{"id":935,"date":"2022-05-22T11:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-22T11:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsworldcards.com\/?p=935"},"modified":"2022-05-22T11:20:02","modified_gmt":"2022-05-22T11:20:02","slug":"what-do-numbered-sports-cards-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsworldcards.com\/what-do-numbered-sports-cards-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do Numbered Sports Cards Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For avid fans of a sport, the back of a sports collectible card isn’t going to tell you very much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might get a little bit of interesting information, a short biography, and then a lot of details from the manufacturer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But if you’re a serious card collector, then the back of the card is home to some of the most vital information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbers on the back of sports cards typically indicate where it comes in a print run, and the number of cards created. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, a 2\/10 would be the second card of a limited run of 10. 536\/1000, on the other hand, would mean that your card was printed at the midpoint of a larger run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sports card collectors can use these numbers to determine the rarity of a specific card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numbered cards often have a smaller run, while non-numbered cards will be numerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read this guide to understand what the numbers on sports cards mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kirk<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Does A Numbered Sports Card Mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A numbered sports card is a card with a limited printing run. The smaller number produced means this card is rare, and potentially more valuable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-numbered cards are printed in large amounts and hold less value to a collector.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two key numbers on the back of a numbered card, and they’re split into a fraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first, smaller, number indicates which specific card you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second, larger, number, indicates how many were printed in total. A card that said 50\/100 would indicate that 100 cards were printed, and you’re holding number 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are Only Some Sports Cards Numbered?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The only sports cards that are numbered are those with a limited print run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Card manufacturers such as Topps, Panini, and Upper Deck make a massive amount of cards every year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these are hugely common, and you’re likely to get one in a pack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no point in numbering them because, to put it bluntly, they aren’t special. These non-numbered cards are typically base cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But only a small number of certain cards are ever printed. These are the rarities, and hold the most value for collectors. The numbers help collectors to see just how scarce a card is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might notice that some cards look similar, but some are numbered while others aren’t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbered versions are often parallel cards, while the non-numbered version is a base card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A parallel card generally has the same image, but a new color scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most cards do typically have some numbers on the pack, but this is just the number of the card in the set. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These numbers help collectors find what\u2019s missing and complete their set. All cards of the same design, including parallels, will have the same identifying number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is A 1\/1 Sports Card?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A 1\/1 card is the rarest sports<\/a> card of all, because only one of them was ever made. If you have a 1\/1 card, it means that only one version of that card was ever printed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get your hands on a 1\/1 card, you need to have either extremely good luck with a pack of cards, or be willing to pay extra for the pleasure of ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/1 cards are also sometimes referred to as 1-of-1. Just because it’s the only one printed, doesn’t mean it’s always the most desirable. Sometimes, cards with slightly larger print runs and more desirable images sell for more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is SP And SSP In Sports Cards?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SP stands for Short Print, and SSP stands for Super Short Print. These are baseball cards with a very limited number of printings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SP and SSP tend to differ from parallel cards because they don’t just use different colors, they use a completely different image. They’ll have the same card number as the base card, and a new picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you might guess, there are more SPs than there are SSPs. That said, there doesn’t seem to be any clear agreement between what counts as an SP or an SSP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s also SSSP, or Ultra Short Print. These have very limited prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Else Makes A Numbered Card Special?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It isn’t just the right number, or the amount printed, that you need to pay attention to. Sometimes, where the card fell in the print run can be important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a 1\/50 and a 50\/50 can attract more attention than a number in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing to take note of is if the left number matches the players’ jersey number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sports card collectors like the little bit of symmetry and tend to pay more. Parallel<\/a> cards that match the team colors can also bring the price up!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Other Numbers Are On The Back OF A Sports Card?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A standard base card will have several key numbers on the back: the number of the card in the set, the year\/season it was printed in, and the card code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of the set is useful for collectors looking to complete a set, as they can easily identify what’s missing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year\/season helps identify the card and when it was printed, which is useful when collecting vintage cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The card number is mostly used by the manufacturer, but can help collectors identify SP and SSP cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numbered cards also have a serial number, which is displayed in a fraction. These are on SP and parallel cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fraction shows how many cards were printed, and where this card came in the print run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does #52, #\/100 Mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might see a code like this when searching for cards to buy online. #52, #\/100 would mean that there were 100 prints made of card number 52. These codes can help collectors identify rare cards and vintage cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you open up a pack of cards, you probably look at the pictures first, and then read the back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s the numbers on the back of the card that help collectors find the rarest and most valuable cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collecting numbered sports cards is fun, but it’s not easy. You need a lot of patience and persistence to find the ones you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DUuNFopdHVc<\/a>