T206 Set...Minus the Big Four, and other Subsets...Will values keep climbing?

[Rhotchkiss]

Thanks Phil!

I am a collector who 100% views my cards as material investments. I love cards, and I have collected them all my life, so it’s a fun investment. The collector in me (and he is a biggun) often takes over, which is why I have numerous back runs and several sets and subsets. However, because I view cards as investments, I stick mostly to the “blue chip” players and sets- Cobb, Wagner, Ruth, Jackson, T206, 1914 CJ, E107, D304, T3, etc.

In my opinion, which ain’t worth much, pre war cards are, in general, pretty good investments, and there is NO set more “blue chip” than T206. Cards, and especially t206, have proven this over the last 5 decades, and the way the “hobby” is going, I suspect that will continue into at least the 2030s. The T206 set is legendary for so many reasons. There may be price fluctuations over the shorter term, but whatever a 520 set costs today in a 2 average, it will likely cost more in 2028. Personally, I think owning a t206 set (any grade) is a great investment.

[Casey2296]

I'm not a Tcard guy, with exceptions, but I tend to agree with you on the 206. Personally my goal as an Ecard collector is a Master Set, a high grade set, a complete back run, and a complete color run. As you know in the Ecard world that's a handful.

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Thanks Phil!

I am a collector who 100% views my cards as material investments. I love cards, and I have collected them all my life, so it’s a fun investment. The collector in me (and he is a biggun) often takes over, which is why I have numerous back runs and several sets and subsets. However, because I view cards as investments, I stick mostly to the “blue chip” players and sets- Cobb, Wagner, Ruth, Jackson, T206, 1914 CJ, E107, D304, T3, etc.

In my opinion, which ain’t worth much, pre war cards are, in general, pretty good investments, and there is NO set more “blue chip” than T206. Cards, and especially t206, have proven this over the last 5 decades, and the way the “hobby” is going, I suspect that will continue into at least the 2030s. The T206 set is legendary for so many reasons. There may be price fluctuations over the shorter term, but whatever a 520 set costs today in a 2 average, it will likely cost more in 2028. Personally, I think owning a t206 set (any grade) is a great investment.

[Metsfan0507]

This sums it up well for me- I'm a collector at heart but can't really justify spending big $ on pieces of cardboard unless I think they're good investments too. It would be different if this was 40 years ago and Cobbs were going for under $100- then we could all just be collectors. But it's hard to rationalize spending $1000s on something that's "just" a collection. It's much easier for me to rationalize spending thousands on investments that happen to be more interesting to look at than stock tickers.

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Thanks Phil!

I am a collector who 100% views my cards as material investments. I love cards, and I have collected them all my life, so it’s a fun investment. The collector in me (and he is a biggun) often takes over, which is why I have numerous back runs and several sets and subsets. However, because I view cards as investments, I stick mostly to the “blue chip” players and sets- Cobb, Wagner, Ruth, Jackson, T206, 1914 CJ, E107, D304, T3, etc.

In my opinion, which ain’t worth much, pre war cards are, in general, pretty good investments, and there is NO set more “blue chip” than T206. Cards, and especially t206, have proven this over the last 5 decades, and the way the “hobby” is going, I suspect that will continue into at least the 2030s. The T206 set is legendary for so many reasons. There may be price fluctuations over the shorter term, but whatever a 520 set costs today in a 2 average, it will likely cost more in 2028. Personally, I think owning a t206 set (any grade) is a great investment.

[jsfriedm]

In general, I am in the group that is broadly skeptical of any vintage baseball cards as long term investments because I am not convinced that future generations are going to care as much about Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson as we do.

However, I also look at it this way. I am 40 years old. I may live another 50 years (maybe more, maybe less). If I wait 20 years to buy a card because then it will be cheaper, I have lost 40% of the value of that card to me, i.e. 20 of the 50 years I could have owned and enjoyed it. (And of course, there is no guarantee that I actually do live that long, or that I am able to enjoy the cards then, or, of course, that the cards do, in fact, go down.) So my compromise is don't put money into cards, any cards, that you are counting on getting back, but don't feel bad about paying for something you enjoy now that might be cheaper a while down the road.

[rjackson44]

i have 189 copies i just buy one here and there,,if they look nice i buy ..simple

[puckpaul]

I need a long flight to read all of these posts…i will keep it simple. This hobby is here to stay, the proces may move some but will remain strong. These are highly collectible items, with variety to satisfy nearly all, and people enjoy it. The naysayers sound like Yogi…”it’s so crowded no one goes there anymore!”.

[Touch'EmAll]

Americans love collectibles.

Over the past 100+ years of this country, what collectibles rival baseball cards in terms of popularity, staying power and value?

Coca-Cola items
Beanie Babies
Records
Coins
Stamps
Train sets
Art
Figurines
Holiday decor
Comic Books
Pokemon
Hats
Silverware
Cars
Signs
Motorcycles
Travel souveniers
Plates/Cups/Dishes
Antiques
Marbles
etc., etc., etc.

Where do baseball cards rank - are they perhaps the #1 collectible in the entire country over the last century ? I'm gonna guess yes!