State of the Post War Market

[jchcollins]

At least since the 1990's, I would say that Clemente in particular has really taken off. He used to be just another run-of-the-mill HOFer - popular, but nothing that really stuck out above the crowd. From what I have seen that has changed dramatically in the 21st century. His popularity among all vintage collectors is eclipsed maybe by Mantle, but I'm not sure beyond that who would vie for it. It seems he's even more popular for player collectors today than Hank Aaron - and that certainly was not the case in the 1980's and 90's.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

At least since the 1990's, I would say that Clemente in particular has really taken off. He used to be just another run-of-the-mill HOFer - popular, but nothing that really stuck out above the crowd. From what I have seen that has changed dramatically in the 21st century. His popularity among all vintage collectors is eclipsed maybe by Mantle, but I'm not sure beyond that who would vie for it. It seems he's even more popular for player collectors today than Hank Aaron - and that certainly was not the case in the 1980's and 90's.

Clemente has always been a top tier HOFer. He was just under Ted Williams, Mantle, Mays and Aaron (above everyone else) when I started collecting him in the early 80s. He is now more expensive than all the postwar stars except Mantle. Jackie Robinson has had the same rise. As someone said earlier, Mantle, Clemente and Jackie Robinson are the 3 players that are worth investing in for the 1948-1973 Topps/Bowman era.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by rats60

Clemente has always been a top tier HOFer.

Yes. I did not mean to insinuate in my original post that Clemente was not a top-tier Hall of Famer. Certainly even in the 1980's, there was way more interest in Clemente than say, George Kell.

But yes since then, I would agree that both his star and Jackie's have continued to rise. You can almost never find a "bargain" anymore on early 50's Topps Robinson cards, even in mid-grade. Most sellers that list them with BIN prices err on the high side. I got a BVG 4.5 '55 Topps Robinson a couple of years ago. Overpaid for it slightly I think, but there were no real deals to be had and I did not want to go cheaper on a card that was creased or more of a beater.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Yes. I did not mean to insinuate in my original post that Clemente was not a top-tier Hall of Famer. Certainly even in the 1980's, there was way more interest in Clemente than say, George Kell.

Clemente cards were worth more than Musial, Koufax, Berra, Banks, Robinson, Kaline, Snider, Mathews, etc. in the early 80s.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by rats60

Clemente cards were worth more than Musial, Koufax, Berra, Banks, Robinson, Kaline, Snider, Mathews, etc. in the early 80s.

But worth even more than that above those now.