Collecting autographed sports memorabilia is a fun hobby for most sports fans. To others, it has become a serious business. There are two components that draw people to collecting baseball cards, jerseys and just about every other item signed by a star in a major sport.

The first reason that people like to collect autographed sports memorabilia is that it gives them a connection to their favorite players or sports heroes. The second reason is as an investment. Signed items, particularly rare items, can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars to collectors.

Collecting for the Love of the Sport

Most sports memorabilia collectors start out very young when they first develop an interest in sports. They may play Little League Baseball or some other sports and then get interested in the professional teams. When they go to their first game with their father, they may try to get an autograph from their favorite player. Once they get that first signature on their scorecard, they are usually hooked.

As a young collector, you have a better chance of going up to a player and getting them to sign your baseball cap, glove or some other game-related item. Most players are happy to sign an autograph for a 7 year old because they know they are not going to turn around and immediately try to sell the item on eBay.

The fact that some players rarely sign autographs or only sign them at shows where you are required to pay for the signature, has taken some of the appeal out of the autographed sports memorabilia hobby. You can call it business, but it really represents a loss of innocence.

Collecting as an Investment

Rare jewels in the world of autographed sports memorabilia can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you are lucky enough to own an autographed baseball signed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the 1927 Yankees, it could be worth a small fortune. A football signed by legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne can also be worth a great deal of money.

Not every signed item is worth a king\’s ransom, but they still do have some value. Value depends upon the rarity of the item. It also depends on the demand for the item and the condition of the item. Most importantly, in order for a signed piece of memorabilia to be worth anything, the signature must be able to be certified as authentic.

Unfortunately, ever since the sports memorabilia industry became a multi-billion dollar industry, there have been many attempts to forge signatures and pass off fake items as the real thing. Before buying any piece of sports memorabilia with a signature, it is important to have proof that the signature is authentic. Most reputable shops that sell such items are very reputable and take steps to make sure everything they sell is indeed authentic. If you are buying an expensive item, you should insist on a certificate of authenticity from an independent sports memorabilia appraiser.

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Author Bio: Looking for a Signed hockey jerseys? Be sure to visit the biggest selection of Sports memorabilia Toronto online to get your favourite signed treasures.

Category: Sports
Keywords: sports, hobbies, leisure, shopping, computer, memorabilia, recreation, business,autographed,signed