UD Griffey what is going on

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Card prices are often not driven by best career stats. Sure Johnson was better than Griffey as far as overall career goes. And Hank Aaron (and many others, take your pick) was better than Mantle as far as careers go. But there are a whole lot more Mantle and Griffey collectors than Aaron and Johnson for reasons other than just statistics. Throw in that the iconic nature of some cards increases demand and price exponentially, and you get a second year Mantle or a junk wax airbrushed Griffey rookie that sell for many times what other comparable cards sell for. It's supply and demand. Every collector wants a Griffey in their collection, if for no other reason than nostalgia over what that card used to be in the hobby. Just like a Mattingly or Canseco rookie. But there is no nostalgia for a Johnson rookie.

For sure, I understand why there is a large gap, 25x just seemed rather astonishing when the second card is the RC of an all time great.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

For sure, I understand why there is a large gap, 25x just seemed rather astonishing when the second card is the RC of an all time great.

Yeah, it's hard to rationalize. When it comes to base cards, especially junk wax base cards, the supply is virtually endless. It takes incredible demand to overcome the supply. So only the iconic of the iconic can break through. But once they break through, and demand outpaces supply, the sky is the limit, because everybody wants the iconic and will fight each other for them, even when there are 4,000 floating around in a PSA 10 holder.

[Brent G.]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Yeah, it's hard to rationalize. When it comes to base cards, especially junk wax base cards, the supply is virtually endless. It takes incredible demand to overcome the supply. So only the iconic of the iconic can break through. But once they break through, and demand outpaces supply, the sky is the limit, because everybody wants the iconic and will fight each other for them, even when there are 4,000 floating around in a PSA 10 holder.

179,000 graded copies — crazy. Anyone know what the #2 all-time graded card is? McGwire '85 Topps?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Brent G.

179,000 graded copies — crazy. Anyone know what the #2 all-time graded card is? McGwire '85 Topps?

I would guess 1989 Fleer or Topps Traded Griffey or some Pokemon thing.

[D. Bergin]

Isn't it also a pretty much accepted theory that Upper Deck printed a boatload of extra Griffey Jr. cards?


....or did my tinfoil hat get the better of me just now?


Randy Johnson was a beast. He was his era's Nolan Ryan....but better. Also, no steroid stink on him like Clemens. Just didn't capture peoples imaginations outside of inside baseball people for whatever reason.

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Isn't it also a pretty much accepted theory that Upper Deck printed a boatload of extra Griffey Jr. cards?


....or did my tinfoil hat get the better of me just now?


Randy Johnson was a beast. He was his era's Nolan Ryan....but better. Also, no steroid stink on him like Clemens. Just didn't capture peoples imaginations outside of inside baseball people for whatever reason.

You don't even need a tinfoil hat, UD employees/exec outright stated that McWilliam ordered them to do so in Card Sharks.

When I worked in a shop during the late 90s to mid 00s, a guy walked in with an 800ct box of them. I thought this was insane at the time but I have since read several others sharing similar stories of seeing these 800cts at card shows at that time as well.

[packs]

Thread needs a card:

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Brent G.

179,000 graded copies — crazy.

I've never been able to understand why/how collectors are willing to pay up for cards in plentiful supply. I just say "No!" when a surfeit of demand acts to push a card up to silly prices.