Advice on High End Card purchase

[Canofcorn]

Dont you just hate the new guys that always want to "invest" in the cards. Actually, I really do love the hobby aspect...and I've been on the boards for a while now and really enjoyed it. Have done some nice transactions with many of you and built up a nice little collection and have assembled a smattering of 50's-60's rookies...but now it's time to step it up a notch.

In your opinion, what are some card(s) I need to collect that potentially has the best upside in 5-10+ years. Like the 1952 Topps Mantle, if you got a nice one even just a few years ago you are just sitting pretty.

I would like to hear what you guys think. I just want to put myself in the best position. Nothing is guaranteed of course..but I love vintage and it's very stable.
I heard things from, buy a 1951 Bowman Mantle, Goudey Ruth, to a PSA 7 Hank Aaron rookie, to key T206...."nothing sells in a pinch like a Mantle or a Ruth" Is there something else I should keep an eye out for. Budget is up to $5k. It's nothing crazy...but a lot for me. I blame Mike Trout...if he wasn't so good I wouldn't have this Paypal avaialble.

I put this in the baseball section but certainly open to other sports suggestion. (I have a Gretzky O Pee Chee and Jordan already)

[mmier118]

My advice is probably only worth what you are paying for it lol, but I would think that if you are just going for one card that either a 1951 bowman Mantle or a 1933 Goudey Ruth are good options. I even like the World Wide Gum Ruth's, as I believe they are still a little under appreciated compared to their Goudey counterparts. You said you were open to other sports and while not as expensive as the others a high grade centered 1958 Jim Brown should hold it's value or do better as centered versions of this card are tough to come by. I am of the opinion that vintage football has more room to grow than baseball so high grade centered examples of older football HOF RC's would be worth looking into. Ultimately I would try to find cards that you will enjoy owning no matter what happens to their value and trust that in the future these will be the cards that others see value in too.

[MattyC]

1. '25 Gehrig RC - edit to add can maybe still find a 1-2 grade specimen for 5k, if one surfaces.

2. 51B Mick RC.

3. 33 Goudey Ruth, #53 and #144.

4. 68 Topps Nolan Ryan RC.

[pawpawdiv9]

Anything from the Leon Luckey Collection from Heritage.
If Leon once owned it, it has to be worth something!!!

ADDED:
1989 Donruss are gonna be getting HOT!!!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by pawpawdiv9

Anything from the Leon Luckey Collection from Heritage.
If Leon once owned it, it has to be worth something!!!

ADDED:
1989 Donruss are gonna be getting HOT!!!

Lol, Chris ain't they still printing 88, 89, and 90 Donruss or does it just seem like it.

MattyC had some great choices. I am just a collector so grade means nothing to me. My only opinion would be to make the choice in the cards you want to invest in. Then research those cards and buy a couple cheap commons from the same set to get familiar with the set. Then buy raw examples from a collector that you feel meet the stanards you want. If investing always get the best example you can afford. Then when you sell find what grading companies cards are selling the best at that time and then have them graded before selling.

With all the fiasco's going on in the grading industry now I would not hold any of their cards for a long(10+ yrs) investment.

[pokerplyr80]

Those are all good choices. I recently picked up a 51 bowman mantle and a 33 goudey ruth in the price range you're looking at. For an investment I would say a psa 6 or 7 55 clemente would also be a good choice. As would a high end later issue Mantle, PSA 8. Like a 56 or 57.

Or a nice t206 green cobb. You could probably get a 4-5 at your price.