| When you think of baseball memorabilia and sports | | | | When it comes to NASCAR, you might want to not |
| collectibles, do you think of baseball cards or do you | | | | only look into the cars, but Plush Bears designed |
| think of the signed jerseys, the throwback jerseys, | | | | after the driver, year books and autobiographies, key |
| jackets, hats, helmets, the pictures, and hero | | | | chains and lighters, plates, glasses, clocks and more |
| posters? Well, there are many ways to show your | | | | for your home. You will even find out that baseball |
| support by collecting items of your favorite team or | | | | memorabilia and sports collectibles have spread into |
| player. | | | | the Christmas decorations with entire villages and |
| People collect for other sports as well, such as | | | | decorations for the tree to the roof of your sports |
| baseball, NASCAR, basketball, football, golf. Some | | | | fan's home. |
| items that are found to be fun to collect are die cast | | | | However, there are other great sports stars as well, |
| models, Bobble Heads, Hero Posters and the newest | | | | including sports greats like Ben Roethlisberger, |
| items are The Fat Heads items. These are life-like, | | | | Shaquille O'Neil, and Nomar Garciaparra. Moreover, let |
| life-sized replicas of sports heroes that can be safely | | | | us not forget the ever-resounding Michael Jordan. |
| stuck to your wall. With all of the things you can | | | | When throwback jerseys were mentioned, you may |
| collect, it is no wonder that some are confused as to | | | | or may not have realized how much these have |
| where to start or how to start collecting sports | | | | influenced sports memorabilia, but in 1980, when the |
| memorabilia and sports collectibles. Collecting any | | | | NBA, MLB, and NFL began selling both new and the |
| sports memorabilia or sports collectibles is a very | | | | ones used in games, it pushed the collectors to |
| personal hobby that has value based more on the | | | | wanting even more. |
| individuals likes and passions as much as the success | | | | The die cast scene has changed as well. Fire trucks |
| of the individual player or team. | | | | were a hot item at one time, but they have revolved |
| For those of us who want to buy that special | | | | back to the older muscle cars and the newer hotrod |
| someone something unique related to their favorite | | | | collectibles. Then we have the over all baseball |
| NASCAR driver, basketball, baseball, football or golf | | | | memorabilia and sports collectors who grab anything |
| player, team, or sport, what do you look for? If they | | | | from a picture of Tiger Woods to Los Angeles |
| are into baseball memorabilia, you might want to | | | | Lakers for basketball, or the Indianapolis Colts, the |
| consider the St Louis Cardinals. They not only won | | | | NFL Super Bowl Champions. Even the seven-time |
| the World Series in 2006 but they also have some of | | | | champion of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, |
| the all time greats like Alber Pujols, Scott Rolen, and | | | | has a strong following for memorabilia and sports |
| Yadier Molina. On the other hand, maybe they are | | | | collectibles. |
| into NASCAR. Then you have Dale Earnhardt Jr., | | | | When it comes to the value of the items you collect, |
| Tony Stewart, and the reigning champion Jimmy | | | | remember that the more famous the star, the more |
| Johnson. Maybe your sports fanatic is a woman. Well, | | | | expensive the baseball memorabilia and sports |
| she may like Danica Patrick who has taken Indy | | | | collectible items will be. If the item can be verified as |
| Racing Leagues by storm. We cannot forget the late | | | | authentic in some way, that really adds to the value. |
| and great Dale Earnhardt Sr. whose collectibles have | | | | Make sure you keep any items related to your |
| not only doubled but tripled since his death and seem | | | | sports collectible or sports memorabilia. These would |
| to be growing in value even more each year. As with | | | | include the original box, any correspondence or |
| many great painters like Picasso, Earnhardt fans | | | | signatures, receipts, etc. These will all help to make |
| refuse to allow his dream and legacy to die. | | | | the item more valuable and collectible. |