100% what Jeff said. I haven’t been collecting programs too long but from my observations their prices can fluctuate wildly depending on if more than a few collectors spark interest, and as he said by season. I’ve picked up programs for way under my max budget bid, and I’ve seen some programs go for way more than I would have guessed or other similar examples. Unlike cards which many vintage collectors base around grading, programs don’t have a de facto “graded condition” but spark more interest when in good condition and not beat up or torn.
Also it is all in how you market the sale. Part of the fun for me is weeding out historic or important games from sellers who don’t list/know that information, and I often get the programs pretty cheap. When a seller posts the same game with the listed information it usually commands a premium. No Hitter games and milestone/first games attract buyers who are fans of that player/team who might not otherwise collect programs but want something historical from that event.
I mostly stick to baseball, but a general rule of thumb I’ve seen in 2018 is programs from post 1969 don’t sell unless it’s dirt cheap to niche buyers like me looking for a specific cover/game etc. 1950s-1960s maybe average $5-15 depending on team/condition/cover but many sell for $1-2 + shipping. 1930s-1940s go for about $10-15 unless they are rare covers. Anything 1920s or earlier raise significantly on a case by case basis. But again, I’ve seen very common programs sell on Buy It Now for way more than it would go at auction. Never know what buyer needs what.
Hope that helps a little... one day I want to build a baseball program database. If not to determine values but just use as a visual resource for program collectors.
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