Sports cards have experienced some ups and downs over the years when it comes to their popularity, from the early days when they were sold with packs of bubble gum, to the 80s and 90s when overproduction drove the value of the cards way down. But in recent days, they have experienced a huge resurgence of sorts. Seven of the ten biggest sports card sales in history have taken place in 2020 and 2021, and the record for the most expensive card ever sold has been broken twice in that span. Cards are also flying off the shelves in stores, and prices have increased due to this influx of demand.
Why the sudden interest in sports cards? Today we’re breaking down the three reasons why demand for sports cards is at an all-time high.

The Pandemic

The most obvious reason – and probably one of the biggest reasons – for the increased interest in “the hobby” is the COVID-19 pandemic. With lots of time on their hands, people are taking the time to organize that pile of sports cards that has been sitting in their attic. They are also going on eBay and adding to their collection. In fact, PSA was so overloaded with submissions at one point that they temporarily hiked up their prices to keep demand under control.

The Michael Jordan Documentary

Michael Jordan has been a hot topic over the past year with the release of his life documentary, The Last Dance. Since this release, demand for Michael Jordan collectibles has skyrocketed as a result! Collectors are paying record prices for high-grade Jordan cards, according to an article on PSA’s website. This documentary truly tapped into people’s sense of nostalgia, driving the demand for cards to a higher level.

Sports Card Influencers

Social media influencers are another factor when it comes to explaining the increased demand for sports cards. Many influencers will post videos of themselves opening packs of sports cards, giving viewers a secondhand thrill as they discover what’s inside these freshly opened packs. Charlie Parrino of JustRipIt.com sells shares of his unopened packs of sports cards and then opens them during a live broadcast, where viewers get to discover which card in the pack now belongs to them.


Sources
https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2021/5/16/22334507/sports-card-collecting-boom-explained-nft-future


https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-baseball-cards-pandemic-20210212-225ottvh4ngfjcho6qfixkqajy-story.html


https://www.psacard.com/articles/articleview/10123/player-profile-michael-jordan-last-dance-fuels-huge-increase-demand-cards-autographs
 
 

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