Assign a value to every card; Step 2. Keep a “Running Count” based off of the values of the card dealt. Blackjacks Pay 3:2 (150% of your bet), and the dealer will bust (go over 21) more often. Conversely, when a higher concentration of small cards remain, fewer blackjacks are dealt and the dealer is much less likely to bust. Sort through the trading card values of loads of PSA-certified football cards, using the PSA Price Guide. See full list on bicyclecards.com.
Baseball card collecting is a hobby that many often adopt an early age, only to continue well into their adult years. As children, young collectors learn the value of baseball cards based on the year they were produced, the player featured on the card, and the number in the set. Young baseball card collectors have grown up to become part of a knowledgeable community that has influenced baseball card collecting to this day, making it an attractive pastime for baseball lovers and collectors alike.
A Brief History of Baseball Cards
The first baseball cards were sold in the 1880s. They were packaged in cigarettes as part of an advertising campaign featuring actors, war heroes, and athletes. The tactic did not take off with adults, but resonated with children, who used the abandoned cards to start their own collections. It wasn’t until the 1930s when the Goudey Gum Company began to include baseball cards in packs of gum that companies started to target younger markets.
The Most Expensive Baseball Cards Ever Sold
Card | Card No. | Auction Price |
---|---|---|
1909–11 T206 “Jumbo” Honus Wagner | – | $3,200,000 |
1909–11 T206 “Gretzky” Honus Wagner | – | $2,800,000 |
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle | 311 | $1,135,250 |
1915-16 Sporting News M101-5 Babe Ruth | 151 | $717,000 |
1909 American Caramel E90-1 Joe Jackson | – | $667,189 |
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle | 253 | $588,000 |
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth | 151 | $575,000 |
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente | 184 | $478,000 |
1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb | – | $450,000 |
1909–11 T206 Eddie Plank | – | $414,750 |
1909-11 T206 N.Y. NAT’L Hands up Joe Doyle Misprint | – | $414,750 |
1954 Topps Henry “Hank” Aaron | 128 | $358,500 |
1938 Goudey Gum Company Joe DiMaggio | 274 | $288,000 |
1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card | 177 | $132,000 |
1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson | 103 | $108,000 |
1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb | 30 | $103,000 |
1909–11 “Jumbo” T206 Honus Wagner
Betonline cash out. Date: September 2016
Auction House: Goldin Auctions
Price Realized: $3.2 million
This Wagner card earned its value due to a mis-cut that makes it large in size with a wider white border. It earned the nickname “Jumbo” as a result.
1909–11 “Gretzky” T206 Honus Wagner
Date: April 2015
Auction House: Robert Edward Auctions
Price Realized: $2.8 million
This baseball card is the same as the “Jumbo” example, but without the mis-cut. This is because the set was distributed by the American Tobacco Company, which Wagner objected to as he likely didn’t want children to see him endorse cigarettes. As a result, only about 50-200 of T206 Honus Wagner cards, including the “Jumbo,” ever existed.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
Date: November 2016
Auction House: Heritage Auctions
![Card Card](https://spench.net/drupal/files/dual_monitor_setup.jpg)
Price Realized: $1,135,250
Mickey Mantle’s card is scarce due to the fact that fewer higher numbered cards were printed in the set.
1915-16 Sporting News M101-5 Babe Ruth
Date: August 2016
Auction House: Heritage Auctions
Price Realized: $717,000
Babe Ruth’s card is so valuable not only because it’s a rookie card, but because it shows him as a player on the Boston Red Sox before he was traded off to the New York Yankees.
1909 American Caramel E90-1 Joe Jackson
Date: August 2016
Auction House: SCP Auctions
Price Realized: $667,189
Joe Jackson was banned from baseball following the “Black Sox Scandal,” a Major League Baseball fixing incident, so there are fewer of his cards in circulation, which is why this rookie card is so valuable.
1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle
Date: August 2016
Auction House: Memory Lane Inc.
Price Realized: $588,000
Manufacturer errors make grading this rookie card for “The Mick” difficult, but in 2017 a mint condition #253 Mickey Mantle card was sold at a record price. It featured a No. 6 instead of his famed No. 7 and had a horizontal layout.
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth
Date: August 2012
Auction House: Robert Edward Auctions
Price Realized: $575,000
Both the red and blue tinted version of this “pre-rookie” featuring Babe Ruth card are considered rare. There may be as few as 10 of these cards in existence, and as a result even a low-grade grade card can sell for as much as $152,750.
1955 Topps #184 Roberto Clemente
Date: February 2016
Auction House: Heritage Auctions
Price Realized: $478,000
This Topps card’s value is driven by the popularity of the player and less by scarcity.
1909-11 T206 N.Y. NAT’L Joe Doyle Misprint
Date: August 2016
Auction House: MBA Seattle Auction House
Price Realized: $414,750
Joe Doyle’s misprint card was printed with him playing as a pitcher for the New York Highlanders of the American League. The card is incorrectly labeled “NAT’L,” which is an abbreviation for the National League.
1954 Topps Henry “Hank” Aaron
Date: May 2012
Auction House: SCP Auctions
Price Realized: $358,500
Like Roberto Clemente, this card’s value is a result of Hank Aaron’s popularity. He made 21 straight All-Star appearances in his career.
Baseball Card Price Guide
Baseball cards are appraised based on many different criteria beyond the player on the card. Factors such as condition, errors, scarcity, and print variation can also impact the price and value. Most collections typically include Topps baseball cards, the leading baseball card producer, though Donruss, Fleer, and Upper Deck were also prominent brands in the early days of baseball card collecting.
Use this guide to learn more about the different cards in your collection, and what to look for if you’re just starting out.
Player
Hall of Fame cards are typically worth more than common player cards, though there are exceptions. Often, valuable common player cards are worth more for emotional reasons, (if the player was considered a childhood idol, for example). However, in general, star players’ baseball cards have a premium compared to other players. Additionally, most player cards are worth the most when they are rookie cards, which are for players in their first year as a professional. Indiana casino reviews.
Condition
The condition of the baseball card affects the value of any card, regardless of the rarity. The condition of the card is determined by looking at the corners, edges, centering, and surfaces for wear and tear.
- Corners: The corners should have sharp edges that are well-defined. Corners that are rounded, torn, or fraying are considered to be in “poor” condition.
- Edges: The edge is assessed by turning the card sideways and looking at the edge straight on. Damage includes chips in the foil or dents. Often vintage cards were poorly cut by the manufacturer and have untidy edges.
- Centering: The centering refers to how centered the image was printed on the card. This means the borders are the exact same width on all four sides. Vintage cards will have issues with centering, as they were created before more sophisticated printing techniques existed. The less centered a card is, the lower value it is.
- Surfaces: The surface of modern baseball cards are made with glossy or metallic cardstock, so damage is easy to recognize. Creases, indents, marks, fading, scratches, or stains will devalue the card.
Graded Versus Ungraded Cards
A graded card is a baseball card that has been judged by a professional grader on the condition and authenticity. Collectors tend to pay more for graded cards versus ungraded cards, as it indicates that the card being sold is authentic.
Cards are scored on a scale from 1-10, with 1 being “poor” and 10 being “almost perfect.” Baseball cards that are ungraded make it more difficult for buyers and sellers to agree on a fair price based on the supposed condition.
Print Year
Generally, the older a baseball card is, the more value it will have. For instance, a common baseball card from 1912 will be worth more than a common card printed in 1970.
There are exceptions to this rule depending on who the player is on the card, how rare it is, and other factors such as the condition, but typically the older a card is, the more it is worth. This is because fewer of these cards exist, and many were lost or damaged over time. Additionally, since the 1980s baseball cards have been printed in massive runs, so their value is significantly lower.
Errors
When baseball cards are printed, there are often errors. These errors can often lead to price increases depending on the rarity. There are two types of errors in baseball cards, uncorrected errors and corrected errors.
Corrected errors are ones that the manufacturer notices and corrects, though not until some of the cards with the error have already been printed. As a result, the error cards before the correction are more rare because there are fewer. Uncorrected errors are when the manufacturer doesn’t notice or correct the issue.
Corrected error cards tend to result in higher than usual prices because two versions of the card exist, so collectors are willing to pay more for the uncorrected version. One of the most valuable baseball cards, the T206 Joe Doyle card, was printed to read “NAT’L” for National League, even though he was in the American League. The error was corrected, and the original “NAT’L” version is valued at $550,000.
Variations
Print variations are different than errors, as they refer to different designs and styles the card was printed with. For example, some cards can have a white font, while others have a yellow font, like the version of the 1969 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which can fetch four times the value as the white version, depending on the condition of the card.
Other variations can include different color backs and the information printed on the card back. The value of these variations is determined by their rarity.
Set Sequence
The set sequence can determine the value of a baseball card due to the print and handling process. For example, the first card in a set is located in the top left corner, where the sheet is more susceptible to damage than other cards. Additionally, this position in the set means that when stacked, the card is more exposed than others and likely to wear more over time. A well-known example of this is the 1953 Topps #1 Andy Pafko card, which is difficult to find in mint condition given its placement in the set.
Scarcity
Before the 1980s, the production of baseball cards was limited. As a result, cards before this time are worth more due to their age and their scarcity. “High number” cards that were printed at the end of the baseball season versus those printed in the summer to maintain children’s interest usually fetch more than common cards. “Short prints” are cards that were printed for a shorter run for no reason, so these can also be valued higher.
Whether you’ve just started a baseball collection or are looking to get your cards appraised, there are many factors to consider when determining value. If you bear in mind other elements such as condition, print variation, and scarcity, you may quickly find several new valuable baseball cards in your hand.
Click here to explore more baseball cards available now on Invaluable. Wondering what your baseball card is worth? Click here to have it appraised by experts.
Sources
Old Sports Cards | Athlon Sports | The Atlantic
The basics
-Number of players: three or more
-Playing time: as desired.
Oh my gods game. -Cards: standard deck, no jokers.
-Ranking: court cards count 10 points, Aces count 1 or 11 at the holder’s option, pip cards their face value. The 10s and court cards are collectively known as “tenths”
-Deal: one player acts as banker, the rest as punters. A maximum stake is agreed. The cards are shuffled at the start of play but thereafter only on a pontoon when the bank changes hands. The banker always deals.
History
This simple yet subtle gambling game, a traditional favorite of the Armed Forces, is also known as Twenty-one and, with minor modifications, as Blackjack in casinos (where the punter is strongly advised to read the house rules before venturing to play). Whilst stakes are essential for Pontoon, the game need not, of course, be played for money.
Object of the game
To hold two or more cards which together sum to 21 (ideally an Ace and a tenth, this is known as pontoon or a natural) but above 15 and as near to 21 as possible. Any hand that exceeds 21 is “bust” and loses.
Play
This takes place in a number of stages.
-The banker deals one card to each player, including sled. The punters examine their cards and bet on them. (See Stage 1).
-The banker deals a second card all round. (See Stage 2).
-The banker addresses the players in turn, who either complete their hands or are busted. (See Stage 3).
-When all punters have been accommodated, the banker’s hand is turned over. The banker is free to add cards face up to it, stopping when satisfied or is busted.
-Debts are settled. The banker pays all punters whose hands beat the banker’s hand, matching the punters’ stakes, and collects the stakes of the losing punters.
Stage 1
The punters look at their cards then put them back face down on the table, indicating their bets by placing counters beside them.
Stage 2
When all the punters have bet, banker deals a second card face down all round.
Stage 3
The banker now addresses each punter in turn, starting with Eldest. A punter has three options and a possible fourth as follows.
-Stick. The punter, whose hand must total 16 or more, elects to have no more cards. If the hand is pontoon, the Ace is turned over to indicate this.
-Twist. The punter elects to receive a third card. Banker deals this face-up off the top of the pack. If the cards, together with the two hidden cards, total more than 21, the punter is bust. The punter announces this; the banker takes up the punter’s cards and places them at the bottom of the pack, then appropriates the punter’s stake. If not busted, the punter can elect to receive further cards in the same manner until satisfied (“stick”) or bust.
-Buy. The punter opts to receive a card face down. For this privilege, the punter must bet again, but not more than the original stake. Another card or cards may subsequently be bought, or the punter can elect to twist. A bet may be decreased but never increased and a punter who elects to twist cannot subsequently buy.
If a punter has four cards and opts for a fifth in an attempt to complete a five card trick, the card is dealt face up whether the punter buys or twists. However, if the four cards total 11 or less the fifth card cannot be bought since the bonus hand is a certainty.
-Split. A punter who receives his first two cards of the same rank can elect to split them – to form two hands, one with each card. A stake equivalent to that placed on the first card is place on the second, and the banker deals another card to each hand. If there is a further match, the punter may split again. Each hand is then played out as above.
Scoring
The highest hand in some schools is a royal pontoon (three 7s), which is unbeatable and wins the punter triple stakes. However, the hand only counts as 21 if held by the banker.
Pontoon earns the punter double stakes and the right to be banker. If the pontoon is the banker’s then all punters pay double.
The next highest hand is a five card trick – five cards that together sum to less than 22. This also attracts double stakes.
The banker always wins equal hands; thus a bank’s pontoon beats any pontoon by a punter. The banker normally announces payment thus: if his hand sums to 18, he announces “Pay 19s”; i.e. any punter with a hand totally 19 or more, or a bonus hand, wins. The banker takes the stakes of the losers and pays out equivalent stakes to those bet by the winners plus any bonuses.
Tips on how to win Pontoon
The banker wins on equal hands and therefore has a large advantage, to the extent of sometimes ending in credit on a round despite going bust. Furthermore, the banker will often be able to hazard a shrewd guess at some player’s totals from the cards they twisted. So the simplest advice for the Pontoon player is – get the bank if you can.
As a punter, however, you do have one or two benefits. Most importantly, you can scale your bets and you need only increase the original stake when the prospects look good.
Card counting comes in handy and as a general guide, buy when your two cards total 11 or less but twist when they total 12 or more (there are 16 tenths in the pack and they have a habit of coming up when you don’t want them). Basic strategy shows it is generally prudent to stick on 16, but if holding four cards the gamble of taking a fifth card may be worth it.
An observant punter with a good memory has a decided advantage. Since the pack is only shuffled on a pontoon (or change of bank) it is sometimes possible to foretell the next card, or at least to calculate the rough odds of receiving a low card or a tenth for example.
A punter’s guide to Pontoon
Betting (scale 1-5) 1st card | Splitting Pair of: |
A -5 | A – Yes |
2 -3 | 2 – Marginal |
3 -2 | 3 – Marginal |
4 -1 | 4 – No |
5 -1 | 5 – No |
6 -1 | 6 – No |
7 -2 | 7 – No |
8 -2 | 8 – Yes |
9 -3 | 9 – Marginal |
Tenths -4 | Tenths – No |
An Example Hand of Pontoon
Banker and five punters. The minimum bet is 1 and the maximum bet 5.
S= stick; T= twist; B= bust.
21 Card Values Image
E elects to split his pair of deuces, so two hands: (i) and (ii). E may not bet on his fourth card of E(ii) as the five-card trick cannot be defeated. Nonetheless, the dealer would turn over a fifth card to complete the hand.
21 Card Values Kelley Blue Book
Banker announces “Pay 19s”. A (21) wins two, B (17) loses five, C (19) wins four, D (bust) loses one, E (18) loses six and (five card trick) wins 12.
Variants
The game has no significant variants, but many minor variations in the play and betting rules are encountered. A common one is that on examining the first bank card banker may double the stakes. Another common rule is that a split pontoon does not win the bank.
21 Card Values Calculator
A two-player game called Quinze has 15 as the limit hand, played to a standard stake. Ace is low and all cards are dealt face down. A player may stick on one card. If hands are equal, stakes are doubled for the next round. The deal alternates.
Card Values In 21
In Blackjack and related casino card games such as Baccarat, the house always runs the bank and as such has a house edge.