Old time collectors - Did any of them ever cash in?

jrinck

Back in the early part of the century through the 50's, there weren't that many actual collectors of cards. By "actual" collector, I mean folks/kids who went out of their way to preserve the condition of the cards they had. After all, any card T-206 card, for example, that is MINT today was at least as good in 1910. So SOMEBODY had to ensure that it stayed so perfect for all those years.

My question is, though, does anyone know of any cases where any collectors of high grade early 20th century cards up through the 50's was actually able to cash in when the boom of cards hit in the late 70's? I realize such a person would have to have been old, but say, some 20 year old guy collecting '33 Goudeys in 1933 would have been around 70 in the early 80's. Such a person could easily have made tons of bucks on high grade Goudeys he had from the beginning.

So does anyone know of any case like this, or is the truth more depressing in that those few high grade early 20th century cards that we now enjoy only made DEALERS rich in the 1970's, and not the original owners?

Tipem

I don't think that high grade cards really became really valuable until that generation was mostly gone.I mean,high grade pre-war cards never really took the big jump in price until aroung the early to mid 90's.That would put most real collectors from the pre-war era in their graves before the prices skyrocketed.I also would say that a lot of those cards were sold before the prices went crazy.Although you hear of a "find"every now and then,(and I am sure there is still quite a few of those cards left),I don't see that there were very many true collectors that "hit the lottery"as far as selling their childhood collections.


Vic

Stone193

Many of the great buys that Mr. Mint shows in SCD probably fall into the category of cashing in. Many times the buyer is on the older side of the baby boom. Most of us collected and just enjoyed ourselves. Many times I think for a moment - if I weren't so busy with school and then my career in the army - perhaps I would've got lucky - but on top of it - this is what my brother's mantle looks like - passed down to me from my mom in the early 90's - I showed it in the rubberband thread - point - we "played" with these cards as they were intended - flipping, curb tossing, rubber banded and carried in the ass pocket of my levi's. The serious collectors in the 60's thru early 80's amassed fantastic collections that were affordable by the commoner - now it for the affluent in many cases IMO.



Here's another satisfied "Mint" customer now! Notice the big smile on (Not Rosen's) his face.



Stone

edit: pic is from this week's SCD

Axtell

That guy holding the money looks the furthest thing from happy there is. it almost looks like he had to sell the cards as a last resort Kind of a sad photo, actually.

zsz70

Mr. Mint gets a lot of attention about being a big buyer
of sports cards. However, I've always been under the impression
that Bill Mastro was the biggest buyer from 1975-1985.
He was doing this very quietly and very privately.
My educated guess is that he still has LOTS of good stock left.
However, not much pre-1940 stuff.

helionaut

I don't know anyone who collected in the 50s, but I'd have to imagine that if they had any knowledge of their value at all, they would have sold sometime during the past 20 years. What cost a nickel in 1954 was worth $5 in 1984, so that was a huge enticement. That item might be worth $50 now, though, but how could anyone foresee the market's continued expansion (for high grade stuff, anyway)? There are very few "finds" anymore. And when you do hear of them, it's from Mr. Mint or BMW, who find all these raw cards and pay what they pay and then get them slabbed and make their profit on the slabs. I'd love to hear of someone who did it all on their own, got their own cads slabbed, and made top dollar themselves.

ChrisStufflestreet

<< <i>Mr. Mint gets a lot of attention about being a big buyer
of sports cards. However, I've always been under the impression
that Bill Mastro was the biggest buyer from 1975-1985.
He was doing this very quietly and very privately.
My educated guess is that he still has LOTS of good stock left.
However, not much pre-1940 stuff. >>



The big difference between Bill Mastro and Alan Rosen...promotion. Mastro has been known in hobby circles for a long time, and built his reputation by hand (as you said, quietly and privately). Rosen appeared on Good Morning America in 1987, was featured in an issue of Sports Illustrated the same year, wrote books trumpeting his "finds" and plastered his bearded face on ads in every hobby publication, showing him holding valuable cards and his customer holding huge piles of cash. I think he even had his own Bobble Head doll at one point. The two men are both very succesful, but they have two very different styles.

SDSportsFan

I saw that picture of Mr Mint in SCD a week or two ago. If I remember correctly, the other guy in the picture is Jack Lang, the man who calls each newly named baseball Hall of Famer to inform of their selection.


Steve

WinPitcher

The guy that runs the local shop in town now was my semi partner when i had a shop. He is around 65 now maybe a tad older. As a kid he collected and had the insight to keep the cards in decent shape. When he got older he activley collected older cards. He had complete sets of sport kings and gaudey's etc. well to shorten this story around 1970 he got divorced and his ex kept everything. fast fwd to 1993 she gave most of it back and within 3 weeks he sold the lot for around 50k. I asked him how he could have done such a thing and his reply was that he had not seen the cards in so long and the money was good (for the time). His stuff was mainly 30's 40's and 50's not much prior to 1930. today he sells mainly yu gi oh and has maybe 4 vintage cards in his display cases.

Stone193

<< <i>fast fwd to 1993 she gave most of it back and within 3 weeks he sold the lot for around 50k. >>



Interesting story Steve - my point in showing Mr. Mint was not to put the spotlite on him but to point out that there are still a lot of pre-baby boomers that are cashing in and taking the money while they are still alive. Nothing wrong with that.

This brings up some implied in the 'cashing in' thing - WHEN to cash in? If the guy woulda wait - he would have score biggers - that kind of stuff is hotter now - especially with the advent of the registry. But who knew...who knows? Get out the crystal ball....
Mike

WinPitcher

grading was around then (1993) he however was able to buy a new car ( that he no longer has) live large for a while, buy the shop he is in now. I didnt want to press him when he and I discussed it as i didnt want to rain on his parade. lol where did i hear that today?







After all, any card T-206 card, for example, that is MINT today was at least as good in 1910.


hmmm after reading some of the MW rant 2 months ago that may not be so true......

WinPitcher

as for the cashing in theory................im taking mine with me

lol

Stone193

<< <i>grading was around then (1993) >>


Yes in deed it was - but I don't think the registry was and that has pushed the value of some cards even higher - that was my point - but how much that impacts the hobby on the grand scale - I don't know - I agree on not wanting to press the sale in 93 as opposed to waiting - like I said who knew? If you wait long enough anything is possible or NOT.


<< <i>as for the cashing in theory................im taking mine with me >>

WinPitcher

lol i am only prob is with all the stuff i have i need to be cremated and use the remaining 3 plots i own for the cards