Stocking Up on Avery, Thomas Among Expert’s Collecting Hints

Terry Clanton, who is host of an hourly sports card collecting and memorabilia talk radio show Tuesday nights on KORG, offers weekly tips to listeners.

Some of the tips offered on the show include:

--Whenever getting a card autographed, always have the signer use a Sharpie fine point gold felt pen. “The gold color seems to blend in with black or blue backgrounds best,” said Al Shaffer, manager of 59 Innings card shop.

--Atlanta Brave pitcher Steve Avery and Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas are two of the hottest items on the market. Avery’s 1990 Upper Deck rookie card increased from $1.25 to $5.50 since his World Series exposure.

Thomas’ Stadium Club card is valued at $28 and his Studio ’91 card is selling for $15. Thomas’ 1990 Leaf Card has really taken off, selling for $60 in most shops.

--Packs and boxes of 1989 Upper Deck baseball cards are a hot commodity, according to Barry Kuehl of Hit-n-Run card shop. Packs that originally sold for $1 now sell for $5. Boxes that originally sold for $30 now sell for $160.

--Score’s 1989 football cards were extremely unpopular when issued, but the cards are now hot items. Packs that originally sold for 50 cents go for $15; boxes have gone from $18 to $500.

--While the majority of collectors are interested in cards three to five years old, Galovich deals primarily in pre-1980 cards. He points to Don Sutton or Rollie Fingers rookie cards priced at about $60 as good investments.

--The Maxx Racing card of former NASCAR driver J.D. McDuffie, who was killed in a crash at Watkins Glen, has become very popular. McDuffie’s card has increased 1,400% the past couple of months.