Skip to main content
Suggested Searches
Quick Links
Collections

What not to collect in sports memorabilia

basketballs on top of each other

When collecting sports memorabilia, it’s best to be selective and educated in your choices. That’s because not every item is worth the price (or will go up in value), and there is a lot of fraud in the industry today. Therefore, here are a few items you may want to avoid:

 

Many autographed items

The FBI estimates that roughly 50 percent of vintage sports memorabilia on the market is fraudulent. Other experts put the figure closer to 80 percent. With so much available online, it can be difficult to distinguish between an authentic signature and a bogus one. To ensure that you’re getting the real thing, stick to items that have been authenticated by one of the leading third-party authentication services, such as PSA/DNA or JSA.

 

Pins and pin-back buttons

Made in large quantities, pins also hold up well over time, making them an item that lots of people have. That means, they’re probably not worth much, except in sentimental value.

 

Signature-stamped pieces

Since it’s way easier to stamp a baseball (or other item) than to get it signed by a big-name player, stamped signatures are worth far less than actual autographs.

 

Pennants

These items are also never in short supply, making them worth much less than other memorabilia.

 

Books by players, coaches or managers

Unless it’s a first edition, in mint condition, and signed by the author/player, tell-all books by players and other sports celebrities probably won’t be worth what you originally paid for them.

 

Plaques

Typically mass-produced, plaques of your favorite player or team are built for kid’s rooms or man caves, not for valuable collections.

 

Video games

To see what an old sports video game is worth, just visit GameStop and try to return one. You may have fun playing it, but that doesn’t mean you can sell it for a profit.

 

This document is advisory in nature and is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional insurance advisors in maintaining a loss prevention program. It is an overview only and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your insurance broker, or for legal, engineering or other professional advice.

Chubb is the marketing name used to refer to subsidiaries of Chubb Limited providing insurance and related services. For a list of these subsidiaries, please visit our website at chubb.com. Insurance provided by ACE American Insurance Company and its U.S. based Chubb underwriting company affiliates. All products may not be available in all states. This communication contains product summaries only. Coverage is subject to the language of the policies as actually issued. Surplus lines insurance sold only through licensed surplus lines producers. Chubb, 202 Hall's Mill Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-1600.

Get a quote
Get a quote

Find an Agent

Speak to an independent agent about your insurance needs.