Your thoughts on signed HOF RCs

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Huck

Topnotchsy,

My apologies, I was agreeing with dgo71’s statement on “Back in the 80s getting a pricey RC signed was taboo” not whether the fad will die out. I wish that I had the foresight to realize that signed rookies was going to be a thing, so I could have stockpiled mid grade rookie cards signed by hall of famers.

I believe collectors will continue to get rookie cards signed as long as the definition of rookie cards remains the same. “It is generally agreed that to be a true rookie card, the card must be counted as part of a product's base set. Thus, limited quantity insert cards of any type are generally not considered to be rookie cards.” Card companies create scarcity with 1 of 1’s, limited runs 10, 20, 50 etc.. You mentioned autographed Topps debut game patch cards. Are those cards considered part of the base set or an insert? I guess it comes down to who determines which card is the true rookie, the cards companies, TPAs or the collectors? I would hope that a rookie card would be widely available not a limited run, patch with signature on the card.

It has been awhile since I have chased new wax. I want to believe that 2025 card releases happen before the season starts. The debut patch auto on card (unless the debut occurred late last year) would have to be released after the season started.

“Although hobby tastes can of course change, I feel like we are moving towards an era where it is accepted almost without question that a rookie autograph card represents one of, if not the best possible options available for collectors.”

It is an option, but not the only option. Kind of tough to determine on a site like Net54 where the majority of players collectors fancy are long dead. There are plenty of collectors who do not collect autographs and want cards pack fresh clean.

“Additionally, @Huck - which 2000 Fleer Greats autos are you still looking for?”

Mike Schmidt and Robin Yount. Still on the fence whether Jeter is part of the set.

Definitely agree that there is no way to predict where things will end up. But I think that viewing the hobby in spaces where younger collectors are (and looking at new card releases) does point in that direction. (Although popularity of a few new insert sets like Kaboom and rookie card sets like Upper Deck Young Guns in hockey point to a potential shift.)

Re: Fleer GOTG. Schmidt and Yount are definitely two of the tougher ones. I started building the set a couple of years ago and got most of the SP's, though I hit a bit of a wall on it, and have not decided whether to continue. I do have those two actually. Gotta decide if I'm ready to let them go and if so, happy to discuss.