Sight unseen....What would you rather own?
balco758
Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭✭✭
86 Fleer MJ PSA 9 and
87 Fleer MJ PSA 10
OR
52 T Mantle PSA 2
Give or take a few bucks these have an approx value of 50-60k in total
I realize hard to say without seeing the cards, but all things being equal.....
I own the MJs and am considering selling them to buy the Mick....
2
Comments
I would never do anything "sight unseen".
I'm not a basketball fan, so for my PC I would take the Mantle.
Could the PSA 10 87 downgrade? Jk but agree with the above.
HMM
Mantle
But Id still want the mantle even if both 2 were 50-50 cernetered and Mantle was EX oc or bad Mark(ehh not if his image was marked up a lot)
Average 9-10 and average 2 then Mantle
I personally am not a fan of things under a 7 grade so I'd keep the jordans
I’m neither a fan of low grade items nor of 80s basketball…but in a pinch I would take the high grade cards.
Mantle. Always the Mantle and especially when compared to an NBA player.
My name gives this away, but the two MJs every time. Jordan is the basketball GOAT, and arguably the all-time GOAT of any sport (Babe Ruth being the other candidate). Your high grade 86F and perfect 87F will always be in highest demand. MJ has a global audience and following. Mick was a great player, but certainly not the GOAT. He is not a household name globally like Jordan. Low grade 52T Mantles are easily found, so until you get to PSA 6 level the rarity isn’t all that difficult.
Enjoy and love the one you are with 🙂
Hands down ‘52 Mantle….not a pro basketball fan….plus the POP on the Jordan cards is high enough that it is easily obtainable (just need cash) whereas the Mantle is more scarce.
Vintage iconic card is the way to go.
Agree with all of this, including Jordan's reach and popularity but have to go with the Mantle here.
The thing about the Mick RC is it is iconic. It is more recognizable to the average person than the Jordan. Investment wise, it is better thought of as a rare piece of art like a Warhol or Picasso than a baseball card. The PSA pop on the Jordans is 30,000 for '86 and 22,000 on the '87. Mantle is just over 2000. Only 284 graded PSA 6 and above. Meanwhile there are 330 PSA 10 Jordans out there. So the Mantle RC is about 15X more rare than the Jordan RC. Agree Jordan has global reach, but the market for his RC is not anywhere near 15X bigger than the Mantle.
Jordan's popularity obviously gives his cards a deep and liquid market. The Mantle RC market has fewer participants but they also have much deeper pockets. If cards are seen as strong alternative investments similar to rare art and coins, then the Mantle, IMO, has better potential for investment returns long term than the Jordans due to its much lower pop and the fact that over time its market reach has strong potential to grow to include wealthy buyers outside of the card market. And if K shaped wealth trends continue, with increasing gap between the top 1% and the bottom 90%, then in the future there will be wealthier market participants competing for a very small number of cards.
That said, while I ultimately pick the Mantle as the best long term investment, for a purchase this big, my advice is to buy what you know and what you can't live without. At the end of the day it is a decision that has to be made by the individual based on their specific circumstances.
How about buying six Nolan Ryan rookies in PSA 8 condition. IMO that would be a great investment especially if all six are solid to high end 8's.
At that level of value, I wouldn't consider any transaction until the sight IS seen. So, presumably you'd like to sell your current holdings for the pursuit of a '52T Mick. If you sell off your Jordans, but can't find a Mantle you like at that price level, at least you can comfortably replace the cards you'd sold.
mantle first, second and third!!!
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
As others have said, the looks/eye appeal of the specimens in question is a key variable to really help offer the best answer. Operating with the givens...
Love both athletes and all cards in question, yet Mantle here all day. The high grade cards in question are only valuable because of what one stranger in a cubicle decided on one day; regrade them another day, and another stranger in another cubicle gives them a different sticker with a different number on it. In contrast, the Mantle in this hypothetical is desirable because of its sheer existence. One could also easily locate the Jordans in lower grades with identical eye appeal, and thereby replace them for a collection. For any card in numerical grade X, with patient hunting an identical or even prettier example can be found in grade X-1 for less outlay. There are myriad collecting styles of course, yet that is how I would approach it. The more a card's value is tied to its "one-stranger grade," the less desirable it is to me. I collect more on aesthetics and want the lowest cost example that satisfies my eye.
PSA 9 Fleer = PSA 2 Mantle = no extra card needed to fund. No way do i make that deal
Opinions are very mixed.
Now with my MJs - does this change anyone's view?
Removed pics - sad sign of the times
Yes. I don't like the tape on the holder 😁
I have noticed many times people who post here blacking out the cert numbers on PSA holders. I'm curious why people do this?
In the case of the 87 PSA posts scans on their website so any crook can type it in and have an image to sell but unfortunately balco didn't block the barcode so any ole crook can still steal it.The 86 is safer from crooks but again I think they can get the cert number by scanning the barcode.
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
Thanks, jackstraw - yeah so much for my defensive skills.
Without getting too deep into specifics, someone was able to sell a card that I have owned for roughly 10 years and still have in my possession, of which I've provided dated pictures as proof to PSA. You would think it would be an easy fix, but It continues to be an ongoing mess. One I'd like to avoid a repeat of.
Not to derail but this seems super crazy since PSA puts the images out themselves. You’d think they’d be able to manage this or stop scanning.
This is similar to what I was thinking. The photos and cert numbers are on the PSA website for a good amount of their inventory. I know the older certs that remain in the original PSA holders do not have photos.
Most of the cards I have in my collection have the photos on their website so I do not see any reason to block out the cert numbers when I show photos of some of my PSA cards.
I appreciate the responses guys. I try to learn as much information as possible about our hobby.
There was a little over 2000 Mantle cards while 50 - 60 thou 86' fleer made. Don't know about the 87'. Always go with supply/ demand
I will take a true rarity over a conditional one any day. who knows how legit the 9 is. does it measure up or is it rattling around in that slab?
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
The centering on the 86 is just inside 9 range. Today a grader may call it an 8. Or, maybe a 6! Who knows.
Jordans.