A New All Time Record for a Sports Card

[theshowandme]

The SGC 9.5 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle has been topped.

This sold last night at Heritage.

What will break the record next?

[4815162342]

Would you rather have that or a Wagner with a mansion to put it in?

[Schlesinj]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

Would you rather have that or a Wagner with a mansion to put it in?

I suspect the owner already has both.

[Brent G.]

Imagine thinking you really killed it with that purchase. I mean, it's basically a custom card with a couple patches and two signatures worth around $3,000 on their own. GREAT DEAL!

[Jay Wolt]

That's quite the price for a mid grade modern card

[Johnny630]

I bet that will be right back up, in their post option buy future.

[Leon]

To be a halfway decent investment it has to gain about 1 million dollars a year in value .
I am guessing the owner isn't worried about it.

.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Brent G.

Imagine thinking you really killed it with that purchase.

I suspect the seller thought he really killed it.

[conor912]

Whoever bought that is gonna get ALL the ladies now!

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

Would you rather have that or a Wagner with a mansion to put it in?

Hmmmm. A Hobson's choice.

Keeping a mansion clean would be a full time job which is not my preferred choice for a post retirement second career. I suppose I could hire some help to do the cleaning:



But I doubt that I could afford the lady's services given the property taxes a mansion would command.

Moreover I'd rather spend the property taxes I'd have to pay on more cards. Just not on either of those two. My tastes are shall we say more pedestrian.

[theshowandme]

I hope Jordan bought it

[NYYFan63]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

I hope Jordan bought it

I was thinking the same


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Beercan collector]

Sadly (for me) If I seen this at a show for $8000 I’d walk right past it

[Snapolit1]

Just incredibly fkked up that some dude can drop $9M on this fake piece of nonsense, and like 60% of the country couldn't come up with $400 tomorrow if they needed it for a major automobile repair. And probably upwards of 70% of people would be in financial ruin if a family member suffered a debilitating illness.

Don't know what to say. This economic disparity don't seen to bother a lot of people. All hail the great gd of capitalism.

[rjackson44]

Just imagine how msny great ruths jacksons cobbs for that absurd buy.oh well

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Just incredibly fkked up that some dude can drop $9M on this fake piece of nonsense, and like 60% of the country couldn't come up with $400 tomorrow if they needed it for a major automobile repair. And probably upwards of 70% of people would be in financial ruin if a family member suffered a debilitating illness.

Don't know what to say. This economic disparity don't seen to bother a lot of people. All hail the great gd of capitalism.

Seriously? Try going somewhere without it and let us know how it goes.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Just incredibly fkked up that some dude can drop $9M on this fake piece of nonsense, and like 60% of the country couldn't come up with $400 tomorrow if they needed it for a major automobile repair. And probably upwards of 70% of people would be in financial ruin if a family member suffered a debilitating illness.

Don't know what to say. This economic disparity don't seen to bother a lot of people. All hail the great gd of capitalism.

That's how I see it, sir.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

This economic disparity don't seen to bother a lot of people.

Doesn't bother me. But then again I'm not one for the politics of envy.

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

All hail the great gd of capitalism.

Sneer all you want but capitalism a.k.a. a free market is the only economic system consistent with respect for individual liberty. The other variant requires subservience to the dictates of the State.

[theshowandme]

Without capitalism none of us would have collections

[vintagerookies51]

Hilarious that people who buy other tiny pieces of paper for a fraction of their net worth are judging someone for doing the same. At least this one is signed by two of the greatest to ever do it. Modern isn’t for me either, but it’s not any different from what we do

[gonefishin]

Originally Posted by vintagerookies51

Hilarious that people who buy other tiny pieces of paper for a fraction of their net worth are judging someone for doing the same. At least this one is signed by two of the greatest to ever do it. Modern isn’t for me either, but it’s not any different from what we do

I agree 100%. I know it pisses a lot of people off when they see something sell for so much more than anything in their possession and cannot see any value in the item that sold for so much - human nature, I guess.

As always unless something nefarious is happening - the market determines the price at the time of the sale.

If we didn't have modern collectors that are willing to spend money to collect, or invest, our hobby would end up just like stamp collecting - virtually worthless monetarily.

Oh, regarding the grade - I see so many people state "Buy the card, not the grade". That's what someone did in this case, yet someone posted it's only a 6. Damn, if it was a 10 it might have sold for $20M!

Congrats to the seller, buyer and Heritage!

[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by vintagerookies51

Hilarious that people who buy other tiny pieces of paper for a fraction of their net worth are judging someone for doing the same. At least this one is signed by two of the greatest to ever do it. Modern isn’t for me either, but it’s not any different from what we do

Exactly! Thank you!

[bcbgcbrcb]

When I heard about the nearly $13MM price tag, I knew that it had to be a 1915 Red Sox item picturing Babe Ruth, maybe a type 1 photo of the pitching staff or team postcard or something like that. Because, there are very few things picturing the Babe during his Red Sox tenure. We all know that at the current low 6-figure level, those are all steals and only a matter of time before they reach 7-figures and possibly 8. Guess I was wrong……..

[theshowandme]

Didn’t expect this thread to devolve into class warfare

Any predictions on what card tops this one in the future? And when?

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Didn’t expect this thread to devolve into class warfare

Exaggerate much?

Any predictions on what card tops this one in the future? And when?

The next one of these logo dual signatures that gets hyped up. And within another couple of years

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Any predictions on what card tops this one in the future? And when?

Someone will get a Joe Jackson cut, whether dubious or not, get it authenticated, locate cuts of the other 7 Black Sox, and issue a set of eight 1/1 autograph cuts of the Infamous Eight. Some oil sheik in the Emirates will spend big to buy the other 7, and then pay silly money for the Jackson.

[molenick]

FWIW, the sale was mentioned on the local news in New York (channel 7) as part of the sports segment. The 1952 9.5 Mantle was mentioned as having the previous record.

[vintagerookies51]

CNN also had an article on it that mentioned the 1952 Mantle, although seeing some people’s comments on this thread they might not think that’s a trustworthy source ��


For the next card to break the record, I think it will be another modern card and I don’t know enough about it to guess what. Older cards are more predictable and I think there are only a select few that could even come close. I don’t know if any of the owners plan on selling.

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Didn’t expect this thread to devolve into class warfare

Any predictions on what card tops this one in the future? And when?

Maybe a dual signed Travis Kelce Taylor Swift 1/1?

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by Pat R

Maybe a dual signed Travis Kelce Taylor Swift 1/1?

I’m really surprised a Topps Now card hasn’t been announced.

[theshowandme]

Net54 knowing who Kevin O’Leary is but not Shyne has reminded me that this is small small pond here in terms of knowing what’s going on in the hobby

https://www.instagram.com/shyne150?i...8wZjA0Z2UybzB5

[Johnny630]

See Post 45

[BobbyStrawberry]

Purchased by a reality TV star who doesn't even know anything about sportscards. You can't make this stuff up.

[BioCRN]

As someone who's collecting realm tops out in the 10K-ish range, and very rarely in that range...what others are doing with the 6-7+ figure collectables isn't on my radar.

I realize it very much is a part of some members here, but "Oh, wow, cool, okay, anyway..." is my most meaningful input on the matter.

My spending 5K on a card is like spending 500K for some people and 5 dollars to some other people.

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Net54 knowing who Kevin O’Leary is but not Shyne has reminded me that this is small small pond here in terms of knowing what’s going on in the hobby

Maybe Shyne's trying to make people forget that he was one of the middle-men in the Pokemon sealed case which contained GI Joe cards.

[MR RAREBACK]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

The SGC 9.5 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle has been topped.

This sold last night at Heritage.

What will break the record next?

I can’t believe anyone would pay more then 150k for this

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by MR RAREBACK

I can’t believe anyone would pay more then 150k for this

If this thread started with the card selling for 150,000 I would still think it was crazy.
... And for that reason I’m out

[bcbgcbrcb]

My problem isn’t with this particular card, it’s with almost every card there that sold for 6-figures. Most all are rediculous. Which of those cards was 6-figures during 2019 and before?

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

If this thread started with the card selling for 150,000 I would still think it was crazy.

Kind of puts it in perspective, doesn't it? I know the market speaks and all that, but I'm sorry, there's nothing about this card that should make it worth more than maybe a grand or two. It's a "tulips in Holland" artificially contrived rarity and that's all it ever will be no matter how much it goes for now or ever. Think of all the incredible stuff you could fill your man cave with, but instead you have this on your mantle, looking all cheesy and shiny and contrived, a monument to the worst kind of bad taste and lack of sophistication. OK, I guess I've protested too much now and I might as well confess: I BOUGHT IT!

[bcbgcbrcb]

I don’t see the side where the hobby benefits from someone that can make $20 Billion business offers buys a basketball card for $13MM. Not only that, he has already come out and stated publicly that his card is just another asset class to add to his bitcoin, gold bars, S&P 500 portfolio, etc. A hobby benefits when hobbyists thrive, is that happening in any way here? In the big picture, I see it as just another nail in the coffin to hobbyists who are priced out of the market already and just seeing things becoming more and more hopeless.

Anyone think this was an astute purchase by someone who is going to treasure this beauty for the rest of their life? He already says it will never come up for sale again during his lifetime. Apparently, he already owns a number of other basketball cards. Want to bet these didn’t come from 2020-21 Goldin Auctions?

People like this used to buy mansions, private jets, yachts, etc. with their fortunes but have now begun to invade our hobby. Us long time hobbyists always knew that if people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, etc. ever started going after sports cards, we would never be able to compete. But, it never happened on a large scale until COVID. I’m afraid that the hobby has changed forever as has society as a whole. I’m starting to believe that it is never going back to the way it was either. Maybe I’m late to the party here but am still holding out hope that rational individuals will once again prevail over the “gotta have it now” mentality.

One more thing, us long time hobbyists who have been subscribing to Sports Collectors Digest since the 70’s and 80’s will note that every issue’s “Highest Recent Sales” will present 90-95% modern sports cards with the only exception typically being the 52T Mantle because you can’t publish a sports card story without one of those being mentioned. Pretty obvious who is running the hobby today and that’s where all of the irrational spending starts with.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

He already says it will never come up for sale again during his lifetime.

And any time a high dollar card makes the news, or a different card stands a shot at breaking the record, this card will be given free publicity...and it's not for sale. Its inaccessibility even to the few who could afford it will eat away at them. They are not used to hearing the word "no". This will drive the desire to turn that "no" into the "By all means, sir!" that they are so freely given in most other avenues in their lives. It becomes much less about the card itself and far more about being denied the result that they want. Who would better understand this mentality than one of their own? Some will offer even more ridiculous sums of money, but still the answer will be "no" until O'Leary gets his price.

If he says it won't be sold during his lifetime, he's clearly full of it. With the possible exception of his immediate family members, everything is for sale. He's spent his entire time in the spotlight saying as much. All you have to do is find his magic number. Certain people would sell their souls for the right price, with the prerequisite being that they had a soul to sell.

This was purchased by a group; there are endless possible scenarios in which the card comes back up for sale before the time they had initially envisioned.

[molenick]

In one way, yes, the hobby has been altered by people with a lot of money buying cards as investments. In another way, it will take a lot of trickle down for it to affect what most of the people on this site collect. The people buying cards for portfolios are not buying mid-grade Goudeys, or obscure type cards from the 1940s, or trying to complete a raw 1956 Topps set.

For some reason, it is modern and ultra modern cards they like as well as "gimmick" cards that are manufactured rarities. And to me, that's great....it's great that the highest recent sales are modern cards because I don't care about those cards and would prefer that the cards I collect do not get priced out of my range. Let them focus on that and keep away from Zeenuts. It's the same hobby only in the way that people who used to put Lincoln pennies in coin folders were in the same hobby as people buying 1804 silver dollars and 1913 Liberty Head nickels.

My hope is that the collecting part of the hobby can exist on a separate plane from whatever the portfolio people are doing. I guess for high profile cards of Ruth, Mantle, Wagner, Robinson, etc. there will be overlap, but most of us can't compete with the big hitters within the hobby for those cards anyway, let alone with billionaires from outside the hobby. In one sense, the major impact will be on the collectors of very high end vintage cards, not so much on the rest of us.

But who knows, really. I remember in the 1980s people were saying it was a bubble and that prices were not sustainable, that a 1952 Topps Mantle for $2500 was ridiculous. I wonder how long something can go on before it's not a bubble anymore?

[Hankphenom]

Do we have any kind of sales history for this card, or was this it's first appearance on the market? And although it's a "1/1" there must be a bunch of cards out there from the various sports with a similar theme of all-time great sigs, patches, etc., just waiting for the right two guys to bid them to the moon. Or is it the fact the Kobe is dead that pushed it to 8 figures? In that case, just wait a while and there will be others on like cards who will no longer be with us. Will that elevate those cards into this realm? If not, can someone tell me what exactly it is about this one that gives it such an exalted status as the most valuable card of all time?

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Do we have any kind of sales history for this card, or was this it's first appearance on the market? And although it's a "1/1" there must be a bunch of cards out there from the various sports with a similar theme of all-time great sigs, patches, etc., just waiting for the right two guys to bid them to the moon. Or is it the fact the Kobe is dead that pushed it to 8 figures? In that case, just wait a while and there will be others on like cards who will no longer be with us. Will that elevate those cards into this realm? If not, can someone tell me what exactly it is about this one that gives it such an exalted status as the most valuable card of all time?

The perceived rarity of Bryant's signature has something to do with it, although he signed tons of stuff during his lifetime. Apparently the gold Jordan logo is from the 50th anniversary season, which makes it special in the eyes of some.

But look at their estimate compared to the sale price - I think this is a case of a buyer who doesn't really know the hobby very well being talked into buying it by his co-buyers.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Do we have any kind of sales history for this card, or was this it's first appearance on the market? And although it's a "1/1" there must be a bunch of cards out there from the various sports with a similar theme of all-time great sigs, patches, etc., just waiting for the right two guys to bid them to the moon. Or is it the fact the Kobe is dead that pushed it to 8 figures? In that case, just wait a while and there will be others on like cards who will no longer be with us. Will that elevate those cards into this realm? If not, can someone tell me what exactly it is about this one that gives it such an exalted status as the most valuable card of all time?

This card sold for 25K in 2013 and 170K in 2015. A Steph Curry 1/1 had sold for 5.9 million, so this was sure to go for more than that. This is the only logoman card with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, the two most popular basketball players in the hobby. With Kobe deceased, another will never be made.

Should it sell for more than a mid-grade t206 Wagner or a high grade 1952 Mantle? No, but this is a significant card for the hobby. Upper Deck Exquisite is the premier set for the years it was made. Jordan logoman the #1 card in each set. For a modern card, it doesn't get better than this.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I don’t see the side where the hobby benefits from someone that can make $20 Billion business offers buys a basketball card for $13MM. Not only that, he has already come out and stated publicly that his card is just another asset class to add to his bitcoin, gold bars, S&P 500 portfolio, etc. A hobby benefits when hobbyists thrive, is that happening in any way here?

Probably. I don't know who the previous owner was, but if they're like me they're going to take their consignment payout and put most of it back into the hobby.

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

Probably. I don't know who the previous owner was, but if they're like me they're going to take their consignment payout and put most of it back into the hobby.

That's actually a better question. Who consigned this card and what are they going to do with all that cash?

[todeen]

Last thought about the ranking of the sports list. I lived in Thailand for two years. Soccer was by far the most popular sport, and no one cared about MLS teams from the US. They all had knock off jerseys of Arsenal, Man City, Man U. For US sports, people asked me about football and basketball. Golf was higher than baseball since Tiger Woods is part Thai. I would say they knew more about random Olympic sports than baseball.

My wife lived in Argentina. Soccer, and Messi, ruled the streets. She said when the National team played, it was a national holiday. The next morning, even the dogs were hung over. After soccer, everyone cared about NBA and Manu Ginobli, who is Argentinian. No one asked her about MLB.

When I think about the NBA and NFL, I see international players. The NBA specifically has an amazing roster of international stars. The NFL has a long list of Polynesians who are getting into Canton. While the US has the Caribbean, and Japan and Korea, they are lacking star power in the rest of Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. And as I said in another post, Africa is the next great economic factor according to economists.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[jsfriedm]

Originally Posted by todeen

When I think about the NBA and NFL, I see international players. The NBA specifically has an amazing roster of international stars. The NFL has a long list of Polynesians who are getting into Canton. While the US has the Caribbean, and Japan and Korea, they are lacking star power in the rest of Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

Don't underestimate the Samoan market!

[OhioLawyerF5]

How one person collects, and the things about collecting that they get joy from is entirely personal. And to suggest your way is "true" collecting, and their way isn't is the height of arrogance. A collector who enjoys chasing rare/scarce items is just as much a collector as someone who wants to hoard a bunch of plentiful and cheap items. Likewise, a collector who takes joy from having a collection that other people want and would pay a lot of money for is just as much a collector as someone who doesn't care one bit about the value of their collection, or takes all their joy from staring at their cards. There is nothing more annoying than people who think that collecting and investing are mutually exclusive. Those are just people who are incapable of thinking extrospectively. They can't comprehend how others can feel differently than them.