Post War Must Haves........

[DJCollector1]

There are a number of high profile cards, or cards many consider "must haves" for post war collectors.
We all know the big ones on most people lists such as.............

'54 Aaron rookie
'51 Bowman Mantle rookie
'51 Mays rookie
'55 Clemente rookie
'52 Topps Mantle
'55 Koufax rookie
'68 Ryan rookie


Several of the more under appreciated ones off the top of my head are a '60 Yaz rookie, '57 Frank Robinson rookie, possibly a '55 Killebrew rookie, or even a '57 Brooks Robinson rookie.

Obviously, everyone should collect what they like and enjoy, but I like picking up some of the more popular cards too, to help fill out my collection as well.

I alluded to this in another thread, but I think the 1966 NL Batting Leader cards (pictured below) is a bit of a "must have" for many post war collectors.



It is not terribly valuable, there seems to be a big supply, since there are many on Ebay essentially all the time. But for various reasons, plus I think since this is the only card with all three of these players, it should be a bit more popular than it is. You have 3 of the best players of all time, arguably in their prime as well.

There are a number of other cards I have been watching lately (none of which I own). I am thinking of picking up a few of the more highly coveted "must haves", but I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a few others as well, even though they aren't quite as sought after as the big ones above.

For example, I think a '53 Topps Satchel Paige is another card that has been rising and becoming more popular. Under appreciated maybe?
I have watched it for months and months, and the higher grade centered examples are not as readily available as they used to be.

There is also a case to be made for pretty much ANY JACKIE ROBINSON card. I've thought for a while now he was a bit undervalued. Boy has his stuff started surging....... and not just his rookie cards either. Most all Robinson cards are rising.
There are probably plenty of reasons for this, but regardless he is starting to be more appreciated, at least in card value aspects.


I'm a bit curious as to some of the other "lesser??" post war must haves many of you think should be a bit more appreciated than they already are.

Let's hear the ones you think should be more in demand/more valuable.

[rats60]

The 1949 Leaf Jackie Robinson is now #2 behind the 52 T Mantle. The Pete Rose RC is definitely on that list and the Seaver RC and Schmidt RC should be too. They are all tougher high numbers. I will never understand the premium given to common rookie cards like Aaron and Ryan that are much easier to find than the others you mentioned and the 3 above. Maybe it is that I am a collector and this hobby is becoming dominated by investors. You have the Chrome LeBron RC PSA 10 with a 2k pop now selling for 5 figures while rare cards of greats sell for much less.

[DJCollector1]

Originally Posted by rats60

The Pete Rose RC is definitely on that list and the Seaver RC and Schmidt RC should be too. They are all tougher high numbers. I will never understand the premium given to common rookie cards like Aaron and Ryan that are much easier to find than the others you mentioned and the 3 above. Maybe it is that I am a collector and this hobby is becoming dominated by investors. You have the Chrome LeBron RC PSA 10 with a 2k pop now selling for 5 figures

Yes rats...........I agree with the Rose rookie, and Seaver as well.
I think the Schmidt rookie is definitely another, but I don't know that everyone would agree its quite at the "must have" point.

The Seaver rookie in particular seems tough to find in high grade centered/overall appeal. (I'm thinking PSA 7-ish and higher)

I tracked it a year or two back, and finding a high eye appeal example is pretty tough from what I remember.

And I agree with you on the LeBron James cards. If someone were to give me a stack of them, I would sell them and use those funds to pick up some other older baseball must-haves.

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by DJCollector1

The Seaver rookie in particular seems tough to find in high grade centered/overall appeal. (I'm thinking PSA 7-ish and higher)

I tracked it a year or two back, and finding a high eye appeal example is pretty tough from what I remember.

The '67 T Seaver has gotten a lot more expensive in low-mid grade than the Ryan....the scarcity is coming into play as a lot more people seem to be interested in completing the '67 set lately (so the "gotta just have the card" concept has driven that card way up in low/mid grade and taken most of them off the market). Anything around grade 5 or lower is now selling for almost double the Nolan Ryan rookie in the same grade.

Thing is though, high grade '67 Seavers are very cheap by comparison. At the moment, PSA 8 Ryan rookies sell for almost double PSA 8 Seaver rookies (the opposite of the lower grades). High grade Seavers are actually easier to get as a % of total pop for both cards. So despite the current demand for the Seaver in general, there isn't a big premium for a really nice one.

Anyway, looks like the Seaver might be replacing the Ryan as the most sought after pitcher card of the '60s, and is quickly catching up with the Rose rookie as the most desirable card of the decade. Which I would like to see, given that I think he was the best player of all of them.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

The '67 T Seaver has gotten a lot more expensive in low-mid grade than the Ryan....the scarcity is coming into play as a lot more people seem to be interested in completing the '67 set lately (so the "gotta just have the card" concept has driven that card way up in low/mid grade and taken most of them off the market). Anything around grade 5 or lower is now selling for almost double the Nolan Ryan rookie in the same grade.

Thing is though, high grade '67 Seavers are very cheap by comparison. At the moment, PSA 8 Ryan rookies sell for almost double PSA 8 Seaver rookies (the opposite of the lower grades). High grade Seavers are actually easier to get as a % of total pop for both cards. So despite the current demand for the Seaver in general, there isn't a big premium for a really nice one.

Anyway, looks like the Seaver might be replacing the Ryan as the most sought after pitcher card of the '60s, and is quickly catching up with the Rose rookie as the most desirable card of the decade. Which I would like to see, given that I think he was the best player of all of them.

The Seaver has always been a more expensive card than the Ryan owing to the fact it's a high number SP. But I would agree it's shot up again just recently too. The relationship to value with the Ryan has an interesting dynamic because Ryan's RC shot up when he was still an active player. I used to think Seaver was more a tough card than a desirable one simply because of it being a high number, but I would agree he was at least as good if not a better player than Ryan or Rose. I should have listened to my instincts and sprung for a midgrade one back 5 years or so ago when they were affordable. Oy!

[Wanaselja]

I know it’s not the only, or perfect, metric but all time WAR:

22. Seaver - 109.9 (20 yrs)
60. Ryan - 81.3 (27 yrs)
64. Rose - 79.7 (24 yrs)

[investinrookies]

Originally Posted by rats60

The 1949 Leaf Jackie Robinson is now #2 behind the 52 T Mantle.

Without a doubt this, lower pop than all the others, and the card is iconic. Id rather have it over any of the other post war rookies period.

[Bigdaddy]

I wouldn't call them 'must haves', but I will say 'iconic' post war cards. Aside from the big ones you mentioned, I'd include the following:

1953 Topps Mickey Mantle
1957 Dodgers' Sluggers
1962 AL Home Run Leaders
1962 Manager's Dream
1964 Pete Rose
1969 Mickey Mantle
1971 Thurman Munson
1976 Johnny Bench
1977 Mark Fidrych
1984 Donruss Don Mattingly
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr

[bnorth]

1952 Topps Eddie Mathews rookie should be on the list.

[Exhibitman]

1953 Paige was one I was going to suggest. I do not like 1953 Topps but I had to have one of them. I'd also go with:

1952 Topps Gus Zernial



1953 Bowman Mantle
1953 Bowman Musial
1961 Topps Maris
1971 Topps Munson
1972 Topps Clemente

And of course, the 1972 Topps Billy Martin

[vintagewhitesox]

I would say a 1948 Leaf Paige
Gretzky rookie
Jordan Rookie

[JollyElm]

I'd sure add this pair of last cards from their actual careers (both appear on cards a year after these) to the must-have list. The absolutely beautiful, playful Roberto Clemente shot (never mind that his In Action card is sequentially higher), and Willie Mays back in New York, finally donning his Mets uniform...

1972clemente309PSA9oc.jpg1973mays305.jpg

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

I'd sure add this pair of last cards from their actual careers (both appear on cards a year after these) to the must-have list. The absolutely beautiful, playful Roberto Clemente shot (never mind that his In Action card is sequentially higher), and Willie Mays back in New York, finally donning his Mets uniform...

+1 for sure on the '72 Clemente #309. A poignant shot if you think about it...6 months after that card appeared, he would be dead. In terms of Clemente cards, still one that will not totally break the bank in nice shape.

& HEY - Darren. I recognize that card...! ;-)

[Exhibitman]

How could we forget this one?



And yes, I am 10 years old; or at least have the maturity of a ten year old (my wife will swear to that).

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

How could we forget this one?



And yes, I am 10 years old; or at least have the maturity of a ten year old (my wife will swear to that).

Hehehehehe. You said Boner!

[clydepepper]

1948 LEAF- TED WILLIAMS PSA-6.jpg1953 Bowman Color- PEEWEE REESE PSA-7.jpg

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Hehehehehe. You said Boner!