Barry Larkin -- Undervalued?

[bk400]

Yes, he has a lot of cards out there, but some of the rarer ones like 87 Topps Tiffany and his Fleer rookie, seem very, VERY, undervalued given his accomplishments. I think history is going to look back very favorably on his legacy. It's not just the stats, but the fact that he played for one team, was one of very few team captains, Roberto Clemente and Lou Gehrig award winner, and will likely be remembered as one of the best shortstops to ever play the game.

You can get a PSA10 Topps Tiffany rookie card for under $200 right now. What am I missing? (For the record, I am not a seller of any cards on any platform -- I'm a pure buy and hold forever collector.)

[swarmee]

Larkin has some passionate supercollectors, but 80s/90s fans don't really treat him like a Hall of Famer. I think unless the item is drastically limited (90s rare inserts), Larkin's not a good investment compared to guys like Griffey or Mattingly.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bk400

Yes, he has a lot of cards out there, but some of the rarer ones like 87 Topps Tiffany and his Fleer rookie, seem very, VERY, undervalued given his accomplishments. I think history is going to look back very favorably on his legacy. It's not just the stats, but the fact that he played for one team, was one of very few team captains, Roberto Clemente and Lou Gehrig award winner, and will likely be remembered as one of the best shortstops to ever play the game.

You can get a PSA10 Topps Tiffany rookie card for under $200 right now. What am I missing? (For the record, I am not a seller of any cards on any platform -- I'm a pure buy and hold forever collector.)

That set is not nearly as limited as some of the other Tiffany sets, and Larkin is just not a very glamorous player -- infielder without a great deal of power on a small market team.

[todeen]

Larkin is a generational gap player - like Cal Rpiken Jr - bridging defense first SS era of Ozzie Smith and others to the offensive juggernauts of Derek Jeter, ARod, and Nomar. He is the greatest SS of the 90s. And statheads argue he was a better offensive player than Jeter.

He is overshadowed by his steroid era contemporaries, but in time he might be better recognized for his accomplishments. He was the first 20/20 SS. While you might say he is undervalued, his card prices went bonkers over the last 3 years and are resettling on a new higher floor. His 1998 Topps Tek cards shot up in price and have stayed relatively high.

His best RC is from the team released Kahns set. Other undervalued cards - if you want to call them that, are 1993 Topps Finest Refractor, 1996 - 1999 Topps Chrome refractors, late 90s auto cards (Donruss Signatures among others), and the numbered insert sets /100 or less. His cards from 2000 - 2005 don't command prices like his late 90s cards.

Don't be fooled thinking there isn't a following for Larkin. His scarcer cards are bid on heavily. But unlike KGJ, his scarcer cards are not minimum $1000. He will never garner that kind of attention.

The collage is based off his 1992 Bowman card, which is my favorite condition sensitive card. Good luck finding one with gold foil that hasn't been dinged.

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[Peter_Spaeth]

My Larkin. The Kahn while rare just didn't appeal to me between it being a pinhead shot and even at that his face being somewhat obscured.

[D. Bergin]

My only Larkin, from my Pre-Rookie photo collection. Type 1 Press photo when he was with The University of Michigan, just before being drafted by the Reds.

Also my only Beckett slabbed photograph. You can probably see how comically large and bulky it is. If I ever want to free it from the slab I'll probably have to rent a Jaws of Life tool to get it out.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

My only Larkin, from my Pre-Rookie photo collection. Type 1 Press photo when he was with The University of Michigan, just before being drafted by the Reds.



Also my only Beckett slabbed photograph. You can probably see how comically large and bulky it is. If I ever want to free it from the slab I'll probably have to rent a Jaws of Life tool to get it out.

1000% jealous. I want something pre-rookie for him and it is extremely hard to find. He doesn't have MiLB cards like other 1990 Reds.

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[todeen]

Hot Gloves, very popular insert set. Not premium price for Larkin, but big price for KGJ.

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[todeen]

2002 Topps 206 Uzit back, #/112

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[hockeyhockey]

i absolutely suck at posting pics, but my favorite larkin is his 1987 toys r us card. the black background makes it pop, and i've always leaned toward oddball cards.

[jp1216]

Originally Posted by hockeyhockey

i absolutely suck at posting pics, but my favorite larkin is his 1987 toys r us card. the black background makes it pop, and i've always leaned toward oddball cards.

[todeen]

The Kahn's card we've been talking about. I got mine for $50 (complete set). But prices are all over the place: $35 - $150.

And 1992 Donruss Elite. This is another card for Larkin that is undervalued when compared against KGJ prices. However, it's #/10k, so due to scarcity it's not difficult to obtain. The oversized elite is #/5000. But it's still popular nonetheless.



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[G1911]

Seems priced about right for a middling HOFer on a team not from New York or LA.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

My only Larkin, from my Pre-Rookie photo collection. Type 1 Press photo when he was with The University of Michigan, just before being drafted by the Reds.

Also my only Beckett slabbed photograph. You can probably see how comically large and bulky it is. If I ever want to free it from the slab I'll probably have to rent a Jaws of Life tool to get it out.

Love the press photo. Great piece to own!

[todeen]

another of his more desirable cards.

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[Rad_Hazard]

I'm a big Larkin fan, and agree that he is underappreciated. Here is my copy of his RC, and my favorite 80's set.