I would trade.

Make it a Baltimore News Ruth PSA 1 instead and I would say hell yeah. :D

wow very hard call here, do you have a scan of the ruth u can post?

+1

I have another angle for you. Did you discuss a selling price for the Ruth card with him? Since you have so many great cards in that trade list, maybe you can talk him into selling it to you for a 'fair' price. That way you could sell some of your incredibly valuable cards to generate the necessary funds and buy it outright. The end result would be that you'd get the Ruth PLUS you'll hold onto a bunch of your original cards.

Basically we're saying the Ruth is priced at 30k, and these cards would net that in sales. Sure, I could sub out a card from the list and substitute cash. The cards are available to see in my sigline's link, as I have begun to scan my collection; point being many are high end for the grade, take the Koufax's centering for example, so the earlier approximation of 25-28 is just about right when factoring in how a few will do better than VCP avg. Of course there are the PayPal or consignor fees to weigh in as well. Upshot is the list should net around 30k = the Ruth.

MattyC

I have also changed my view make the trade!!! Is it graded by SGC/PSA/BVG? That would factor in a lot for me if it was graded or not....if it was not graded I would pass no matter what...but that is me.

Post #14

Zone, now you see it's not an easy call, lol.

MattyC

No actually it is very very easy if it is a graded copy SGC/PSA/BVG as a 1....simply make the trade if it is raw I say forget it!!! The guy I told you about told me today he has 3 separate orders for one. It will for sure be a expensive card down the road as well....and a very easy sell!!!

My last post for today take care guys!!!:)

Ruth
 

I voted for the Ruth.

I could see where a Dealer might want the portfolio of high grade cards to spread out risk, speculate, wheel and deal.

I have several of the cards in the list sitting around in boxes in vg/e. Brett, Winfield, Henderson, etc.

I do not own a Ruth rookie.

Also, if you ever need to cash out, it seems like it would be easy to unload the Ruth in a few hours. Just my .02

Take care, Zone.

I'm happy to say I have a sound plan of action in place, due in large part to the keen advice of a fellow member here. A relatively short time will tell how it all works out. With any luck (which is not usually my strong suit), I'll have a nice late-May pickup to post in the monthly thread (and a bottle of nice wine will be on the way to the aforementioned board member). If not, all good, the search will continue.

Thanks yet again for all the responses, guys. It helps make for a well-considered decision; in our hobby those tend to be the best kind, as hasty ones never seem to work out so well ;)

Best,

Matt

Good luck Matt. Hope you will be the proud owner of a Rookie Ruth card.

I am having the same debacle now, trading my small nice collection of great cards to get one super nice card. It would leave with one card versus a group of 6 cards. Is it worth it? I am curious to know....

Wich cards you want to let it go and for wich super nice card ?

Trying to get a Magie SGC 10 (but a nice 10), you might agree with me Nelson. I would be giving up quite a few good cards. A tough call or an easy decision?

AT how much do you estimate the value of each of your cards ?
I am familliar with T206 value but not an expert in mantle rookie or m116 card...
For me a nice looking Magie graded 1 have a value arround 6000-7000. Do you have the ebay Magie in your mind ?

no way would I do this trade. I know that Ruth card is a great card but you are sure giving up way to much in my opinion to get it.

Ruth
 

Absolutely I'd do it. All those cards you have although nice cards, are all replaceable and found without too much difficulty. There are about 100 Ruth RC's known. The Ruth will appreciate a good bit more than those will and you can free up safe space. I paid 42.5k for my Ruth SGC 20. If its a nice 1, it's a 25-30k card for sure.

My opinion is you can easily double or triple that amount of Ruths known. It is not a rare card....Maybe "scarce" because of demand, but fairly common otherwise. Included in my estimate are folks that have them and are not in the "new" hobby.

Hi Leon, its Joe T. and while I agree there may be some 150 to 200 Ruth rookie cards in private collections (give or take), the demand you mentioned will continue to exponentially grow far beyond the supply, whatever that number may be. Until the last several years, the true rookie card of baseball's greatest player ever has always been significantly undervalued, and it was only a matter of time before collectors began paying premium prices for the Babe's inaugural major league baseball card. How many examples are truly out there? 150, 200, 300...whatever. It doesn't really matter because thousands of collectors may eventually seek this card as it continues to gather momentum. Supply vs. demand is the ultimate driver of rising price tags and while not rare, there simply aren't enough Ruth rookie cards to satisfy the collecting community. Just my thoughts.

Best Regards,
Joe

The only card I would remove from that list of trades would be the Koufax. All the other cards are pretty much high grade fluff. Basketball and football cards are so replaceable it's not even funny, even in high grade. And unless Michael Jordan unexpectedly dies anytime soon, his cards' values aren't going anywhere. Take away the Koufax and see if he'll still do the deal. That's what I would do.

You never said if it was raw or graded that would help!!

Post # 2

Matty, I probably wouldn't make the deal. I was faced with a similar situation last year and made the trade/sold my cards and have really regretted it. In fact it was one of the dumber things I think I have done. You know me and the type of cards I had, and I have had an incredibly difficult time trying to replace many of them.

With all the being said, I understand why you would be doing the deal, and in fact agree with the others that the Ruth will have greater value over the long haul. I just happen to prefer having more than one card.

GL, Matt

joe t. from nyc is obviously biased here because i KNOW he has 5-6 ruth rookies :cool: bought from before this card exploded the last 2 years.

to me it depends on whether the jordan bgs 9.5 would cross to a psa 10, but i probably still wouldn't do it. you can sell all those cards and just wait a ruth out (maybe even a nice 1.5 or 2). i'll put you in touch with a guy. imo a 1 is 15-20k which i still think is overpriced but that's the current price i guess.

I saw 2 Rookie Ruth at Joe T table at the last boston show... 2 verry nice cards :)

Joe T,

C'mon, brother-- just sell me one. I can gift you the loot today-- unless they are PSA 4s ;)

Hit me on PM and let's do a nice deal!

Best,

Matt

Joe T had a nice SGC AUTH for sale in his case at the shriners last april.

How much was he asking for the one graded authentic...does anyone know?

Joe do you still have it for sale could you share a picture of the front and back here?

I am also going to be in the market for one in a little while (next few months or sooner). Of course MattyC asked 1st so I will respect if he makes the buy before I do...not here to cause trouble with other members...I believe in 1st come 1st served and he was ahead of me.

Post # 8

You just answered your question. The value of the stuff you listed is tied up in the plastic numbers. I guarantee if that is how you feel you will be just as happy with presentable midgrade cards as with the high number plastics. I have been downgrading for a few years that way and I am pleased as punch with the breadth of cards I can now afford to have in lieu of a high grade plastic entombed card or two. There's a ton of affordable Topps midgrade out there.

As long as the Ruth has great eye appeal, pull the trigger!

I know how much Joe T asked for the card but i will let him give his price here on the board if the card is still avalaible.
The AUTH card have a verry beautifull eyes appeal in my memories

g_vezina_c55

Thanks I do not mind a authentic card at all if it looks good then that is more than fine by me.

Post # 9

Hi Joe
You remind me of when I introduced myself to Scott Brockelman for the first 10 yrs I knew him. He used to laugh and say "yeah, I know who you are :)" ......It is a polite habit to have.

At any rate I absolutely agree with you. I just have a small pet peeve when folks quote numbers of copies when there are usually more than that. Many times I see the number of "approximately 50" when referring to T206 Wagners. Most in the hobby think the number is closer to 100, as do I. Regardless if it is 50 or 100....or 150 Wagners, the demand is off the charts. Same thing for a '52 Mantle. I bet there are thousands of them....but there are millions of folks that want one. Same with the Ruth rookie. Even if there are 300, the demand is off the charts and ramping up all of the time. No worries on any of these cards devaluing. I don't think it will happen in our lifetimes unless there is some extraordinary economic or world tragedy. Then it probably wouldn't matter anyway. Now, if there is a sudden spike in type card collecting then I will be happier. Otherwise I will continue to have some rare cards that don't hold a candle to many other more common ones, in value. (which is ok by me as I love what I collect)

Leon

Well said Leon!!

Post # 10

Ruth Rookie
 

Sorry Nelson.......sold it last week! The Ruth rookie card is absolutely on fire!!!!

Ruth Rookie
 

Leon...LOL!!!! P.S. - I can promise you that 99% of the hobby's vintage card collections have to bow to your extraordinary card gathering!!!

Ruth Rookie
 

Quan...LOL! First & foremost Quan, I only own ONE Ruth rookie. I had two but sold the higher graded one last year. Secondly, your $15 to $20K range for a decent looking "1" is WAY OFF BASE. Once again, last year SCP sold a creased blank back PSA 1 fro $31K, Goodwin sold an "Authentic" that was missing serious card stock for $10K, and a Famous & Barr SGC 10 with TWO pinholes & a horizontal crease through the center of the card is approaching $35K in REA (with that same card previously selling for $40K to $45K in prior auctions!).

If you can get decent looking "1's" to "1.5's" for $15K to $20K I will buy hoards of them tomorrow!

There's a real nice Ruth m101-4 Sporting News PSA 1 in the upcoming Legendary auction. Some paper loss and discoloration on the back explains the grade, but a beautiful card nonetheless.
http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Ite...a-copy_lg.jpeg
http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Ite...b-copy_lg.jpeg

That ones a beauty todd...back damage doesnt bother me at all...30-40k!!!

This ruth is. A beauty

Great-- so much for my new target flying under the radar. A PM would have sufficed ;)
Guess the dream will be deferred for a bit longer.

i will defer to joe t. here then as i know he keeps track of this particular card. make me wish i'd held on to my 1.5. strange how 4-5 years ago the e90-1 jax and the M ruth was the same value...since then one has taken a nose dive while the other has 4x.

edit: that 1 is a beauty, i would give up all the gold for that one. mattyc got ur pm, i will contact the member that i sold my 1.5 to...see if he wants to 3x his money real fast :).

I think the Ruth card is pretty bland and it depicts him as a member of the Red Sox. Don't forget that the 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan card has mega potential too. It could be argued that he has more of a global appeal than Ruth. I would consign the cards, buy the Ruth outright and have some more $$$ to spend.

Can you counter offer at this juncture? I think I would either pull the Koufax or see if the guy will kick in a couple of cards with the Ruth.

I dunno. I think at some point the Jordan Fleer card is going to collapse (or at least decline) in value because of how many of them are out there. PSA alone is showing over 13,000 on the population report and 160 PSA "10" cards. There are also undoubtedly lots of Fleer Jordan cards that have yet to be graded, considering it is only a 25-year-old card.

any decision on your trade?

Trade
 

Trade value is about even with what you are giving up
for the ruth rookie. The question is is it more fun to own all your cards or to own just one card the ruth rookie?

Are you leaning towards making the trade or not?

I'm curious to see if he pulled the trigger.

Seeing and considering all the different viewpoints has been great. I've developed a plan accordingly, and will report back soon to share how it went.