Quick Collectibles | Vintage Basketball

Vintage Basketball Courtesy CT State Library

Vintage basketball gear and equipment collectibles have recently became a viable fashion statement, as well as becoming another venue for those who are looking to start a unique collection. While some forms of these collectibles are used for games and parts of get-ups, other forms of basketball gear, especially those that are old and rare, are used as display in a museum-type setting. Items involving the basketball heroes of yesteryear are a big hit to both sports aficionados and vintage collectors. As these items are considered to be classics, these are usually valued more than basketball gear featuring modern designs or athletes.

One of the most common forms of vintage basketball gear and equipment collectibles are vintage uniform replicas. Produced by clothing companies such as Mitchell and Ness, Nike, and Adidas, they produce reproduction models of team gear of yesteryear. These include jerseys, t-shirts, jackets, track pants, caps, and other items that recapture a piece of nostalgia. These products feature designs, colors, logos, and other associated imagery representing an era in the history of a team or player. From time to time, the featured teams, eras, and players change, making collecting them a challenging experience. Generally, reproduced jerseys of popular legendary players sell well, as well as jerseys that possess a unique style.

Another popular form of vintage basketball gear collectibles are shoes. Shoe collecting became a phenomenon during the 1990s, as the shoes of players particularly that of Michael Jordan, gained a following from both fans and collectors alike. Shoe collecting can be an addictive one, as shoes of all shapes, sizes, and colors have popped out year after year. Original old shoes, especially those in brand new condition, can possess serious value, especially when it comes in specific colorways. Some shoe models such as air Jordans are being reproduced in limited runs from time to time.

One of the rarest forms of vintage basketball gear and equipment collectibles are authentic basketball-related objects that came from the past. Items such as balls, banners, shoes, uniforms, baskets, and even floor tiles of famous arenas are known to fetch a huge amount on sales and bids. These artifacts of the game are valued by both basketball historians and antique collectors. As some of these items only have a few of its kind existing, their value can range from high to borderline priceless.

Authentic vintage basketball gear can sometimes take you in places you wouldn’t expect. Some of these items are like barn finds, that is, they are found at the most improbable of places and in varying conditions. Others are received as heirloom from elders such as family members. There are even times that the owner of these items doesn’t know exactly the value of what he/she has in hand until he/she got a briefing or inquiry from someone who actually knows.

Acquiring vintage basketball gear collectibles can be compared to a treasure hunt. The odds are against you in obtaining a valuable piece of history. But once you have acquired one, you are now the recipient of the right, as well as the responsibility, of keeping a piece of history in all of its glory. This is the challenge and joy of being a vintage basketball collector.

If you want to know how to organize your vintage basketball collection, then this article has all the information you need. If you love the idea of being a collector of vintage basketball memorabilia and you maintain the passion for it, you can gather a lot of impressive items that would make any basketball fan green with envy. But if there’s one most important trait of being a collector – and this not only applies to vintage basketball memorabilia – it is being organized about it.

There are three things that you can do to organize your basketball vintage collection.

Careful Storage

Vintage items are easily damaged because of their age. That’s why specific measures have to be taken when storing them. Those that are made of paper (like basketball cards) should be kept in acid-free frames and containers. You don’t want your signed Jordan rookie card to get damaged due to harmful chemical agents.

You should also store your collectibles in a place that isn’t exposed to direct light. Keep them in a place that is dry, free of pests, and dust-free. Do some regular checking of the containers and boxes to ensure that there’s no mildew. Dust off each surface and every corner so that dust wont accumulate.

Provide Documentation for Each Item

For every item you add to your vintage basketball collection, you should at least provide useful information that will give your onlookers an idea what they’re looking at. Document the date of purchase, the source, the cost, the name of the item, and why the item is valuable. Not only will this help you keep track of what you have in your vintage basketball collection, but it also gives your memorabilia some integrity. If the time comes that you have to sell some items in your collection, interested buyers will be more inclined to make some purchases. Plus your well-organized vintage basketball memorabilia might create quite a stir in the community of vintage basketball collectors, which should also translate to further profit.

Keep a Digital Record

Once you start your vintage basketball collection, there will come a time when your memorabilia items will be too many that its going to be a chore to keep track. So you might as well keep a digital record of every memorabilia item and file them in an organized manner. What you do is take a digital photo of each item and upload them into the computer. You can save them as thumbnails and file them in Excel or MS Access.

You must remember to categorize the collection in a way that you can sort each item by date of purchase, price range, type of item, and more. This way, you can easily look for an item and its corresponding details through the software’s search feature.

Know Your Stuff

It goes without saying that your vintage basketball memorabilia should cover many aspects of the sports as well as its history. It is also important that you be a fan of the sport as well. Do some research on the game’s history – its legendary players, player milestones, cultural artifacts and more. This way, you will have an idea on what collectors are looking for.

The tips above are all you have to know in how to organize your vintage basketball collection. As an addendum, just remain passionate about this wonderful hobby, and you’d soon reap its rewards.

Hot vintage basketball items and what they sold for are some of the most sought out information these days. These items became popular even in these modern times due to its authentic and genuine materials and the value that fans place in them. Vintage basketball items originated in the 1900ís when the basketball trading cards culture also began. Most of the vintage pieces are valued by owners but, due to circumstances, these owners were obliged to sell them, giving other hard core basketball fans the chance to own such items.

To date, there are many vintage basketball pieces all around the world but, there will always be those that are unique, those who are genuinely priceless and are really ageless. Most of the time, common basketball items include the ball with a signature on it, a jersey worn by a pro basketball player and the trading cards, which has autographs and pictures of the basketball superstars like Michael Jordan. Here are some information on hot vintage basketball items and what they sold for

Back in 1912, Parkinson Art Company in Brooklyn, New York City USA created a “masterpiece”. It was called a “Lady Basketball Player”. It depicts a young lady in her white with red strips uniform, holding a ball with straps at the center. It was authentic, sealed in its original frame which holds about a size of 11 x 12. Its selling price these days is $225- 250.

Another vintage piece is the classic basketball uniform which dates back to 1900. It is a Spalding uniform along with quilted shorts. This jersey was the first of the uniforms ever created and used by basketball players and has a price of $450-500.

Basketball rims are also popular vintage basketball item collections of the modern era. The authentic basketball rim dates back to 1910 with the original net. It was said that this basketball rim were not even used since 1910 so it is really genuine and a work of art. The price is a little bit tricky but it was all worth it. The selling price is $800-850.

During the old times, basketball players were very careful of their things. So they created a bag to hold the ball. In the modern era, this is either made of Canvas or leather and is called a basketball carrier. It is a perfect fit for just any type of ball. It dates back to 1910 and its selling price today is about $300.

Talking about shoes, during the old civilization, basketball players used leather- heeled shoes which, as we all know today, is not the appropriate shoes for basketball. But they used it some time in 1910- 1920. It is taken care of, well preserved and is generally a good catch for vintage lovers. The price is about $225.

Some “vintage” basketball items are not genuine. So, in order for you to know which are authentic and which are not, do a research on the background of the item you wish to buy, and check out the seller. Try to get some facts about its material and where did the item really originate. This way, you’d be able to buy items that are vintage in every sense of the word. Good luck!