Best memorabilia investment out there

[Jewish-collector]

Collect what you enjoy and enjoy what you collect.
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[Exhibitman]

Team issued photos of postwar superstars. Those are not the vaunted 'Type I' photos that have skyrocketed but the under-appreciated and not well-documented publicity photos by the teams. I've been grabbing them up for years. A few have gone very strong: MJ, Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain, etc. Most are not there yet, though, and even the ones that are moving up can still be found on the cheap relative to baseball. I think the wave is gathering, though, because the supply on eBay has dried up. And some images:

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

Collect what you enjoy and enjoy what you collect.

+1. The question was about investment, however, and to that I say: if you can predict the sports memorabilia market or the stock market or any other market, you're smarter than me.

[MVSNYC]

Hi Tony, thanks for your kind words...and I love that Arod gamer!...Re: My Rookie Jeter Bat- it was cracked, and then later professionally restored (it has since been rephotographed for the updated PSA/DNA LOA (GU10). The bat actually is due to go on display at The Yankee's Museum (at Yankee Stadium). They were planning a Jeter exhibit for 2020, and that was obviously postponed due to Covid. The exhibit has been on hold, but when they finally have it, I've agreed to loan it to them.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC;2233714.

Re: My Rookie Jeter Bat- it was cracked, and then later professionally restored (it has since been rephotographed for the updated PSA/DNA LOA (GU10).

Why would you restore it? It's an historical artifact. Part of its history is that Jeter (most likely) stopped using it because it cracked. You've now erased that bit, and turned the bat into something it isn't.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Why would you restore it? It's an historical artifact. Part of its history is that Jeter (most likely) stopped using it because it cracked. You've now erased that bit, and turned the bat into something it isn't.

David, I agree! I will say however, depending on how bad the crack is (total separation), many prefer to have the bat repaired.

My Arod 1st Career Grand Slam Bat is cracked (no separation). PSA graded it a 9.5 due to the crack. The crack is a part of and a result of the grand slam, so I definitely want it to remain as is. PSA told me it graded a 9.5 due to the size (length) of the crack. If smaller, it would have graded a PSA 10. To me, if it's cracked as a result of its use, then it shouldn't matter. That's just my opinion.

PSA bat grading can be frustrating. I don't see a bat pounded with use, and having a crack, being downgraded .5 for the crack; it is a result of the use. Taking a bat with a crack, and then repairing it, now making it a PSA 10, doesn't make sense to me. The crack still occurred and is actually still there.

Not taking anything away from Michael's Jeter bat, as it's an awesome bat, and this is how PSA's process works.

[MVSNYC]

Thanks for your kind words, Tony.

David, I should clarify. I did not mean to say that I owned the bat cracked, then had it restored...The bat was photographed with the crack (you see part of it above), it was then professionally restored, then graded, then I purchased it. In the world of game used bat collecting, it is very common that cracks are repaired/restored, as long as it is properly mentioned in the LOA (which mine certainly is), it is widely accepted, and usually preferred, as the restoration helps preserve the bat, keeps it more structurally sound, and poses less of a danger to a person handling the bat.

[Bpm0014]

I think anything Jeter or LeBum James…I mean LeBron James…you’ll be safe with. Willie Mays is getting up there in years and nothing of his would be a bad investment either.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Hi Tony, thanks for your kind words...and I love that Arod gamer!...Re: My Rookie Jeter Bat- it was cracked, and then later professionally restored (it has since been rephotographed for the updated PSA/DNA LOA (GU10). The bat actually is due to go on display at The Yankee's Museum (at Yankee Stadium). They were planning a Jeter exhibit for 2020, and that was obviously postponed due to Covid. The exhibit has been on hold, but when they finally have it, I've agreed to loan it to them.

Michael,

Thanks and I appreciate you sharing! Your Jeter bat will be an awesome display!

Tony

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

Collect what you enjoy and enjoy what you collect.
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I could not agree more. Although a fair number of my items have appreciated in value, that has absolutely nothing to do with why I collect. My collection is a love; not an investment.

[UKCardGuy]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I could not agree more. Although a fair number of my items have appreciated in value, that has absolutely nothing to do with why I collect. My collection is a love; not an investment.

I look at it the same way. I have a bit of a scattergun approach. I buy memorabilia that I like if I find it at a good price. If I want to give this approach heirs and graces then we can call it a "diversification strategy".

I'm not blind to the value and it certainly makes me feel better if the prices go up. But if my collection simply holds it's value then I feel like I'm ahead because I've been able to get the enjoyment from my collection.

All of that said, the OP asked what memorabilia might be a good investment. Others mentioned photos, GU caps, GU bat and GU jerseys. I think these are all great choices. Personally, I'd look at items where the demand will remain strong and the supply is limited. In my opinion, Type 1 photos, pre-war postcards and magazines are all really undervalued. They all have the benefit of being gradeable. I know that there's loads of issues with grading but it does help to create demand because it removes doubt for buyers.