Flipping vintage baseball cards

[robedits]

I've been playing APBA for almost 40 years (currently replaying the 1964season...cards,dice,and newer master game,using the new 64 RR replay set)...in almost 2 years I've completed all the games for all teams through the month of May '64,using the real sked...about 460 games out of the scheduled 1,620 for 1964). Using Excel to compile stats after each game. TIme consuming as hell,but worth it and enjoyable.

I never had any idea that the old APBA sets were worth anything, until AFTER I sold all my old sets (one late 60s set, all my 70s sets and some early ATG sets...most in great condition,with original playing boards/boxes,etc) at a garage sale for about $25 bucks (back in late 90s). We're talking a couple of dozen original sets/boxes,at least. Along with orig boards,booklets,roster sheets,etc.
Then I suddenly saw spates of them online being sold for good $$. My loss!

Still love rolling a game,though,after all these years:as my wife says,it keeps me off the streets!

You probably already know this,but the "Spawn" author/McGwire/Sosa ball collector (Todd MCFarland) has what is most likely the largest collection of original APBA sets (across all sports) in existence.
I wish APBA would get more press than StratOMatic,but it's like the Mets to the Yankees, or Showtime to HBO...they'll always be second in the same market.

[bbcard1]

I actually sold a couple of APBA sets to Todd McFarlane which I thought was totally cool. I have a complete run of world series teams and a few vintage sets I plan to keep til i croak. I got a great 1961 set which is my birth year and i have an 1958 also that I intend to keep. I am trying to pick one season set per decade and sell off the dupes. I normally price the sets very low as to assure they will sell...it only backfires sometimes. Actually most sets from about 1975 though 2001 are very cheap. APBA is the betamax of baseball games. Great product, lousy marketing.

[jcmtiger]

I don't need this money to live on. Thanks for the responses. I also don't want to wait 5-10 years as one poster responded. I have actually bought and sold many items in the last 30 years and made money, but put back into the hobby. I know those good old days are over, but seems like you could make more than 2-3 hundred on an investment of $10,000. in 1 year. I know I will have to pick items that collectors are looking for and buying everything on ebay probably would not work. I would not consign, I have the time to sell on ebay and have been buying and selling on ebay for at least 10 years.

Joe

[Northviewcats]

I've been flipping cards for about eight years on eBay. I buy large groups of cards looking for decent cards to sell individually. I consider it a hobby and if you factor in the time it is probably a losing proposition. But you can build a very nice collection doing it. I've always had better luck with lots from the 60s and 70s than prewar.

Best regards,

Joe