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Under The Radar Basketball Cards (investment)
Basketball memorabilia has been on an incredible run, and rightly so, given the amazing players in the game today! But are there any investment opportunities left? Where is the "smart money" going? I submit to the board that there are still some pockets of opportunity. May I mention one for your review please?
Is ultra-modern the place to spend? No, it's far too speculative, with more busts than stars, by far. How about early vintage (48B, 57T, 61F)? Likely not, as its still experiencing a "boom period" and priced out right now. What about the standard set for the hobby- 1986 Fleer Basketball? Perhaps in the mid-high graded card sector (7/8), but generally most feel it will be tough to sustain current prices for the long haul. Here's a small set, really a subset, worthy of consideration: 1987-88 Fleer Stickers! Hear me out... consider these reasons: 1-Nine of the 11 cards portray in-game shots of renown Hall of Famers like Bird, Magic, Jordan, Hakeem, Barkley, etc, while in their prime! 2-High grade cards are very difficult to come by. A graded 9 set would be very elusive and a gem mint 10 set extremely difficult to obtain, because of the small population. 3-The cards are condition sensitive, the preponderance being diamond cut with well known left-to-right centering problems. 4-There are many raw copies of this 35 yr old set available for sale, however, the population has diminished some because many collectors used these colorful stickers as intended and peeled and stuck them to something! 5-The most important card, the second year Michael Jordan sticker, portrays him with hair and in his early Bulls uniform! An amazing card that can be purchased graded 7 for around $200! 6-The entire set is a comparative bargain when looking at other cards from the mid-1980's, an era when basketball spread internationally and the players became celebrities. I recommend putting together a set in Ex-Mint 6 or higher condition. An exmt set would be quite affordable, a higher grade set viewed as more of an investment. Below are some examples. Anyone else agree/disagree? Other values out there?
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Thanks for your thoughts, Joe. Love the late 1800’s Boston Beaneaters and the early Boston Red Sox (1903-1918)! Also collecting any and all basketball memorabilia. |
#2
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I like them but not seeing the "investment" angle. Rare early vintage cards, or rookie cards, might have investment potential. A common set of stickers? Not IMO.
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My avatar is a sketch by my son who is an art school graduate. Some of his sketches and paintings are at https://www.jamesspaethartwork.com/ He is available to do custom drawings in graphite, charcoal and other media. He also sells some of his works as note cards/greeting cards on Etsy under JamesSpaethArt. |
#3
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Thanks for the reply Peter. That’s really the point: to find reasonably priced cards that are off the radar of some, i.e. not big rookies or vintage stars, both of which are priced out. Looking for items that are obtainable with room to grow.
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Thanks for your thoughts, Joe. Love the late 1800’s Boston Beaneaters and the early Boston Red Sox (1903-1918)! Also collecting any and all basketball memorabilia. |
#4
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I think early cards and memorabilia of superstars from that long gap between actual card sets is a good buy right now. I've been salting away unusual regional cards, team issue cards, and related items for years. Thing is, they are so hard to find that you cannot amass a really large group. Also what makes them fun. This is a 1960 Boston TI:
Photos are a good area too, though they have been on fire lately. I just consigned some Russell-Chamberlain early photos that i've been holding for years. This one I hung on to, it is a favorite. 1961:
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Read my blog; it will make all your dreams come true. https://adamstevenwarshaw.substack.com/ Or not... |
#5
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These old photos are great. I just acquired some 1920's cabinet cards of early pro and amateur basketball teams.
Checked with National Basketball Hall of Fame and they didn't even have these pioneer Hall of Fame players.
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Collecting vintage soccer Collecting pre-war baseball Collecting vintage horse racing (wanted: tobacco cards and pins) Set in progress: 1994 Upper Deck World Cup autographed Set in progress: 1938 Konig Fussball Sub set in progress: 1910-12 Sweet Caporal pins - Philadelphia Athletics - 4 of 11 complete (need: Baker, Murphy, Plank, Krause, Davis) Successful transactions: aro13 edsj commishbob jpaol99 Gonzo, abroom Brianp-beme Dboneesq Chris Counts xplainer Bobbyw8469 |
#6
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I've also started looking at schedules and team issued mailers, like these 1950s Knicks schedule cards:
1951: 1952:
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Read my blog; it will make all your dreams come true. https://adamstevenwarshaw.substack.com/ Or not... |
#7
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Quote:
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Thanks for your thoughts, Joe. Love the late 1800’s Boston Beaneaters and the early Boston Red Sox (1903-1918)! Also collecting any and all basketball memorabilia. Last edited by Dead-Ball-Hitter; 03-08-2022 at 09:32 AM. |
#8
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I understand the point; mine is that IMO a common set of stickers with no rookies does not have a lot of room to grow. But who knows.
__________________
My avatar is a sketch by my son who is an art school graduate. Some of his sketches and paintings are at https://www.jamesspaethartwork.com/ He is available to do custom drawings in graphite, charcoal and other media. He also sells some of his works as note cards/greeting cards on Etsy under JamesSpaethArt. |
#9
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I remember those stickers being brutal right out of the pack. Very poor cuts.
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#10
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Maybe higher grade examples of mid career stars and HOFers....
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Successful B/S/T deals with asoriano, obcbobd, x2dRich2000, eyecollectvintage, RepublicaninMass, Kwikford, Oneofthree67, jfkheat, scottglevy, whitehse, GoldenAge50s, Peter Spaeth, Northviewcats, megalimey, BenitoMcNamara, Edwolf1963, mightyq, sidepocket, darwinbulldog, jasonc, jessejames, sb1, rjackson44, bobbyw8469, quinnsryche, Carter08, philliesfan and ALBB, Buythatcard and JimmyC so far. |
#11
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Quote:
At this point the market is what it is and finding undervalued cards is pretty much impossible. Everything has been pumped at one point. |
#12
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A good investment will be autographs of the really big names before they're gone, because as my friend once said about deceased players, "He doesn't sign any longer"
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#13
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Quote:
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Thanks for your thoughts, Joe. Love the late 1800’s Boston Beaneaters and the early Boston Red Sox (1903-1918)! Also collecting any and all basketball memorabilia. |
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