Cards as an inflation hedge ?

[RedlegsFan]

Interesting views, cool topic. My take is that of a struggling collector as myself. Sports cards have a fiat value, measured in a falling fiat currency. Because I’ve no residual income or disposable income, i must do as most collectors do, and buy only what i’m willing to be buried with. If i had 100K to invest in the last few years or so, i’d most certainly have ‘invested’ in some rare high dollar vintage cards, but be super tempted to sell off quickly.

Even though i’m optimistic the card market will fall, i still believe there are many, many cards that i will never legally own. I have to be okay with that.

I remember what happened in the last card boom, and i hold several opinions on today’s card market. First, i believe the wealthy underwrite eachother’s investments.

Second, hardly any kid knows what kind of fish Mike Trout is, even fewer know what a Mickey Mantle is used for, and the only people that know what language you say Tris Speaker or Cy Young in, are likely reading this paragraph at this very moment. When we die with our cards, those kids will be adults, and i’m not willing to bet $10,000 on a piece of crap condition Jackie Robinson rookie, that ANY of our youths will give a rat’s behind what a Frojoy Babe Ruth is for….

Baseball cards: you can’t feed it to your family, they won’t keep you dry. They don’t transport you across town. They are not accepted as currency in any Costco or 711. They are poor self defense weapons. They are even worse for amphibious assaults on a food and ammo cache. You can’t use them to build a shelter, or a boat. In the end, if kept dry, are great for starting a small cooking fire.


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[Republicaninmass]

Lots of folks financing new boxes of panini treasures or whatever at 2k a pop, busting itnopen and hoping to pay off the credit card date and psa fees with the profits. I think that came to a grinding halt. I'd have to think a major deflation in modern would be coming. Goldin had 3 of those 'tom brady season ticket" cards. I realize its limited, but I dont see how rare or demand for a card like that Carries the insane premium. Even still, jordan fleer rcs in psa are thousands? Limitless supply, and demand is due to "them going up". Modern is going to end badly and will spill over into some vintage. I would hedge with cards, try commodities.

[parkplace33]

Great points.

I especially agree with your last statement. Many collectors say, well, my card is worth x, so I should be fine. A card is only worth something when you sell, so until then, it holds no dollar value. And the fact is collectors always overvalue their cards, so they may be in for a rude awakening when they try to sell.

Originally Posted by RedlegsFan

Interesting views, cool topic. My take is that of a struggling collector as myself. Sports cards have a fiat value, measured in a falling fiat currency. Because I’ve no residual income or disposable income, i must do as most collectors do, and buy only what i’m willing to be buried with. If i had 100K to invest in the last few years or so, i’d most certainly have ‘invested’ in some rare high dollar vintage cards, but be super tempted to sell off quickly.

Even though i’m optimistic the card market will fall, i still believe there are many, many cards that i will never legally own. I have to be okay with that.

I remember what happened in the last card boom, and i hold several opinions on today’s card market. First, i believe the wealthy underwrite eachother’s investments.

Second, hardly any kid knows what kind of fish Mike Trout is, even fewer know what a Mickey Mantle is used for, and the only people that know what language you say Tris Speaker or Cy Young in, are likely reading this paragraph at this very moment. When we die with our cards, those kids will be adults, and i’m not willing to bet $10,000 on a piece of crap condition Jackie Robinson rookie, that ANY of our youths will give a rat’s behind what a Frojoy Babe Ruth is for….

Baseball cards: you can’t feed it to your family, they won’t keep you dry. They don’t transport you across town. They are not accepted as currency in any Costco or 711. They are poor self defense weapons. They are even worse for amphibious assaults on a food and ammo cache. You can’t use them to build a shelter, or a boat. In the end, if kept dry, are great for starting a small cooking fire.


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[trambo]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Great points.

I especially agree with your last statement. Many collectors say, well, my card is worth x, so I should be fine. A card is only worth something when you sell, so until then, it holds no dollar value. And the fact is collectors always overvalue their cards, so they may be in for a rude awakening when they try to sell.

Cards, like stocks, are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. Card shows, online forums, marketplaces and auction houses are akin to the NYSE, NASDAQ, etc so I'd say there are enough venues to sell cards that they are quite a bit closer to stocks than others may think.

As for the "always overvalue their cards" comment, I actually use average sales for valuing my collection and taking a percentage of that (less than 100%) for an approximate value for any external need I have for that info. Maybe I'm the only person ever who has done it that way but I'd guess likely not.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by RedlegsFan

Baseball cards: you can’t feed it to your family, they won’t keep you dry. They don’t transport you across town. They are not accepted as currency in any Costco or 711. They are poor self defense weapons. They are even worse for amphibious assaults on a food and ammo cache. You can’t use them to build a shelter, or a boat. In the end, if kept dry, are great for starting a small cooking fire. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If that is your measuring stick, then stock (especially if manifested by a paper certificate) and debt/bonds, are a bad place to put money too. I assume you are spending all your excess cash of lighters and matches, lumber, bullets and military rations.... When shit hits the fan, and it just may (in all seriousness), you can tell me you told me so. Until then, here are Tris Speakers, you know, for the kids.....

[ValKehl]

Ryan, I'd say your Tris Speaker back run is nice, if it included a T215 card!

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by RedlegsFan

r….

Baseball cards: you can’t feed it to your family, they won’t keep you dry. They don’t transport you across town. They are not accepted as currency in any Costco or 711. They are poor self defense weapons. They are even worse for amphibious assaults on a food and ammo cache. You can’t use them to build a shelter, or a boat. In the end, if kept dry, are great for starting a small cooking fire.


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A Beckett large slab could serve as a roof on a shelter and when thrown correctly could decapitate a soldier in full body armor.

[RedlegsFan]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

A Beckett large slab could serve as a roof on a shelter and when thrown correctly could decapitate a soldier in full body armor.

LMAO!!!


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