How to Price a Pete Rose Baseball Card

Growing up in Ohio in the 1970s meant joining throngs of fans rooting for the Cincinnati Reds led by Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan. Traders still actively buy and sell baseball cards depicting Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader and 1975 World Series Most Valuable Player.

Things You'll Need

  • Price guide
  • Computer
  • Trading card
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Instructions

  1. Evaluate Condition of Baseball Card

    • 1

      The better the card's condition, the higher the price. A Pete Rose card kept for years in a shoebox under the bed simply cannot compete with one painstakingly preserved behind protective plastic. Unless the card is exceedlingly rare, creases, dents, and fading will significantly reduce its value.

    • 2

      If you are selling a Pete Rose card, have an agency such as Professional Sports Authenticator evaluate the card and assign a standard. Standards range from the rare PSA Gem Mint 10 (a flawless card) down to PSA Poor 1 for a card with serious defects.

    • 3

      If you are buying a particular card, be sure to ask for the PSA rating to ensure authenticity. Be wary if an expensive card does not have a rating. PSA often will not assign standards to cards that may be counterfeit or to cards that have been altered by cutting, restoring, or recoloring.

    Find Out Book and Market Value

    • 4

      Using Beckett's Grading Service or another leading baseball card pricing guide, check the estimated value of the Pete Rose card. Copies of the book are available at libraries and bookstores. For a small fee, Beckett's offers the same information online.

    • 5

      Visit a specialty store or convention for sports card collectors. Talk with dealers about recent sales and purchase prices for comparable Pete Rose cards. Ask supply and demand questions such as, "How many were produced that year?" and "Are they hard to find?"

    • 6

      For a realistic, real-time idea of price, check eBay's recent auctions. Because of Rose's relatively lengthy career as a player and coach, supplies tend to be readily available. Auctions range widely from less than $1 for a common Rose card to more than $10,000 for Rose's 1963 Topps Rookie Card #537 graded PSA 9.