TRUSTED BY THOUSANDS NATIONWIDE!

Securing Loans Against Memorabilia: The Most Valuable Sports Collectibles

Barry Sanders signed football used as example for loan against sports memorabilia.

Sports memorabilia is gaining some serious traction in the secondary market. As of 2024, the industry was valued at $33.6 billion and is expected to grow to over $270 billion by 2034. Thanks to the internet, modern collectors have more resources than ever. Furthermore, more and more people are seeing the investment potential of memorabilia, largely due to big-ticket items grabbing headlines in recent years, like Babe Ruth’s 1932 jersey and Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey. While the average American doesn’t have high-value items like that hiding in their attic, you might be surprised by what qualifies for loans against memorabilia. You can leverage the value of items like trading cards, game-worn jerseys, and signed baseball cards without selling them outright. Learn more about how to get a loan against sports memorabilia and which collectibles are the most valuable.

The Value of Sports Memorabilia

Rarity is one of the top factors driving value for sports memorabilia. Items like game-worn jerseys or other memorabilia connected to history-making games or retired players are harder to come by. Therefore, they command a higher premium when it comes time to sell if collectors are out there searching for them. Furthermore, having those collectibles graded can add even more value because it guarantees the item’s authenticity and condition and instills greater buyer confidence.

According to MSN.com, some of the most valuable sports memorabilia in recent years include:

Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees Road Jersey: $5.64 million
Muhammad Ali’s 1965 gloves from his fight against Floyd Patterson: $1.1 million
The Jersey Michael Jordan Wore During the 1998 NBA Finals Game 1: $10.1 million
Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey: $9.3 million
Honus Wagner T206 baseball card: $7.25 million
Wayne Gretzky’s 1979 O-Pee-Chee Rookie Card: $3.75 million
Kobe Bryant’s Final Game Jersey: $3.69 million

Sports Memorabilia Valuation

At Qollateral, we accept a broad range of high-value sports memorabilia as security for a luxury collateral loan. The process always includes a thorough evaluation by a skilled industry expert, during which they will consider factors such as provenance, historical significance, authenticity, condition, market demand, and comparable sales for similar items. You might have also heard of photo matching, another common tool appraisers will use to prove a player used the appraised item by showing it with them in a photo or video. The valuation is vital because it helps our team determine the item’s market value and, ultimately, the loan amount.

Investing in Sports Memorabilia

Sports memorabilia can be a really solid investment if you know what to look for. For example, items worn or used during an important game in a popular player’s career might be easier to resell later on than memorabilia connected to a more obscure player. These items have greater potential to appreciate and tend to be safer investments overall because the player is more established and well-liked. The possibility of more interested buyers in the future is greater. Furthermore, the industry is thriving, meaning the market has more sports memorabilia buyers than ever, with some serious spending power to boot. This growth bodes well for collectors searching for pieces with strong future potential.

That brings us back to finding a serious sports memorabilia buyer. When it comes time to sell high-value items, finding an interested buyer on your own can take time. Alternatively, you can have cash in hand the same day by leveraging your collectibles through Qollateral’s asset-backed loans. The best part? You will retain ownership of your memorabilia throughout the loan terms. If you were on the fence about selling in the first place or need cash fast, loaning against sports memorabilia is an excellent alternative to selling.

Tips for collectors looking to build a high-value portfolio:

Focus on established, well-liked players
Find memorabilia from historic moments in sports
Consider investing in professional grading
Ensure proper storage and maintenance

Why Choose Qollateral?

Qollateral is the nation’s premier asset-backed lender. Our team of appraisers boasts decades of combined experience in the field and knows how to properly value sports memorabilia to ensure you secure the highest-value loan. All asset loans are safe and confidential, with transparent, easy-to-understand terms.

Furthermore, Qollateral has simplified the loan process to make it easier to leverage the value of your collectibles. It starts with booking an appointment with one of our appraisers. During this step, we will determine how much your sports memorabilia is worth and present you with an offer based on a percentage of the market value. If you’re happy with the offer, simply sign the loan agreement and receive funding immediately. During the loan terms, we’ll safeguard your items in a fully monitored vault. You can collect them after the loan is fully repaid. It’s really that simple!

Ready to explore your options? Book a free, no-obligation appointment today or call us at 212-287-5257.

100% Discreet
100% Safe
100% Secure
100% Risk-free
100% Insured
100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Content Disclaimer

The content provided by Qollateral, LLC is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained on our Site constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Qollateral, LLC or any third party service provider to buy or sell any commodities, securities or other financial instruments in this or in in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Qollateral, LLC is not an attorney, accountant or financial advisor, nor is it holding itself out to be, and the information contained on this Website is not a substitute for financial advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.

All content on this site is information of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in the Site constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the Site constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Qollateral, LLC is not a fiduciary by virtue of any person’s use of or access to the Site or any content contained therein. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content on the Site before making any decisions based on such information or other content. In exchange for using the Site, you agree not to hold Qollateral, LLC, its affiliates or any third party service provider liable for any possible claim for damages arising from any decision you make based on information or other content made available to you through the Site.