Updated: Wed Nov. 26 2008 17:42:30

ctvcalgary.ca

It may seem like an odd place to gauge the economic climate but sports memorabilia stores are painting a clear picture of Calgary.

There is big money in some hockey, baseball, football and basketball cards. And with the economic forecast getting worse by the day, a lot of collectors are cashing in their collections.

Travis Murray, who owns Dicks Collectables, has been in the sports collectable business for more than ten years and says just two days ago he had a customer trying to sell a Terry Sawchuck rookie card, which is worth over $1,000, for $500. "He said he had to go home east and he had been laid off and needed the money. He was selling the card to go home for Christmas," says Murray.

Those who have collections say this is also a good time to buy because cards are selling for below market value. "Everybody is a seller, not many buyers out there," says collector Gord Thompson. "There are cards I want to turnover but not much of a market right now."

The current economy also means more people are trying to pawn off bogus memorabilia as the real thing. Murray says he is having to send more cards to California for authentication than ever before.