[cfhofer]

Sam: The joy of collecting for me is in the process of searching for than ultimately acquiring a rare piece of sports memorabilia. When that process is no different than when my wife buys designer jeans online, I lose interest. And you think hockey cards are expensive....look up how much a pair of Dolce Gabbana cost. I wish she was collecting Bobby Hull rookie cards off eBay instead.

You seem to be fixated on "value". You are right...vintage hockey cards have a higher value than football or basketball cards from similar eras. However, sports memorabilia is not part of my investment portfolio. They are purchased with expendable income. Their value only justifies my purchase point.