Ted Williams rookie baseball card — potentially worth thousands of dollars — found hidden in the walls of an old barn house in New Hampshire. Why collectibles hold such high value
Sometimes fortunes are found in unexpected places. In the case of Toni Pappas, a treasure trove of baseball cards were found hidden in the walls of her old barn house while contractors worked to restore the home.
Among the 52 trading cards unearthed — all dated from the late 1930s to early 1940s — was a 1939 Play Ball rookie card of Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams.
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“Right away, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, those were Billy’s cards,’” Pappas told WMUR-TV on Aug. 4. She and her late husband had lived in the Manchester, New Hampshire, home for many years, and it’s also where he grew up.
“I can reminisce and imagine my husband at 10 or 12 years old. He was looking at all these cards, playing with them, trading them off with other kids, and probably dreaming that he’d be a great athlete someday.”
Indeed, Billy had a stellar athletic career, playing baseball, basketball and football at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and being named to the athletics department’s Hall of Fame. He also joined the Air Force, where he played football.
But outside of their value as precious mementos, the dug-up cards are also potentially worth thousands of dollars.
Why collectibles hold high value
Many people start collections out of a fascination for a certain topic or passion. A sports fan might collect trading cards for their love of the game, while others may collect high-end products like watches for their nuance and elegance.
Certain items can become desirable over time — and thus very expensive. The value of a collection can grow based on the original production rarity and the scarcity of the items that remain.
For example, rare baseball cards can fetch millions of dollars at auction. One of the most expensive cards to sell was a mint-condition 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card for a record-setting $12.6 million in 2022.
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The value of a trading card can vary wildly based on its condition and print quality. Pappas says she was having her newly discovered collection appraised at the time WMUR-TV reported the story. According to card grading service Professional Sports Authenticator, the estimated value of a graded Play Ball Williams rookie card is between $3,000 (poor rating) and $480,000-plus (mint rating).
Pappas told the local broadcaster she doesn’t plan to sell the cards any time soon, preferring to enjoy their sentimental value. But if she decides to sell them one day, she says the proceeds would likely benefit a UNH sports scholarship in Billy’s name.
Can I start my own valuable collection?
Many collections will hold more of a sentimental value instead of a financial one — but that doesn’t mean the right collection can’t help your portfolio grow. According to Cornell University, some collectibles can grow over time include precious metal coins, jewelry, and art.
Other items collected for their investment value include wine, comic books, toys, sneakers and even Pokemon cards.
Before investing in a collection, it’s important to do some homework. Start by researching the history and provenance of your collectibles of choice, the primary sources of those items and how much similar items grow in value over time on secondary markets. There may also be costs associated with storing and maintaining certain items.
Collectibles are a high-risk investment that can come with high returns, or drop in value without warning. If you don’t enjoy what you are collecting, then you may be disappointed by their return.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
