$83,000 for modern and climbing...Update, $92,000..

IJustLoveCards · August 1, 2005 2:11AM

link to auction

83,375.00 with buyer premium..NOW 92,000.00...where will it stop..

I dont know basketball, I realize a Jordon RC is worth 6,000.00 plus..(2 of them in this auction right now at 5,500.00) but the set worth this much...WOW, Wish I was smart enough to like basketball back in the day...

WOW...

carew4me · August 1, 2005 2:32AM

Wow!

pandrews · August 1, 2005 2:44AM

nice set..

koby · August 1, 2005 2:48AM

A few years ago, a BGS 9.5 Jordan alone sold for more than that.

miami3 · August 1, 2005 4:18AM

Nice set but I would personally rather spend my money on high end vintage than modern Fleer basketball, I dont care how nice of a condition that they are in.......just my two cents.

SDavid · August 1, 2005 5:15AM

There was an all 9.5 set up on ebay earlier this year. I don't remember where it closed. I guess somebody thought they could get more for it by consigning it to an auction house?

DaBigHurt · August 1, 2005 5:26AM

That's a lot of money to pay for a set that may possibly be trimmed.

SDavid · August 1, 2005 5:47AM

In the original auction, the seller (who was just a collector) said he put a lot of the set together by finding psa 10's that would cross. If that's true, I bet it's a smoking set, as I've heard beckett is as stingy as psa when it comes to crossing over older cards in other company's holders to 9.5's.

calleocho · August 1, 2005 5:54AM

seems plentiful

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 6:02AM

I completely agree with those who say 'to each his own' when it comes to card collecting. That being said, this is one of the most fantastic wastes of money that I've seen in my years of collecting. 72K? Are you kidding me? There are still truckloads of unopened '86 wax out there, and God knows how many shoeboxes/binders etc. of this product lurking in America's attics and garages. Does anyone with an adjusted IQ over 80 think these pop numbers will remain stable over the next 10 years?

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 6:04AM

"If that's true, I bet it's a smoking set.."

The only thing smoking about this set is the guy who won it.

Seriously, I'm sure it's a beautiful set. But c'mon-- eighty thousand dollars?

IJustLoveCards · August 1, 2005 6:26AM

<< "If that's true, I bet it's a smoking set.."

The only thing smoking about this set is the guy who won it.

Seriously, I'm sure it's a beautiful set. But c'mon-- eighty thousand dollars? >>

the auction isn't over yet (3 more days), it could even go higher...thats the scary part.

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 6:31AM

"the auction isn't over yet (3 more days), it could even go higher...thats the scary part."

OMG, that is scary.

Honestly, who has this kind of money to burn? Are there that many daffy millionares running around?

Stingray · August 1, 2005 6:32AM

Again, this must be one of those things were someone wants what he perseves as the best. Does not care about the money spent. I just can not imagine getting your money back going at these prices. Who every buys it sure better enjoy it.

Stingray

SDavid · August 1, 2005 6:42AM

Nobody's won it yet. It might even go for more.

I wish I could remember what it sold for on ebay. That guy might be making out pretty well.

ldferg · August 1, 2005 6:44AM

the one listed earlier this year was closed before auction ended. is this kevinc4545's set? he has lots of bgs 9.5's.

SDavid · August 1, 2005 6:52AM

You're right, ferg. I just looked it up. It seems like the bidding was up around $40,000 when I quit watching it, so the seller probably made a smart move.

A PSA 10 set (with a 9.5 jordan) sold for 45k this year.

Does anyone know if Superior still allows shill bidding?

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 7:31AM

"Does anyone know if Superior still allows shill bidding?"

I hope to God that's the explanation. Every one of the 'hit the gong' auctions just further corrupts my faith in the innate intelligence of my fellow man. At least if there's a shill involved somebody's showing some business savvy.

Axtell · August 1, 2005 7:39AM

There sure seems to be a lot of hostility in this thread. If the buyer wants to dump 100k on this set (arguably the most important modern basketball set), why should he be considered 'daffy' or their intelligence doubted? I mean, not everyone who buys cards does so with the intention of selling them. Perhaps he's a huge basketball fan. How many countless millionaires are out there?

While I never would spend that kind of money on a modern set (I have this set raw, with the key cards graded in 8), I suspect if I had an endless supply of money, I would fork over as much as it took to have the absolute best set.

ajw · August 1, 2005 9:02AM

<< (arguably the most important modern basketball set) >>

Arguably? I'd argue it's the *only* important modern basketball set.

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 9:26AM

<< There sure seems to be a lot of hostility in this thread. If the buyer wants to dump 100k on this set (arguably the most important modern basketball set), why should he be considered 'daffy' or their intelligence doubted? I mean, not everyone who buys cards does so with the intention of selling them. Perhaps he's a huge basketball fan. How many countless millionaires are out there?

While I never would spend that kind of money on a modern set (I have this set raw, with the key cards graded in 8), I suspect if I had an endless supply of money, I would fork over as much as it took to have the absolute best set. >>

I'm just sounding off. Like I said in my first post in this thread, everyone should buy whatever makes them happy. I have no quarrel with that.

bowdowntome · August 1, 2005 9:33AM

All that prices like that will do is continue to encourage counterfeiters and scam artists, which will continually push the grading/authenticating business, which will further encourage the scammers, which will further push the graders, which will..................................Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 9:42AM

<< All that prices like that will do is continue to encourage counterfeiters and scam artists, which will continually push the grading/authenticating business, which will further encourage the scammers, which will further push the graders, which will..................................Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>

This, IMO, is a GREAT post. Bowdown, you have totally hit on it. Sure, the grading companies need to work harder to spot counterfeits, altered cards, etc. But it is WE, as hobbyists, that have made this type of behavior profitable through our willingness to pay absolutely stupid prices for sports cards. When a PRO Mantle sells for $800 we are all quick to jump on the seller-- and we should, as far as that goes, since the seller is a sleaze. But the only reason this even comes up is because collectors like us are happy to fork over that kind of cash for a PSA equivalent.

67standup · August 1, 2005 10:07AM

It's not that he can't do what he wants with his money, as there are plenty of worse things to spend it on. We're all fools to many people. It's the notion that such modern cards are rare (a subjective eye that could have given a 9 one day, a 10 the next), and that such bidders generally believe it.

The falling in love with perfection is why this is lame. We can often point to envy why we dislike such auctions. However, I don't have the same distaste when $100k is spent on a Baltimore Ruth. And I don't collect Ruth or prewar anymore than I do modern cards.

<< There sure seems to be a lot of hostility in this thread. If the buyer wants to dump 100k on this set (arguably the most important modern basketball set), why should he be considered 'daffy' or their intelligence doubted? I mean, not everyone who buys cards does so with the intention of selling them. Perhaps he's a huge basketball fan. How many countless millionaires are out there?

While I never would spend that kind of money on a modern set (I have this set raw, with the key cards graded in 8), I suspect if I had an endless supply of money, I would fork over as much as it took to have the absolute best set. >>

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 10:12AM

"It's the notion that such modern cards are rare (a subjective eye that could have given a 9 one day, a 10 the next), and that such bidders generally believe it."

This sums it up very nicely. There's just something about auctions like this that assault my sense of decency. My reaction is similar to the one I used to have to Don West when he was pawning off Topps Traded RC's at $1000 per.

bowdowntome · August 1, 2005 10:16AM

Boopotts, Thanks! I've tried explaining that to many people, only to be met with blank stares. Glad someone else gets it.

It use to be fairly easy to spot fakes and such, they were usually relegated to the key cards and rare items. Nowadays, with the high prices being paid even for graded commons, it has opened up a whole new avenue for the scam artists.

It does keep the graders on their toes though, I'm sure. But who will eventually have the last laugh, the good guys or the bad guys?

SDavid · August 1, 2005 11:39AM

t use to be fairly easy to spot fakes and such, they were usually relegated to the key cards and rare items. Nowadays, with the high prices being paid even for graded commons, it has opened up a whole new avenue for the scam artists.

Wait a minute - people are making fake modern commons?

Jeez, I thought it was weird when I found out dealers were rebuilding and recoloring modern cards.

Axtell · August 1, 2005 3:54PM

Just not sure how spending $100k for this set is any different than spending $100k for any set in size and quality?

I mean it may not be your cup of tea, and yes, there must be tons of unopened out there, but everyone knows how difficult this set is to attain in perfect shape.

It's the age old vintage vs. modern debate...there is no 'right' side, just collecting those cards you like. I suspect there may be a shift as more and more people recall this era of basketball as it's golden era...jordan, bird, magic, etc. etc. The last real great group of super stars (unlike today where you have a couple of named players).

Stingray · August 1, 2005 8:08PM

I have a question on this set. I saw in the PSA booklet they were handing out at the national about their grading services, showing how much certain cards sold for that were in PSA holders, there was one, a 1986-87 Fleer Basketball PSA 10, do not remember the guys name, but a common at that I believe sold for $7,000+ What is that all about. Why so much for a common PSA 10. I do not care if is a pop 1. That to me is when someone is just blowing their money IMO.

Stingray

IJustLoveCards · August 1, 2005 10:03PM

<< Just not sure how spending $100k for this set is any different than spending $100k for any set in size and quality?

I mean it may not be your cup of tea, and yes, there must be tons of unopened out there, but everyone knows how difficult this set is to attain in perfect shape.

It's the age old vintage vs. modern debate...there is no 'right' side, just collecting those cards you like. I suspect there may be a shift as more and more people recall this era of basketball as it's golden era...jordan, bird, magic, etc. etc. The last real great group of super stars (unlike today where you have a couple of named players). >>

Axtell,

I see your point, I really do, however, just speaking for myself, if the set was something that was a 1 of 1 I could see it, however, there are 3 perfect 10's (100% complete) sets registered in the psa set reigistry. So this would be a 4th? (if they all crossed)..at what point do enough perfect examples drive down the price?

again, I am only speaking for myself and I would not spend that much on a set whereas, there are 4 known perfect sets and so many others close to perfection in existance already, but thats just me, I cant speak for other collectors and the desire to have one of the finest examples of a particular set in existance.

Really the point of this thread was two fold:
A) That Modern in the right grade can bring unreal prices
b) How stupid I was for not liking basketball cards back then and not buying all the fleer I could get my hands on!!! (missing the oppertunity)

jrdolan · August 1, 2005 10:20PM

<< That's a lot of money to pay for a set that may possibly be trimmed.

>>

Trimmed? Hurt, you must be kidding! That would never get past the TRAINED and CERTIFIED graders at Beckett!

Totally unrelated, nothing to do with this, but there are 1,525 BGS 9.5 cards on eBay at this moment. I recall a post last summer by a defender of Beckett grading who said there were less than 200 of the rare 9.5's on eBay. That was then, this is now. Food for thought.

Buccaneer · August 1, 2005 10:48PM

Boopotts, I am agreeing with everything you said.

Here's my argument: One can actually spend the time and break cases of modern to build a really nice set - thus significantly adding to the population. Admittedly, it's not easy but with the amount of modern unopened still out there, it's doable. And I would argue that it will be doable for many, many years. That cannot be done anymore for vintage sets (pre-1970). Sure there are (many?) nice raw sets in binders but to build a high grade set completely from scratch? That would be difficult, I believe - magnitudes harder than any moderns (unless artificially scarce).

DaBigHurt · August 1, 2005 11:46PM

<< 

<< That's a lot of money to pay for a set that may possibly be trimmed.

>>

Trimmed? Hurt, you must be kidding! That would never get past the TRAINED and CERTIFIED graders at Beckett!

Totally unrelated, nothing to do with this, but there are 1,525 BGS 9.5 cards on eBay at this moment. I recall a post last summer by a defender of Beckett grading who said there were less than 200 of the rare 9.5's on eBay. That was then, this is now. Food for thought. >>

Did you actually look at each and every one of those "1,525 BGS 9.5" auctions? or did you just count the number of hits in the search? I'm not sure what the real number of BGS 9.5s are on Ebay, but I would suspect the number is inflated due to keyword spamming.

I just did a search for PSA 10 on Ebay and it came back with 3309 hits.

Boopotts · August 2, 2005 3:27AM

<< Boopotts, I am agreeing with everything you said.

Here's my argument: One can actually spend the time and break cases of modern to build a really nice set - thus significantly adding to the population. Admittedly, it's not easy but with the amount of modern unopened still out there, it's doable. And I would argue that it will be doable for many, many years. That cannot be done anymore for vintage sets (pre-1970). Sure there are (many?) nice raw sets in binders but to build a high grade set completely from scratch? That would be difficult, I believe - magnitudes harder than any moderns (unless artificially scarce). >>

I completely agree with that, and I'm apologize if I indicated otherwise.

packCollector · August 2, 2005 8:52AM

<< seems plentiful >>

the collector who built this set had the set in psa 10 previously and many of the cards would not cross from psa 10 to bgs 9.5's on crossovers and crackouts.

$83,000 for modern and climbing...Update, $92,000..

Comments