FB HOF rookie collectors...
zef204
Posts: 4,742 ✭✭
What are some of the tougher cards to get in 8 and up in modern cards. I am considering takling this, but I just wanted some opinions about modern, as I know vintage is tough.
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For whatever reason, the 77's are tough to find for me. I currently own nice Largent and Webster PSA 8 rookies, but the Haynes, Selmon and Casper are tough to find. PSA 9's are crazy - a Casper sold several months ago for $400+. Unopened 1977 material is tough to find and expensive.
The 1973's aren't easy either, with Franco and Ham being rather expensive in PSA 8 and the others (Shell, Dierdor and Langer) moderately to tough to find. I have a nice PSA 8 Langer that I picked up for $30 and change, and have seen Shell and Dierdorf on occasion in the $40 to $50+ range in 8. One problem you run into are that the Steeler rookies are especially competitive (with the All time Steeler registry members) and you have multiple bidders for any nice 8's that come up for sale.
I'd start out slow, and collect from the 80's and work your way back. Pick up a few 70's here and there as they come up for sale at a decent price. I tend to be very picky on centering, so I may wait out several auctions until a nice one is for sale. Most of the 80's rookies are plentiful (except Steve Young - another toughie) in PSA 8 and even PSA 9 and can be had relatively cheap.
I hope that helps - and it's nice to meet another HOF rookie enthusiast. I've been collecting the set for a year now and have learned a lot about the older players.... If you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. If you want to ask an expert (and great guy) shoot JasP24 an e-mail. He's #2 behind MOSH.
Good luck.
Greg M.
References:
Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
In response to your questing, the best way to figure out which cards are tough to find is to check the POP report. The lower the pop, the harder to find (obviously), and the more you're going to have to pay. There are also a few that arent low pop that for whatever reason rarely show up for sale.
Here's a list, working backwards of the toughest to find modern cards from the set...
1984 Dwight Stephenson
1981 Dan Hampton
1977 Casper
1977 Haynes
1977 Selmon
1975 Blount
1974 Hannah
1974 DeLamiellure
1973 Dierdorf
1972 Yary
1972 Hendricks
1970 Tom Mack
1970 Barney
1970 Bethea
My advice to you is if you are serious about the set, don't just collect the modern cards. If you see one of the vintage cards come available you should make a play for it. The vintage rookies have just EXPLODED in value, and with the scarcity that exists in vintage football cards compared to vintage baseball cards, I see no reason that they will not continue to get more expensive. Cards i paid $200 for 5 years ago sell for $1000 today, and its a segment of collecting that is only getting hotter.
Before the PSA Set Registry, I was collecting only the NFL HOF RCs from 1952-present. And i missed out on some great deals for the older rookies back then that I could kick myself for now. Would have saved me a ton of money. You can also throw out your SMR because you wont sniff any of the vintage rookies for the listed SMR price.
Good luck to you, and feel free to check out my HOF RC set. I have scans of every card.
Jason
according to my values and my needs. Nothing holds dominion over me, I stand alone as the ruler of my life.
Did you buy one of the 1986 vending boxes from BBCE? I just got the Rice graded - it came back a 9!!!
Regards,
Greg M.
References:
Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
E-Bay id: greg_n_meg