You have $5000 to spend...
 

If you had $5000 to spend today and you could buy only one card. What card would you be on the hunt for?

Today -Me - 1933 Goudey Ruth





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I would get the nicest T206/T213 Red Cobb I could find. If it is a T206 I would really prefer a Old Mill back.

If I had $5,000 USD today, then I would go after the nicest 1954 Topps Hank Aaron rookie that I could find.

If I was starting from scratch, I would go after at the best T206 Cobb bat off the shoulder that I could find (probably a PSA 4).

If I start with my current collection, I would go for a T206 Mordecai Brown Cubs shirt PSA 6, since I'm missing that card and really like it.

1921 Shotwell Ruth... preferably a genuine example with no paper loss.

Joe Jackson M101

I think a nice looking 51 Mantle in maybe a 2-3 is a good value for 5k. But if I had to look for a card I don't have at exactly 5k I'd either go for a yellow 33 Ruth or the nicest signed 50s Mantle I could find.

Right now it would be an e101 Cobb. Could change in an hour, but that's the one right now. A nice T206 Red Cobb is a close second.

It would have to be a pretty beat up example to sell for $5k. I would recommend a nice Cobb T206 Bat Off with a scarcer back. I don’t collect these but I think that card will do well.

If I could get a Drum back for my Providence T206 set for that price, I would. If not, a Broad Leaf.

T206 Green Cobb if I could only pick one card which would be pretty low grade at 5k, but I'd rather have the T206 Cubs lineup.

Put it in the bank and let the fraud in the hobby crest.

Full Agreement it’s better to be cash rich and card poor right now let it come it

I’m beginning to feel this way as well, just can’t see the bull run of the past decade as sustainable, especially under these conditions. I had know way of predicting the fiasco that would end it though. Don’t think anyone did; if you did, well done. Guess I’ll just watch it play out from the sidelines, which isn’t something I’ve ever done. Never been a seller, always a buyer... till now. How sad.

Don’t be sad....you’re smart enough to recognize it and take steps to protect
yourself .....there will be better times to buy :-) down the road.

Yep.

I'm happy the postwar regional cards and coins I wrote about were not implicated in this latest mess. Whilst researching my book during 2003 - 2009, card doctoring was a hot topic from time to time on these boards. When I interviewed Rob Lifson, among the topics we discussed was that particular matter. He informed me, for instance, that Stahl-Meyer Franks cannot be doctored; the paraffin coating prevents any type of "fixin". Which, then, would also include Dan-Dees, Briggs, Esskays, Hunters, and Peters Meats, most of which are covered to some extent in NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN. The distinctive type of slick, "mirro-chrome" finish on the late 50s-early 60s Bell Brand and Morrell Meat Dodgers would also be restorative-proof. Ditto Dormand postcards, Coca-Cola premiums, and the color Kahn's regionals.

Honest, I'm not suggesting to collect all of the above. Just be reassured card doctoring can be thwarted in some instances. I know very well my little niche is perhaps a single percent of the focus of our members. This whole fiasco has been very disturbing, to say the least. The basic need of superior professional third party authenticating and grading is still there, and always will be. Let's not throw the baby, and the rest of his family, out with the bath water! We simply cannot go back to:

It's a screamer,
best I've ever seen,
best I've ever handled,
you could shave with this,
try to find another,
I swear it's the best you'll ever find in your life,
you never see them this nice,
bragging rights abound with this one,
etc., etc., etc.

I wonder if TPGs will honor their guarantees, and collectors will be refunded their money (i.e. that $5,000, as in the OP). It will be very tough to prove, and the pivotal matter of tracing back the provenance....:(

I know this post kinda diverts from the original discussion and intent; however, the uneasiness, anquish, and outright wrath in the hearts of those collectors affected, in one way or another, cannot be pooh-poohed and forum-banned away. It may take some more time before someone will eagerly wish to spend their 5 grand on a card.

--- Brian Powell

Guys, let's not take this so seriously. If you had a free $5K that you had to spend on a card, what would it be? Simple. No saving the money because the hobby is wrought with fraud right now, blah blah blah. Just pick a card with a hypothetical $5K that was left to you by some Aunt that passed and she stipulated that you have to spend it on a card. What card? :D

Probably '07 HM Taylor Cobb or '07 Dietsche Batting Cobb.

Most importantly, nothing where value is mostly tied to condition/grade.

I would buy the card(s) that I would most enjoy owning. Any effort to predict future values is, in my judgment, unreliable.

I’d go for a SGC 2-3 t206 Green Cobbie.

low grade, but decent looking T201 set and 1933 Goudey Ruth #144

A collector-grade, scarce WaJo card.

Best 1949 Paige, or 1926/29 Ruth PC Exhibit - good stuff!

I would buy the nicest 1956 Topps Mantle I could find for the price. I have always loved that card and currently need it for my set.

+1. This, or a 1921 Exhibit Ruth.

The cleanest unaltered E90-2 Honus Wagner I could find.

5k
 

Id grAb the best hm taylor cobb i could find

OK, Andy, I get it. If I had five grand, I'd want the nicest T-206 Ed Walsh I could get. :)

--- Brian Powell

One of these ...

T206 Cobb Bat On PSA 4.5
T206 Cobb Bat Off PSA 4.5
T206 Cobb Red Portrait PSA 4.5
T206 Young Portrait PSA 5
T206 Johnson Portrait PSA 5
1933 Goudey Ruth PSA 4
1933 Goudey Gehrig PSA 5

Ship may have already sailed on many of these but maybe you will get lucky.

:D Thanks Brian! Nice pick too by the way. I always liked the Walsh image.

I would buy the best Gregg Jefferies rookie card I could find. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I still think that card's going to hit it big!!!!!

PSA/SGC 3/4 T206 Uzit...or try to find a low grade Drum for 5k (not easy).

56 Mantle, 54 Aaron or a 90 Uribe...

I wouldn't put $5,000 into cards right now. I'm disgusted with what's been transpiring in the hobby, and more than a little shell-shocked. I'd buy as many ounces of gold as I could.

T215 Red Cross Zach Wheat .

It’s certainly fun to think about....someone gives me $5000 and I HAVE to spend it on a card (instead of saving, retirement accounts, bills, college accounts, and all the other real life stuff that typically prevent a major card purchase)!

I think I’d go with the best Goudey Ruth I could get. Specifically the green one...I love that card. Runner up would be a solid mid grade 1952 Bowman Mantle. I love that card too!

I'd like to pick up a T207 Red Cross and/or a T214.

Not really sure I'd be able to find either of these, and not 100% sure $5k would get me either of them, but I'd be going after either an E92 Nadja Mathewson or the E92 red croft Evers.

DJ

E107 jake beckley or e107 joe kelley

For me it'd be the best cobb or ruth I don't have...maybe a W/V/R ruth or a nice dietsche cobb or a green t206.

5K = 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig #37 or Old Judge Hoss Radbourne.
Can I have both? Lower grades are my style....

i've got a nice Goudey gehrig of that variety I'd gleefully let go for 5K!!!!:D

Gorilla
 

When answering the question, I wanted to stay away from the 800 lb Gorilla...but this is a card I really want. It's the top of my WL.

The lower grade ones wont cost 5K but the higher grade ones now might be suspicious. Heck, the lower grades may be suspicious too.:(

Maybe I'll go for a T208 Eddie Plank in rough shape?

I'd upgrade my 1921 Ruth from this:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...bsize/Ruth.jpg

down payment towards that t206 Plank in the BST. Sweet it is.:D

If I could find one, 1966 Topps Test Bobby Orr rookie, hands down !

E105 Mello Mint Cy Young in a mid grade

I got you covered on one of those...let's make a deal!

t206 drum Lenox or uzit

An OJ Harry Wright (nice image) might be doable at this price point...