Selling 80% of your collection for ‘52 Mantle - would you?

[pokerplyr80]

I'd say go for it. You can always add back the cards you miss later. Picked this up a while back and definitely don't regret it.

[Brian Van Horn]

To answer the title question, no.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

I'd say go for it. You can always add back the cards you miss later. Picked this up a while back and definitely don't regret it.

Nice Mantle!!!!!!

[Exhibitman]

I had a 52T Mantle for a few years. I didn't like it as much as I like the 1952 and 1953 Bowman, so I sold it off and happily kept the other two.



No point in tying up that big a % of my collection budget in a card I don't really care for, aesthetically speaking. Plunked the proceeds into my investments and while those aren't aesthetically pleasing, either, they are growing nicely.

Oh, and on the Wags question, another Horner portrait card people tend to forget:



My Joe Jackson:



A fantasy card of a banned player seemed strangely appropriate. I got it from Terry Knouse (RIP) at a National. We both had a good laugh over it and he tossed it into a deal. I showed it to Josh Evans (RIP) and he was not as amused as I was with it.

[gregndodgers]

Sell your cards! You can go back later and buy some of the cards again; the ones you really like, but a 42 Mantle is hard to find and going up price!

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

I'd say go for it. You can always add back the cards you miss later. Picked this up a while back and definitely don't regret it.

That's just it though. The cards I'd miss most are the ones I'm unlikely to see come up for sale again in my lifetime. The Mantle may be hard to pay for, but it isn't hard to find.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by gregndodgers

Sell your cards! You can go back later and buy some of the cards again; the ones you really like, but a 42 Mantle is hard to find and going up price!

A 42 Mantle may be hard to find , but there are a lot of 52 Mantles available. Finding one versus affording one are different, though.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

That's just it though. The cards I'd miss most are the ones I'm unlikely to see come up for sale again in my lifetime. The Mantle may be hard to pay for, but it isn't hard to find.

I think for many of us, the question hinges on what exactly is in our collection. I'd be more hard pressed to part with a rare issue that doesn't come up often.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

The Mantle may be hard to pay for, but it isn't hard to find.

The 1952 Mickey Mantle may perhaps be the very easiest Topps card from the 1950's to find. At any point in time there are all kinds of offerings of the card - but at not exactly friendly prices.

[Brent G.]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

That's just it though. The cards I'd miss most are the ones I'm unlikely to see come up for sale again in my lifetime. The Mantle may be hard to pay for, but it isn't hard to find.

Glenn, considering the one card you sold me and others I've seen you post, I have much respect for your eye in finding the rarest of the rare.

[gonefishin]

If my collection consisted of a large group of 1987 Topps or Donruss, you damn right I would.

[jchcollins]

My answer to the question would be "no", but that would be a bit tongue-in-cheek even out of the gate. My collection sold at high retail right now might be able to be traded for the worst looking Authentic '52 Mantle you can imagine...but not much more. It's not something I would seriously entertain.

Besides a better answer to the Mantle question being "I was born at least 20 years too late", right now I would be in no mood to trade many cards that I enjoy for one. Traditionally, I get spooked with too much $ being tied up in just any one card, and try to avoid situations where I would be placing all of my dopamine (if not dollar...) value in only one or a few cards.

I'm in my late 40's; enjoy working on postwar player runs and selected sets, and as someone who has never seriously done much with prewar cards - I think my next big endeavor (in terms of $ anyway...) will be going after a prewar Chicago Cubs collection.

The day may come when I want to consolidate down and turn thousands of cards into much fewer - but honestly I don't know what that would feel like, and I have even less of an idea what it would look like. Ask me if I'm still around on these boards 25 years from now...

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

That's just it though. The cards I'd miss most are the ones I'm unlikely to see come up for sale again in my lifetime. The Mantle may be hard to pay for, but it isn't hard to find.

Well in that case I'd probably say wait until you can afford it without liquidating your collection. But this is obviously a personal decision with many factors that only you can evaluate.

I have personally considered selling off several cards to get a grail type card for me like a Ruth RC or signed Goudey and am leaning towards it. But anything I'd sell I would see again if missed.

[samosa4u]

I bought a VG+ SGC example back in my college days and it just sat in the safe collecting dust. I was more focused on drinking, going to strip clubs, wrestling events, movies, etc. I sold it after a few years for around 20k USD. Could I get another one today if I sold a few big pieces? Sure. But do I want to do that? Nope! I just don't see any investment potential with this card anymore. Buying a PSA 1 for 30k USD makes zero sense to me! I think the 51' Bowman rookie is the better buy. Get a nice centered example and hold for long-term.

[Rare Stuff]

I sold most of my collection for this one:

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by Rare Stuff

I sold most of my collection for this one:

That’s a gorgeous card.

[ChasingPaper]

How much enjoyment can one get staring at 1 card as opposed to a plethora of cards from all different sets/designs and players across many years?

[Hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by ChasingPaper

How much enjoyment can one get staring at 1 card as opposed to a plethora of cards from all different sets/designs and players across many years?

Alot.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[brunswickreeves]

Who said just one card?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

Who said just one card?

[Fandom0610]

It all depends. You gotta look at what you have now and ask yourself are they cards you can live without. If theres some in there that are sentimental or are cards you know you could never obtain again then keep what you have. If not I would definitely do it

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by ChasingPaper

How much enjoyment can one get staring at 1 card as opposed to a plethora of cards from all different sets/designs and players across many years?

Yes, that's precisely my question too.

Originally Posted by Fandom0610

It all depends. You gotta look at what you have now and ask yourself are they cards you can live without. If theres some in there that are sentimental or are cards you know you could never obtain again then keep what you have. If not I would definitely do it.

1) Twould seem strange for a card collector/enthusiast to have acquired mostly cards which he doesn't like that much.

2) Would you not need to really like Mickey Mantle and that particular 1952 card to "do it" anyway? It's a card that's so common that you can select from a plethora of offerings at any time.

[Fandom0610]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Yes, that's precisely my question too.



1) Twould seem strange for a card collector/enthusiast to have acquired mostly cards which he doesn't like that much.

2) Would you not need to really like Mickey Mantle and that particular 1952 card to "do it" anyway? It's a card that's so common that you can select from a plethora of offerings at any time.

I never said anything at all about "cards he doesnt like" so im confused where you got that from. As a collector sometimes you sell stuff in your collection to obtain a grail or something youve been after. Not sure if youve heard that before but its very common. Obviously he likes whatever he has in his collection but sometimes you sacrifice cards you "like" for a card you "love".

Also it is a common card but is it something he'll be able to afford "at any time???". Not sure you really thought out your comments before you posted them but the value of that card continues to go up in value.

Confused

[Eric72]

The most beautiful thing (to me) about this hobby is freedom. I can collect what I want and do it the way I want.

From set builders to people who only own one card, there's plenty of room for everyone.

Collect what you like. Like what you collect. Leave the rest for everyone else.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Eric72

The most beautiful thing (to me) about this hobby is freedom. I can collect what I want and do it the way I want.

From set builders to people who only own one card, there's plenty of room for everyone.

Collect what you like. Like what you collect. Leave the rest for everyone else.

I dunno, man.

I'm pretty sure that my way is the only right way, and everyone else is just doing it wrong.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by Eric72

The most beautiful thing (to me) about this hobby is freedom. I can collect what I want and do it the way I want.

From set builders to people who only own one card, there's plenty of room for everyone.

Collect what you like. Like what you collect. Leave the rest for everyone else.

Well said, Eric. I collect cards most here wouldn't desire. The older I get (I'm 52), the less I care about condition. I've returned to my late 40s to mid 50s set building ways. It's about completion for me now. I used to agonize over the finest, pickiest points of condition over every single card. Needless to say, I often bogged down. My sets now are generally lower grade (not beaters), but I'm able to finish sets. I enjoy the cards for what they are. They are simply period-specific fun ephemera to me. I am an avid reader, and it's fun to own the cards of the players I read about. The books and the cards work together and make the players come alive.

Regarding the question of this thread, I would not trade 80% of my collection to own a '52 T Mantle. My other Mantles and cards of the era will have to do. I freely admit to liking the card a great deal and would love to own one and to build that set, but it's not going to happen. That's fine because there are countless other sets from that era I can complete. I figured out a long time ago that I can't buy them all, as much as I might like.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by raulus

I dunno, man.

I'm pretty sure that my way is the only right way, and everyone else is just doing it wrong.

[DeanH3]

I've been doing the consolidation plan last couple years. I've netted two cards I would not have been able to acquire otherwise. No regrets on my end. I can replace the cards I've sold down the line if I desire. And I will probably keep consolidating in the future.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by raulus

I dunno, man.

I'm pretty sure that my way is the only right way, and everyone else is just doing it wrong.

You're right. But then again if that makes me wrong, then my agreeing that you're right makes us both wrong. Hmmmm. Now I'm really confused....

I still don't want a 1952 Mickey Mantle though. If I find one in a drawer somewhere I'll put it up for sale immediately!

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

I still don't want a 1952 Mickey Mantle though. If I find one in a drawer somewhere I'll put it up for sale immediately!

When you go to sell, just make sure that you have a solid backstory about how it was inside an envelope taped to the underside of the dresser drawer, and just happened to have vibrant colors, razor sharp corners, and perfect centering, despite being 73 years old, and in spite of basically none of them coming out centered without tilt. Plus you can't possibly be bothered with the time and expense to get it graded. And so therefore, there is zero possible chance that it could be a reprint.

Throw in something about your uncle or your old man for good measure...

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Fandom0610

I never said anything at all about "cards he doesnt like" so im confused where you got that from.

Because you said this:

Originally Posted by Fandom0610

You gotta look at what you have now and ask yourself are they cards you can live without.

I'm a collector. The cards I bought I love. It would be very painful for me to part with a large percentage of my core collection let alone 80%. I couldn't do it.

Originally Posted by Fandom0610

As a collector sometimes you sell stuff in your collection to obtain a grail or something youve been after. Not sure if youve heard that before but its very common.

"Very common"? Is it really? Doing that sounds bizarre to me. I'm all about permanence.

Originally Posted by Fandom0610

Also it is a common card but is it something he'll be able to afford "at any time???". Not sure you really thought out your comments before you posted them but the value of that card continues to go up in value.

No. It's you who should think very carefully before picking a fight with me with the statement that I couldn't have been thinking very carefully.

Consider just your statement regarding affordability. You realize of course that you're intrinsically assuming that whatever has gone up in price will continue to go up in future. But there's a disconnect there. When it comes to investments, there's only a past tense and a future tense. Past price increases tell you nothing about the future.

Moreover with respect to collectibles such as baseball cards, Pokémon cards, comic mags, My Little Pony figures, coins, stamps, Beanie babies, pogs and tulip bulbs, there are no intrinsic growth factors such as increasing sales, profits and dividends as there are for some publicly traded stocks. Future price increases depend strictly upon future demand increases and these are never certain.

And with respect to the 1952 Mickey Mantle card specifically, the demographic factors don't look good. The main factor that's driven demand for this card is that the baby boomers who once idolized Mantle as kids and collected baseball cards in wax packs with bubble gum could afford to pay ever increasing prices for the Mantle as their own income/wealth increased. But these baby boomers are now all entering their "estate planning" years (or even dying). Many(most?) of them are hoping that they can sell these Mantle cards now to those who are willing to gayly extrapolate past price increases for this card on into the future. But that is in no way guaranteed.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by raulus

Throw in something about your uncle or your old man for good measure...

My father bought it to finance my college education but got drunk, forgot where he put it and never even remembered to tell me he'd stored it away somewhere.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

I've been doing the consolidation plan last couple years. I've netted two cards I would not have been able to acquire otherwise. No regrets on my end. I can replace the cards I've sold down the line if I desire. And I will probably keep consolidating in the future.

-
Nice Dean.
-

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

-
Nice Dean.
-

Thanks Phil!

I must admit, I am starting to run out of cards I’d like to consolidate. So I could run into trouble soon.

[Directly]

I wouldn't sell the dirt farm, but card board for card board, go for it, less inventory to keep up with.

There's a dealer now in distress, second mortgaged the home to buy ungraded
cards--although they appeared nice, came back low grade--oh, oh

[Fandom0610]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Because you said this:



I'm a collector. The cards I bought I love. It would be very painful for me to part with a large percentage of my core collection let alone 80%. I couldn't do it.



"Very common"? Is it really? Doing that sounds bizarre to me. I'm all about permanence.



No. It's you who should think very carefully before picking a fight with me with the statement that I couldn't have been thinking very carefully.

Consider just your statement regarding affordability. You realize of course that you're intrinsically assuming that whatever has gone up in price will continue to go up in future. But there's a disconnect there. When it comes to investments, there's only a past tense and a future tense. Past price increases tell you nothing about the future.

Moreover with respect to collectibles such as baseball cards, Pokémon cards, comic mags, My Little Pony figures, coins, stamps, Beanie babies, pogs and tulip bulbs, there are no intrinsic growth factors such as increasing sales, profits and dividends as there are for some publicly traded stocks. Future price increases depend strictly upon future demand increases and these are never certain.

And with respect to the 1952 Mickey Mantle card specifically, the demographic factors don't look good. The main factor that's driven demand for this card is that the baby boomers who once idolized Mantle as kids and collected baseball cards in wax packs with bubble gum could afford to pay ever increasing prices for the Mantle as their own income/wealth increased. But these baby boomers are now all entering their "estate planning" years (or even dying). Many(most?) of them are hoping that they can sell these Mantle cards now to those who are willing to gayly extrapolate past price increases for this card on into the future. But that is in no way guaranteed.

That card may be important to him and something he's been after for a long time. There are some cards that are grails for people and making a sacrifice to obtain that is up to each individual person. That mantle has consistently increased in value and will always be a extremely iconic card. Your remarks were not thought out at all. Good luck though