Protecting Cards

• 1). Find a source for your card protectors. Buy directly from companies to receive the most for your dollar. They sell in bulk, and you can find their ads in most monthly baseball card pricing guides.
  
  
• 2). Use a baseball card pricing guide to establish the estimated value of your cards. This is so you can provide the most protection for your most valuable cards and the least protection for your least valuable cards.
  
  
• 3). Select and order a variety of protectors. Pick screw-down cases for your most valuable cards. For moderately valuable cards, use 11-by-14 inch top-loading plastic cases and soft plastic sleeves. For small sets, purchase snap-top plastic cases. Make sure they are large enough to hold the number of cards in a particular set. For less valuable cards, choose nine-pocket plastic sleeves and cardboard storage boxes.
  
  
• 4). Place each of your most valuable cards centered inside of the screw-down plastic cases. Then line up the holes and secure the top to the bottom with screws.
  
  
• 5). Place other valuable cards in soft plastic sleeves. Then place one plastic sleeve into each of the rigid plastic top-loading cases.
  
  
• 6). Place sets and more common cards into snap-shut cases and cardboard boxes. For less valuable cards you wish to display, use the nine-pocket plastic sheets, which can be placed in three-ring binders.