Before and After

[samosa4u]

I have read many "pandemic threads" on here, and it's usually the same comments being posted repeatedly. So, I want to do something different here by examining popular cards and seeing how much they were worth before the pandemic, and how much they are worth now. You can choose any card that you like from any sport, and also, it can be any grade. Show us how much it was worth before this madness started, and what the recent sales were. Okay, I will start:

Soccer:

1958 Alifabolaget #635 Pele

PSA 2 sold for $1,674 US on Nov, 2019.
PSA 2 sold for $62,730 US on March, 2021.

3,647% increase!! A winner?

Hockey:

1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky

PSA 9 sold for $33,999 US on Dec, 2019.
PSA 9 sold for $259,501 on April of 2021.

663% increase!!

[bnorth]

The 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken F Face error

Pre Covid $60-$100

Now from $500-$1000

Many of the junk era cards have gone crazy.

Not sure of the exact prices but T206 Red Cobbs in lower condition have gone insane in prices.

[packs]

Three years ago I bought my 51 Mantle SGC 10 for $1,600. Now it looks like you've got to shell out 10 grand.

Going the other way though. I bought a Houdini signed letter for $800 7 years ago. It's currently up for auction and bidding has stagnated at.....$847.

[rats60]

Leaf Jackie Robinson RC PSA 7

December 2019 14k
March 2021 402k

[packs]

I bought this signed Jordan for $460 in November of 2018



This one sold for $5,300 in February.

[Peter_Spaeth]

IMO in soccer we've seen a synergy of a general market upsurge at least in rookie cards, and a soccer boom. If certain sales can be taken at face value, I have a few cards that have gone up by 10x, 20x or even more since I bought them mostly 2-3 years ago.

[brunswickreeves]

Some vintage baseball card eBay sales trending analysis below, albeit limited sample sizes:

2018 sold in cards: 14.2% Gross Return
2019: 18.7
2020: 49.6
2021: 51.5

2019 sold in Mick cards: 36.9% Gross Return
2020 Mick cards: 58.7
2021 Mick cards: 114.5

2019 sold in Mays cards: 20.3% Gross Return
2020 Mays cards: 60.0
2021 Mays cards: 87.5

Which players, sets, or genres have yielded you the best ROI?

[packs]

I've been buying some bigger cards over the last year. I don't think I overpaid for any of them though. My pandemic buys:

[Exhibitman]

If I can find mainstream cards for good prices I will pick them up. O/W I am a net seller right now. If I find rare cards I just plain pick them up: if I've had a card on my want list for years and it pops up, I grab it and don't ask questions, unless the seller is being ridiculous about it. Those cards tend to sell regardless of anything else, though, so the surge in pricing hasn't changed their market per se. That said, it is tempting to be reckless, especially when the funds I hold for card purchases swell due to the sales I am making. I've got my eye on a card right now that the seller has overpriced by at least 50%, and with each sale I make it is tempting to say WTF and buy it. It falls into that category of very scarce but not rare, so there is a respectable pricing history to review and consider.

[sportscardpete]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

That said, it is tempting to be reckless, especially when the funds I hold for card purchases swell due to the sales I am making.

Such an underrated point. I think the above helps prices rise for another card. If I sold a card for 3x what I paid I am more likely to overpay on something else.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by sportscardpete

Such an underrated point. I think the above helps prices rise for another card. If I sold a card for 3x what I paid I am more likely to overpay on something else.

Yeah, it is the theory of playing with the house's money. I've only done that a couple of times. The first one was as a treat for myself after I won a big case. The second was after I'd sold off a big chunk of my collection in preparation for a major auction where I went all-in on a card. Neither deal ended up being a good investment for me, so I am trying really hard to curb my enthusiasm this time around.