Yaz??

incugator

Does anybody besides me think that Yaz cards are under-valued? He was the last player to win the triple crown and he is a Red Sox great. He never won a championship, but he played on a bunch of very good teams. It seems like Rose cards are sold for 2X or more than Yaz cards and I don't doubt that Rose's accomplishments are greater than Yaz's, but the triple crown is looking like quite a feat. The triple crown hasn't had to many serious challengers in the past 20 years. The only one that I can really think of is Shef in the mid 90's. Any thoughts?

1420sports

Rose is the hit king and is a controversial figure, whereas Yaz was an above average player who never really had a huge following. I have heard that even some Sox fans do not really like the guy. I do, but I would never think that he is undervalued - it is what it is.

larryallen73

It would seem to me that "value" is strictly based on supply and demand. I would imagine that some years after retirement (20 for Yaz?) that a players value has already been set in stone absent a major change in their life (they become president of the US for example). Right or wrong players value was set before the retired. Some players are just more popular than others..

fiveniner

Im a Yaz guy for sure but he is where he should be value wise in my opinion.

incugator

Interesting about Yaz not being liked by Sox fans. I agree that value is based on Supply and demand, but I think the Magz that put out prices definitely influence a cards value. I just thought that by Rice's chances of getting in the hall getting slimmer, it would cause more Red Sox fans to go after Yaz. The only other Sox player from the 70's-80's is Fisk that I can think of as a HOF'er.

MooseDog

I don't know how it is now, but aside from having the WORST drivers in the US, Boston was one of the most racially divided cities in America. Yaz was accepted and well liked but he had two things going against him - one, he was replacing an All-Time Favorite Son TED WILLIAMS, and two, he was Polish.

I got to know Tony Armas a little when he played for the A's. When he came back to Oakland while playing for the Red Sox he said that he didn't like Boston at all and said it was difficult to get a cab and that the environment there was not good for a Latin player. Heard the same stories in print articles from Jim Rice and some of the black Celtics players.

Not sure, but on the popularity scale, Rico Petrocelli and Tony Conigliaro might have been more popular than Yaz at the time.

I was an autograph hound in my youth, and Yaz was always tough if there was a crowd but he was very nice the time or two I was able to get him when I was the only one around. I've always been a Yaz fan.

JoeBanzai

I always liked Yaz, but he was kind of all over the place with his hitting. He would have a terrific year followed by a disappointing one. He did win the triple crown, but strangely enough that was the only year he led in Home Runs or RBI's.

He was a great defensive player with a powerful arm.

I would say his cards are valued about right. I am betting his rookie card in PSA 9 condition would be quite expensive.

JB

slatsme

Yaz has a few good cards out there - his rookie and the 1964 Topps Stand Up can go for some good coin in 8 or higher.

His name just isn't as sexy as Clemente, Koufax or Rose.

NewJerseyMeatHook

'65 Yaz is one of my favorites. Great early-70's Aqua Velva spots, too.

Value is where it should be, imho.

67standup

<< <i>His name just isn't as sexy as Clemente, Koufax or Rose. >>



"Yastrzemski" is so sexy that it's almost x-rated. Okay, that sounded a bit...

Stone193

<< <i>

<< <i>His name just isn't as sexy as Clemente, Koufax or Rose. >>



"Yastrzemski" is so sexy that it's almost x-rated. Okay, that sounded a bit... >>

EB31

Yaz is definately underrated.....hit a 3000 Hit Club member...and hardly gets any hobby love.



EB

scooter729

Some people just feel that his numbers are a bit inflated because he played for 23 years. The 452 homers looks like a nice total, but over 23 years that's an average of just under 20 per season. So I know there are some folks that look at it from that perspective. Yaz played in the 2nd most games of all time, and has the 3rd most at-bats ever. So although he did accrue 3000 hits and 400 homers, some folks feel it was done over too long a period of time.

I am from Boston and am a Yaz fan; just playing the devil's advocate role on arguments I've heard in the past from Yaz detractors.

Yaz cards are priced similar (or favorably) to McCovey's, who is an HOFer with 500+ homers and also has an RC in the 1960 set, so I don't think Yaz is very undervalued.

packCollector

Don't know much about YAZ not being liked or where that came from. Boston has it's ikons and they don't get much better than Williams, Yaz , Orr , Bourque, Havlicek and Bird . Clemens is up there but the fact that he has been gone from the city so long and played with many other teams knocks him done a notch.

I collect Yaz and have bought and sold many items , as far as being undervalued , I don't think so. His prices sell at or better than the other stars of the 60's and 70's. Supply and demand are an issue as there aren't any real tough cards to create high prices on the regular issues . maybe 69 topps ? 73 topps in a 9 will sell for $500 if they ever show up. there was one that sold for 440 but it was a 7 in a 9 holder. His rookie sells for 3k in a 9 which is better than most from the 60's and in sets like 71 greatest moments , his cards sell for more than stars like rose and mays. The 64 stand up is a short print which sells for more. even some of his 60's cards in 9's sell for more than others. take 68 topps for example . and there are some big money spenders out there that buy up all the oddball stuff so that stuff sells for more than other players from similar oddball sets.

scooter729

Yaz certainly got booed in Boston, probably from about 1969 to 1971 or so. Sox had a couple of tough years, and he quickly became the poster child for the losing seasons. It's happened a lot here in Boston - Antoine Walker and Pierce have been booed with the Celtics recently, and Manny has been booed when he's requested a trade. We're a fickle group here in Boston and let the athletes know when they've done something we don't like, but we usually come around in the long run.

packCollector

scooter makes a very good point which is very true , while many players get an earfull when they are playing because of high expectations here in Boston , post retirement , most are appreciated and get their credit post retirement and in the long run. when they are playing it is tough for us to forget but in the long run the fans truely appreciate greatness.

Barfvader

Not much to add here but since Yaz is the discussion thought I'd show that you don't have to just stick to cards.

Found this at a yard sale about 10 years ago for $1.00

1962 Pressman Toys Carl Yastrzemski Action Baseball Game
Still has the original price sticker from Freese's for the large sum of $2.22
I'm sure that a few of the small parts are missing and unfortunately the batting tips sheet is long since gone.

ctsoxfan

PackCollector is right on the money about Yaz cards - I wouldn't say they are undervalued either. I put together his basic PSA player set, and don't recall getting any of the cards (raw or already slabbed) for much less than SMR. I grew up a Yaz fan, he was my favorite player (I even emulated his unique batting stance when I played as a kid) but I admit to only seeing the second half of his playing days. I was at Fenway the day they retired his number as well. I never picked up on any Sox fans not liking him, but perhaps that was before my time.

I know I have been waiting for a 73 PSA 9 also (a true 9, last I checked pop was 2) and $500 may only scratch the surface on that one.

fensfan

a nice yaz signed ball closed on ebay this week for about $90, including shipping. That's a surprisingly nice price for a player from his era. ball was psa/dna cert., but not graded. Overall, his cards and memorabilia seem to do pretty well. point is well taken on triple crown, though. as time goes on, that accomplishment will continue to stand out and garner him attention that mccovey and other contemporaries with slightly better career numbers won't get.

mikeschmidt

Agreed-

Value is simply supply and demand.

Michael Jordan cards have dropped significantly in 'value' over the past 5 years, but he is still the greatest basketball player ever.

Especially with the Master Set Registries on PSA - a handful of collectors can significantly swing the demand side of the equation. A few of the Yaz collectors I know spend more time/money/resources in pre-war than chasing down a PSA 10 instead of a PSA 9 of the same card.