How to Sell Autographed Footballs

One of the greatest thrills a football fan feels during the season is when he meets his sports heroes. Star quarterbacks and unsung heroes on the defense meet with fans regularly, making connections throughout the community. As players retire or leave the team, you can sell autographed footballs and materials to make some money while freeing up space for new items.

Things You'll Need

  • Pricing guides
  • Mailing supplies
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Instructions

  1. Find Venues to Sell Autographed Footballs

    • 1

      Search for a football card for the player who autographed your football to provide background while you sell your collectibles. The addition of a card from the end of the player's career adds a slight bit of value to the football and supplies background on the player.

    • 2

      Package autographed footballs from the same team or player as you try to sell off parts of your collection. You can draw in a higher number of serious collectors if you create an autograph package of a quarterback-receiver combo or an entire defensive line, for example.

    • 3

      Contact local collectors or card shop owners to get their opinions on the condition and value of your autographed footballs. These members of the collecting community attend shows and speak with other experts who determine the informal pricing of sports collectibles.

    • 4

      Chart the increase in value of your autographed footballs as a sales tool for potential buyers. Look at a few pricing guides for football memorabilia over the last 5 years to determine the growth of an item's worth.

    • 5

      Get your autographed footballs appraised by a professional before you place them on the open market. Request an estimated value of the item as well as a statement by the appraiser on her methods to ease the concerns of buyers.

    • 6

      Calculate a reserve price in online auctions that will prevent you from selling autographed footballs at too low a price. Use the appraised value of the ball and increase it by a significant percentage to draw in serious investors only.

    • 7

      Draw in higher offers on your autographed footballs by offering mailing insurance, safe packaging and express delivery. You can keep buyers coming back for more of your collectibles by sending off a well-packed football to a home address within days of the final sale.