Generally speaking, as a rule, the advice given in any hobby that I have been involved with (stamps, coins, tokens, medals, etc.) is to collect the best possible condition that one can afford. While I have never collected baseball cards, the same advice has been historically given.

The estimated retail prices in my Atlantic City casino chips & gaming tokens catalog is for specimens in top condition. Worn specimens have lesser value. The only exception being when only worn specimens are known.
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