The most grossly overrated card of all time...

Volod · #1 12-06-2014, 08:49 AM

Hey, if Topps had finished printing team cards in its actual inaugural year, we would have this card, and all of the blather about Mantle's rookie card would never have come up.

Exhibitman · #2 12-06-2014, 09:00 AM

I'd go with the 1952 Topps Pafko in less than ex-mint condition. It is a common card, not a SP, and not a condition rarity in lower grades. In top grade, sure, there should be a condition premium based on kids' stacking habits. I can see that. But there is no such thing as a crappy condition premium yet dealers persist in asking far over common prices for it.

brian1961 · #3 12-06-2014, 11:54 AM

Andy Pafko was a star at the time of the 1952 Topps set. Maybe not a Hall-of-Famer, but definitely a star.

Early in this millennium came the beautiful story of the Chicago area collector/dealer who deliberated long and hard for a first series unopened pack of 52 Topps he saw at a major show, then upon buying it he drew out a perfect Pafko, the one that came out PSA 10, which was puffed by Mastro Auctions in a beautifully done single-page offering, and sold for a king's ransom. As a result, this influenced many dealers and collectors to jack up the value of their own lesser condition Pafkos. Understandable, to a point. After all, it is card #1 in the most popular post-war set in the hobby.

---Brian Powell

ALR-bishop · #4 12-06-2014, 11:57 AM

Steve---did you make that card ? If so do you have an extra for sale ?

I have a set of the 51 Team card, dated and non dated ( 18)

ALR-bishop · #5 12-06-2014, 12:02 PM

Double post, sorry. Bad morning

ALR-bishop · #6 12-06-2014, 12:04 PM

If overrated means over priced I do not think the Pafko or Mantle are overrated in that sense. They sell for what they sell for. If they are overpriced they do not sell. To me, if someone thinks a card is overrated, it just means they would like to buy it for less money that it is going for

sycks22 · #7 12-06-2014, 12:36 PM

I vote for '51 Bowman Whitey Ford RC. If not the #1 card it's worth $300.

Sean · #8 12-07-2014, 12:11 PM

I know that this is the postwar forum, but you asked for the most overrated card of all time. It's the T206 Magie error card. It's consider an icon, but all it really is is a 1909 version of a typo.
A PSA 1 sold last night for $5,800. What does a 1952 Mantle in PSA 1 sell for? (I'm really asking, I don't know postwar cards). A Magie shouldn't even be anywhere near as valuable as a '52 Mantle, but I'll bet it's close. If it wasn't part of the T206 set, it would be largely forgotten instead of being a "classic."

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CW · #9 12-07-2014, 12:48 PM

Nice choice, Sean. I was also thinking the Demmitt St. Louis, and also the partial "S" Snodgrass cards.

It may not apply today, but years ago the '54 Bowman Ted Williams was believed to be much more scarce, and a higher premium was placed on the card. It's still an expensive card, but the numbers have leveled off as collectors have realized the card isn't as rare as once believed.

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