Sports memorabilia market

[Snapolit1]

The other trueism I've experienced in my life is that every amazingly lucrative transaction I have ever closed (whether real estate or collectibles) I walked out the door convinced that I was a complete idiot, that I overpaid dramatically, and that I would rue the day I bought it. A couple of real estate transaction I even asked the broker about trying to undo and thankfully he/she talked me out if it. And I have never gotten something at a bargain price where it appreciated dramatically in value. Not once.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

And I have never gotten something at a bargain price where it appreciated dramatically in value. Not once.

How true. Sounds like how I buy a penny stock. Now (like my collectibles), nothing but blue chip.

As for the younger folks collecting people they don't know, I am north of 50, and barely remember Mantle. While my kids may believe otherwise, I never saw Dimaggio, Williams, Musial, Ruth, Gehrig, or Cobb play live, or even on the radio. Yet I still love a collectible or card with any of the aforementioned on it.

Further confession... I buy nothing new, but about a year ago I did jump in on a Walking Dead #1 CGC 9.8. Thoughts being that with a max of 700 printed, a cult following stronger than Star Trek, and a generation that one day will have cash and look back at this series fondly, I took a shot at it.

Everyone will want a piece of their past at some point, so this was my venture into that market.

[Snapolit1]

I love the Walking Dead card idea. Now that's a great roll of the dice. I buy noting new either, but bought a Mike Trout 1/100 card from 2011 that looked really cool. If I could fine another dozen or so I'd by them as well but the market appears to have dried up.

[bgar3]

I think there is a vast difference between historically important items, which will hold value or increase, and other collectible items, especially those based upon condition alone. Obviously the best is to have an histoically important, rare item in great condition. However, I would much rather have an historically important item in poor condition, than nearly all mint modern cards. When cards that are fairly common, but in a high grade, start selling for more than rarer historically important items, I think this is a bad sign. Having said that, I have tried to never substitute my judgment for that of another collector. I also acknowledge that what is historically important is very subjective. For me, my historical collection is 19th century baseball, while I enjoy my Ashburn collection, knowing it is unlikely to appreciate to any great extent.

[glchen]

I think prewar items for the big stars will always hold up because it's a supply issue. For example, if there are only 40 known copies of an E103 Honus Wagner card, you're telling me you won't be able to find 100 collectors who really want that card and would bid at least the current going prices in a population of 400 million people (in 30 years)? Now all of the card that are sky high and where there are thousands upon thousands of those same cards in existence, that's a different story. No idea what will happen with those. I totally agree that eye appeal plays in a big factor in how much folks are willing to pay for items. However, if the difference between the cards is miniscule and it's just a 10 vs a 9 on a flip, don't know if folks will always be paying multipliers for that.

[Snapolit1]

One obvious example is Jackie Robinson. In 100 years, if we haven't completely destroyed the planet, people will still consider Jackie Robinson a major sports and cultural icon. Yogi Berra? Mike Schmidt? Tom Seaver? Not so much.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

One obvious example is Jackie Robinson. In 100 years, if we haven't completely destroyed the planet, people will still consider Jackie Robinson a major sports and cultural icon. Yogi Berra? Mike Schmidt? Tom Seaver? Not so much.

doood, there was no need to inject this into a baseball card thread. It won't end well.

[Snapolit1]

I'm in the George Carlin camp. The Earth is laughing at us. It will be around for a few billion years after we are long done killing each other. We are a fleeting surface nuisance at best.