the shirt.)
What a lovely memento of one of the greatest golfers, with a clear, handsome signature. Click to buy the Jack Nicklaus signed golf hat now.
So, if it’s key that a signed shirt is a shirt that was worn in a particular game then that’s something you should ask for certification or authentication of.
The truth is, that very high-value items being sold through the biggest auction houses may come with photomatching, at some level in most cases there is going to be an element of trusting someone’s word in such matters.
That’s where provenance comes in.
That just means the story of the item.
If you’re spending on signed sports memorabilia you should ask to see as much paperwork as you can with the item.
The gold standards of proof?
A photograph of the item being signed. A written letter of authenticity from the signer.
This unusual item - a school Bible - traces back to Bobby Charlton's childhood and illuminates the character of the boy who was set to be an England and Manchester United legend. Click to buy it.
In the absence of that a trail of purchases that takes it back to someone who was close to that person.
Or who can prove they were at the relevant fixture.
Receipts for purchases.
But, the best defence you have is relying on the trusted expertise of others.
You can find some expert, third-party authentication certification.
And good, honest dealers - like us - will show you that they have done their research and offer protections - we have a money back guarantee.
Buy signed sports memorabilia now
You can buy sports memorabilia from us here and now.
And other signed items.
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