Best Long Term Investment for $1000???

[DeanH3]

Id take a look at the '54 Johnston Cookies Hank Aaron. An undervalued rookie in my opinion. Yes, it's a regional issue. But being a Milwaukee issue is kinda cool to me. Plus the lower pop total is the kicker. Good luck!

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

Id take a look at the '54 Johnston Cookies Hank Aaron. An undervalued rookie in my opinion. Yes, it's a regional issue. But being a Milwaukee issue is kinda cool to me. Plus the lower pop total is the kicker. Good luck!

I would agree it's undervalued, but it's going to stay that way. If you want the best Aaron card, it's a good buy. If you want a card that's going to be the best investment I would stick with high-grade Topps issues of Aaron, Mantle and Clemente - whether they are rookie cards or not.

[aconte]

Peter,

Great card!

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by aconte

Peter,

Great card!

+1

[frankh8147]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

I would agree it's undervalued, but it's going to stay that way. If you want the best Aaron card, it's a good buy. If you want a card that's going to be the best investment I would stick with high-grade Topps issues of Aaron, Mantle and Clemente - whether they are rookie cards or not.

Out of curiosity, why do you think that? Not to argue but I thought the lower population cards were going up in value because of the PSA population reports.

I've seen steady appreciation from the higher graded cards but when I see the crazy jumps in value on the Cobb rookies, rare back T206's, and even that Michael Jordan Precious Metals auction being discussed in the other thread, it makes me think that Aaron might have some potential.

Disclaimer- I own a Johnston's Cookie Aaron.

[ALBB]

But supply and demand always come into play

true, the Swell Jackie R, the Johnston aaron and super cool and solid cards, and of course less produced then the Topps stuff..... but there is a reason why the 60s Mantles are still wanted...… more collectors want that , then your Red Heart Musial and Dan Dee Snider...

[rats60]

Originally Posted by frankh8147

Out of curiosity, why do you think that? Not to argue but I thought the lower population cards were going up in value because of the PSA population reports.

I've seen steady appreciation from the higher graded cards but when I see the crazy jumps in value on the Cobb rookies, rare back T206's, and even that Michael Jordan Precious Metals auction being discussed in the other thread, it makes me think that Aaron might have some potential.

Disclaimer- I own a Johnston's Cookie Aaron.

Because people collect rookie cards, so they are going to want Aaron's rookie card, 1954 Topps, not a regional. I collect Clemente and there are really tough cards of his that I would rather have than a rookie card, but they will never come close to the RC value. Under valued cards have a tendency to stay under valued. Stick with the main stream issues of Mantle and top Rookie Cards from the era, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Hark Aaron, Roberto Clemente & Sandy Koufax.

In your examples, Cobb rookies - rookie card of one of the game's greatest player, t206 - the hobby's most popular set and Jordan PMG Green - one of the rarest 90's inserts of the biggest name in modern cards. There is nothing under the radar from any of those cards. The only one close are the Cobb PC and that is due to the acceptance of Cobb PCs as RCs when there was no consensus before.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by rats60

I collect Clemente and there are really tough cards of his that I would rather have than a rookie card, but they will never come close to the RC value.

Exactly. How cool (and to me at least still ungodly expensive) are the Kahn's weiner Clemente cards? I'd love to have one. But I would take a nice '55 Topps #164 first every time.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Exactly. How cool (and to me at least still ungodly expensive) are the Kahn's weiner Clemente cards? I'd love to have one. But I would take a nice '55 Topps #164 first every time.

yeah, like many of us...have all the Clemente Cards but missing out on the elusive 1955. I would look up the weiner cards, but I don't want to get started on another tangent.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by frankh8147

Out of curiosity, why do you think that? Not to argue but I thought the lower population cards were going up in value because of the PSA population reports.

I've seen steady appreciation from the higher graded cards but when I see the crazy jumps in value on the Cobb rookies, rare back T206's, and even that Michael Jordan Precious Metals auction being discussed in the other thread, it makes me think that Aaron might have some potential.

Disclaimer- I own a Johnston's Cookie Aaron.

Not saying it won't happen, but I would be surprised. Regional cards have never carried the premium of a choice mainstream RC. I used to own the Johnston's Aaron myself, and wish I had it back. But it was nowhere near as pricey as the '54 Topps back almost 20 years ago, and still isn't today.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by frankh8147

Out of curiosity, why do you think that? Not to argue but I thought the lower population cards were going up in value because of the PSA population reports.

I've seen steady appreciation from the higher graded cards but when I see the crazy jumps in value on the Cobb rookies, rare back T206's, and even that Michael Jordan Precious Metals auction being discussed in the other thread, it makes me think that Aaron might have some potential.

Disclaimer- I own a Johnston's Cookie Aaron.

As much as I love Aaron, he is unknown and not cared about by fans anymore. The baseball fans are mostly idiots and know nothing about the history of the game for the most part. That's the only thing I do care about anymore to be honest.

When he was introduced at Dodger Stadium at the playoff game against the Brewers last year, you could barely hear the crowd cheer for him. IT WAS DISGUSTING. I watched 715 with my parents & I had the 715 poster in my room as a kid. My parents got me a birthday card that played the call of the historic home run when you opened it for my 13th birthday. I played it at my moms funeral and read from it. (yeah it still payed) I saw him as a kid at DS and he always mashed us. The same way my Grandfather told me to watch that guy in the CF, Willie Mays. Then, he proceeded to drop the only fly ball he ever dropped and got picked off first in the same game.

Kids have to take the time to learn about the older players and even though it is so easy, they can't be bothered as they play Fortnite.

We learned about the older players though baseball cards. I hope I'm wrong as I have all the Aaron cards and they still make me feel happy but I'm 57. Baseball card collectors are dying, not increasing, IMHO.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

Kids have to take the time to learn about the older players and even though it is so easy, they can't be bothered as they play Fortnite.

We learned about the older players though baseball cards. I hope I'm wrong as I have all the Aaron cards and they still make me feel happy but I'm 57. Baseball card collectors are dying, not increasing, IMHO.

I was in my childhood local card store the other day (while on vacation... none in my current choice of residency). And while they weren't buying baseball cards, there was a pile of kids in there buying basketball cards. I had never seen so many young kids in there. I asked the owner if things were turning around for him, and he said it all happened within the last year. Everything goes in cycles, and eventually, with Betts and Harper and Trout, kids will start hearing about the greats of the game again. They just haven't seen anything like the Sosa / McGwire home run duel. Or the Cal Ripken consecutive games streak. Or even the Three-peat of the late '90s Yankees. But something will come up, it always does. Records were meant to be broken.

I'm 33, and I can remember watching the 1999 All Star game and World Series when they introduced the best of the century team. The reverence that Ted Williams received from the players was unbelievable. It totally made me look at players in a whole different light.

The other issue is that in my neck of the woods, greats of the game aren't coming out for autograph signings anymore. When I was in middle school, there was a card store in Spokane WA that would bring in stars of yesteryear: Don Larsen, Gaylord Perry, Harmon Killebrew, Lou Brock, Maury Wills, Steve Garvey. The last autograph signing in Spokane was a longgggg time ago for Norm Charlton. Kids who don't meet the legends won't know the legends. Traveling to Seattle for an occasional signing is beyond many families' means. It's this way across the country outside major metropolises.

[Bored5000]

When you look at where the Jackie Robinson Bond Bread cards have gone price wise in recent years, I think Robinson's two Old Gold cards have a lot of room to increase in value. Obviously, those cards will not supplant his more mainstream color issues, but the low population and early date give both cards room to grow, IMO. Both cards still seem crazy undervalued to me. Both cards (especially the dugout version) seem like a reasonable place for collectors priced out of the Bond Bread market to go for a scarce early Jackie card.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do own a dugout version of the card.

[MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR]

I would go with the highest graded Jackie Robinson card I could get for $1000.
Jackie Robinson goes beyond baseball and his legacy will continue to grow worldwide.

[MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

When you look at where the Jackie Robinson Bond Bread cards have gone price wise in recent years, I think Robinson's two Old Gold cards have a lot of room to increase in value. Obviously, those cards will not supplant his more mainstream color issues, but the low population and early date give both cards room to grow, IMO. Both cards still seem crazy undervalued to me. Both cards (especially the dugout version) seem like a reasonable place for collectors priced out of the Bond Bread market to go for a scarce early Jackie card.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do own a dugout version of the card.

Good advice and nice card.

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR

Good advice and nice card.

Thank you.

[lowpopper]

1978 #707 is the only regular issue Topps card with 2 HOF rookies on it.

...just some food for thought

[BeanTown]

I agree the 1948 Old Gold Jackie Robinson is a nice card with great upside. I also think the limited production runs of minor league cards have the same potential. You just need to know which ones to get. Take a look at Baltimore News Ruth, or Joe Dimaggio Zeenut to name a few. I would invest in Ripken, Henderson, Arod, Griffey Jr, Vlady, Trout, Maddux, And one of the best Yankee Captains of all time named Jeter!

[CharleyBrown]

FWIW, The Jackie Robinson Old Gold Dugout card was distributed in 1947 (August - September)

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

Id take a look at the '54 Johnston Cookies Hank Aaron. An undervalued rookie in my opinion. Yes, it's a regional issue.

"Yes, it's a regional issue." As if that's a downer? As if that's a "lesser than ...". As if that's second-rate? Or even, "Well, I guess I'll have to settle for the...?

Dean, I realize the '54 Johnston Cookie Henry Aaron was released the same year as Aaron's beautiful '54 Topps regular issue, and we both know what the hobby has done with mainstream issue rookies.

But seriously, a regional is most respectable. Some are still referring to them by the antiquated and appalling term, "oddball", but the niche of regional / food issues typically carries with it strong aesthetics based upon attractive card / coin design, very moving player photos not to seen on a Topps card, a fascinating and highly challenging promotion that made cards not only hard to come by, but even harder to hunt a desired player card down in ultra high grade condition. The number of survivors of a given regional issue depended upon what was done with the leftover, unsold "free prizes". Fortunately, some were sold to one of the very, very, very few mail order trading card mail order firms. In the case of the 1954 Johnston Cookie cards, the leftovers were sold to Wholesale Cards Company from New York / Connecticut. Had they not been, surviving specimens would have been those saved by the original intended recipients, children, who tended to handle them, or should I say, mishandle them. Back then, there was nothing to protect a kid's cards, and really, at the time they were just cheap boy's toys, and in this case, a lure to get them to get their parents to buy Johnston Cookies. As I have discovered, EVEN regional sets that were sold to a party after the promotion was over, whether many or just a few, did not eventually sift out PSA 9 MINTs as often as most collectors assume. Didn't happen.

LONG to short, the regional / food issues carry with them beauty, significance, importance, built-in scarcity and genuine rarity, and unchallenged bragging rights that fill your fellow collectors with admiration, and some other unsettling emotions.

Yes, it IS a cool regional issue gem!

Furthermore, good choice to advise our fellow collector wishing to plunk down 10 C-notes.

----Brian Powell