$100,000 Question

[jsfriedm]

If you had $100,000 to spend on a card, what would you buy? The stipulations are that it has to be one and only one card, you could never sell or trade it, and you do not get to keep the change (so you couldn't buy a card for 20K and keep 80K).

[rjackson44]

Darby chocolate ty cobb complete box

[obcbobd]

Not sure I could ever spend that much on a card, but if I did it would likley be a Collins-McCarthy Babe Ruth, lower grade

[fisherboy7]

E107 Wagner or Mathewson.


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[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

Not sure I could ever spend that much on a card, but if I did it would likley be a Collins-McCarthy Babe Ruth, lower grade

Great card

sadly just not sure you could get it at this point at this price.

[parkplace33]

The best looking and highest graded 1933 Goudey Ruth.

[Touch'EmAll]

T206 Cobb, green PSA 7. Like all these cards, can you find one to buy ?

[Rhotchkiss]

"you could never sell or trade it" -- this, to me, is a key stipulation.

Personally, I believe the T204 Ramly Wajo, the D322 Tip Top Wagner, the 1907 Diestche Cobb fielding, and the 1925 Exhibits Gehrig are all very undervalued and poised to take off (the E90-1 Jackson would have made this list too, but that seems to be moving up lately). So, if I could sell or trade (i.e., invest), I would get the best looking/highest grade of one of these 4.

However, I cannot sell or trade, so its a keeper card. Under those circumstances, as a collector item, I personally would either buy (i) the best D322 Wagner I could, or (ii) the best T206 Plank. The Wagner because it is the closest thing there is to the T206 Wagner, which is the ultimate card. The Plank because its rare, awesome, and tied to the T206 Wagner (by set and perhaps reason for rarity).

I recently bought this D322 Wagner for $80k and bought this Plank for around $80k back in like 2018-19 (I expect its worth a lot more than $100k now)

[bnorth]

A T210 Joe Jackson if one could be found for that price. I am lucky because I couldn't care less about owning most cards that cost over a few hundred dollars.

[Smarti5051]

I have always wanted a 1914 or 15 Cracker Jack Shoeless Joe. Give me the highest grade $100K will buy me and let me enjoy it for the rest of my days.

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Great card

sadly just not sure you could get it at this point at this price.

No, not sure that I would spend anywhere near $100k on a single card. :-)

[Bliggity]

For me it would be a high-grade E121 Ruth. Great classic card, early photo in a Boston jersey, but on a Yankees card. And unlike the E135 you could get a really nice one for $100K

[Eric72]

One of those wild T206 cards with the multi-strike (including Lash’s Bitters) backs.

[Bicem]

Hubel Cobb postcard

[jsfriedm]

Interesting that so far no one has said "The nicest 1952 Topps Mantle I could get for 100K."

[Seven]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

Interesting that so far no one has said "The nicest 1952 Topps Mantle I could get for 100K."

Funnily enough as I entered the thread, that's exactly what I was going to ask for.

The Nicest 1952 Topps Mantle I could get for that price is what I would buy. I've always wanted to own one, I would never sell it.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

Interesting that so far no one has said "The nicest 1952 Topps Mantle I could get for 100K."

Well, you did post on the pre-war side.

[ValKehl]

The nicest T204 card of WaJo that $100K would buy to upgrade this one in my collection:

[jayshum]

I would go for the nicest T3 Cobb I could find.

[sb1]

Val, that Johnson might have the strongest image of all I have seen, most of which are very weak or slightly dark, it's a keeper!

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

"you could never sell or trade it" -- this, to me, is a key stipulation.

Personally, I believe the T204 Ramly Wajo, the D322 Tip Top Wagner, the 1907 Diestche Cobb fielding, and the 1925 Exhibits Gehrig are all very undervalued and poised to take off (the E90-1 Jackson would have made this list too, but that seems to be moving up lately). So, if I could sell or trade (i.e., invest), I would get the best looking/highest grade of one of these 4.

However, I cannot sell or trade, so its a keeper card. Under those circumstances, as a collector item, I personally would either buy (i) the best D322 Wagner I could, or (ii) the best T206 Plank. The Wagner because it is the closest thing there is to the T206 Wagner, which is the ultimate card. The Plank because its rare, awesome, and tied to the T206 Wagner (by set and perhaps reason for rarity).

I recently bought this D322 Wagner for $80k and bought this Plank for around $80k back in like 2018-19 (I expect its worth a lot more than $100k now)

Wow, awesome choices, and beautiful cards.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by sb1

Val, that Johnson might have the strongest image of all I have seen, most of which are very weak or slightly dark, it's a keeper!

Scott, thanks for the kind words! I agree, it's a keeper!

[MVSNYC]

Fun thread, some nice answers so far.

As mentioned above...


Pre-war: nicest and highest graded Goudey Ruth.

Post-war: nicest and highest graded 52 Topps Mantle.

[Tabe]

The nicest T3 Ty Cobb I can find.

[babraham]

I'd try to find a '14 CJ Jackson for my $100k card.

[Exhibitman]

On a budget of $100K and just to have until they pry it from my cold, dead fingers?

Prewar: Max Stein PC of Wagner. Just a unique image I've always liked.



Postwar: 1948 Leaf Rocky Graziano. For those who don't know, it was pulled from the issue and replaced but a few got out. I haven't seen one auctioned in some time.



Memorabilia: Original Exhibit card artwork for the Cassius Clay card. It sold recently for $28,481.

[Rhotchkiss]

Adam, doesnt the E300 Plows Wagner have the same image? Regardless, I agree it is a very cool and super rare image, although personally i would rather have the Plows over the Max Stein. And Happy New Year BTW

[LincolnVT]

Nicest Bond Bread portrait or Leaf Jackie Robinson that I could find.

[Bobsbats]

The nicest Cracker Jack Cobb I could get or a Cobb Rose Postcard

[JimC]

Great cards. Ryan, that Tip Top Wagner is awesome. I'd love a Collins McCarthy Ruth too in that price range. A few I haven't seen mentioned that I'd certainly consider:

A decent Billiken Oscar Charleston

A low grade Tomas Gutiérrez Oscar Charleston

A 1950 Toleteros Josh Gibson

Mascot Dog Food Mantle

That crazy nice PSA 9 Stahl Meyer Willie Mays that sold recently.

[The Detroit Collector]

W600 Cobb without a second thought.

[hank_jp]

I would say a signed 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle or Jackie Robinson card.

My wife would say a card made out to her with the note, "Honey, enclosed is a token of my love and affection" that included a check for $100,000.

[iwantitiwinit]

The highest graded T206 Plank I could find.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by The Detroit Collector

W600 Cobb without a second thought.

I don’t think $100k would get you anywhere near a W600 Cobb.

[Jason Carota]

N172 Bill Collins, Lowell.

[Spike]

I'd look for a combo of "meaningful to me" and "great looking card" if it needed to be $100K without any option to sell in the future.

My #5 type collection still needs several obscure cards, yet TBD if any would run $100K if they turned up. Even the best known 1887 Old Judge "$10,000 Kelly" #5 card would've cost me ~$12K at the 2023 National.

High-grade 1914 Boston Garter Color (H813-2) of Johnny Evers or 1924 Willard's Sports Champions Babe Ruth (four PSA 7s to choose from) _could_ cost $100K in today's money, so let's say one of those.

[The Detroit Collector]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I don’t think $100k would get you anywhere near a W600 Cobb.

True.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by JimC

That crazy nice PSA 9 Stahl Meyer Willie Mays that sold recently.

Current asking price by the new owner is $150k, unless you can get him to come down to $100k with your superior negotiating skills.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266604531775

[theshowandme]

Originally Posted by raulus

Current asking price by the new owner is $150k, unless you can get him to come down to $100k with your superior negotiating skills.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266604531775

Ashish (many know him by Jay) owns that card.

He frequently sets up at Chantilly, Philly, Dallas, and the National.

[Schlesinj]

Originally Posted by Spike

I'd look for a combo of "meaningful to me" and "great looking card" if it needed to be $100K without any option to sell in the future.

My #5 type collection still needs several obscure cards, yet TBD if any would run $100K if they turned up. Even the best known 1887 Old Judge "$10,000 Kelly" #5 card would've cost me ~$12K at the 2023 National.

High-grade 1914 Boston Garter Color (H813-2) of Johnny Evers or 1924 Willard's Sports Champions Babe Ruth (four PSA 7s to choose from) _could_ cost $100K in today's money, so let's say one of those.

Small world, I just ended up on your website last night. Really great.

[MuncieNolePAZ]

A 1910 Punch Pop Lloyd or T206 WaJo HAC Drum or BL460.

Thanks
Chad

[MR RAREBACK]

t206 ty cobb with drum or uzit back maybe lenox

[CardPadre]

The prettiest signed 1933 Goudey Ruth I could get. And It would be raw and I would have it in my hand almost every day.

[brunswickreeves]

1951 Bowman Willie Mays-I think Mays is very undervalued and this his rookie card has great potential to catch up to similar high grade 51 Bowman Micks.

[Yoda]

Plows Candy of Cobb in decent grade.

[TheBig6]

Duke cabinet Delahanty and maybe the Davis if I have enough money left

[Leon]

100k? Probably the nicest Goudey Ruth 144, or T205 Cobb, that 100k will buy...
an upgrade for this one..
.

[mrreality68]

all great choices but becoming tougher in the new pricing currently going on.

For me the nicest e121 throwing pose ruth I could find and ideally it would be an ad back (but last 2 I saw sold for well over $100K)

[LEHR]

At the $100k price point I'm collecting cars, not cards. I can't imagen ever spending anything close to $100k for a card. But that's just me.

[z28jd]

Kalamazoo Bats Pittsburgh Alleghenys team card. I'd be leaving a lot of money on the table, but it's at the top of my wantlist