Skip to main content

Real estate so yesterday? Investing in old sports and game cards is suddenly the rage

Share
Vancouver -

From a Wayne Gretzky rookie card to a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, to first edition Pokémon sets, memorabilia lovers are paying astounding sums to get their hands on coveted items.

The collector craze began around the start of the pandemic, and has been gaining momentum ever since. And despite the hit to the economy, the value of coveted memorabilia keeps climbing.

Ken Richardson, owner of Pastime Sports and Games in Langley, B.C., says he was preparing himself and his business for the worst when the pandemic hit. Instead, he said it’s been his most successful season in 30 years in business.

“It has exceeded expectations,” Richardson said. “We are definitely at a high point of interest, and hopefully we can keep that interest going.”

He pointed to the recent auctions of rare Wayne Gretzky rookie cards as an example. One sold in December for US$1.29 million. Five months later, another sold for $3.75 million USD.

Among his vast selection of collector items, Richardson has a Gretzky card for sale. It’s in good condition but not the much sought after Gem Mint 10. Just like his “low grade” 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, it would fetch a pretty penny, but not in the millions.

Just about everyone is spending a lot more time at home, and may be going through old boxes and finding past treasures which they then put up for sale.

Richardson said what’s in demand is cyclical. At the moment, soccer, basketball and Pokémon cards are hot.

There are many theories for this collectors gold rush. Those who still have work aren’t spending as much money on shopping or going out to eat, and may have extra cash to spend. Others are simply looking for new ways to invest.

“Many people were looking to diversify their assets and put them into things that were non-traditional,” Richardson said. 

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Quebec premier wants to ban praying in public

Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session on Friday to announce to 'Islamists' that he will 'fight' for Quebec values and possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks.

A police photographer recounts the harrowing day of the Polytechnique massacre

Montreal crime scene photographer Harold Rosenberg witnessed a lot of horror over his thirty years on the job, though nothing of the magnitude of what he captured with his lens at the Polytechnique on December 6, 1989. He described the day of the Montreal massacre to CTV Quebec Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin.

Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog

WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year.

Stay Connected