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Investment Cards?

WrigleyCubWrigleyCub Posts: 291
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
If you had to pick 5 cards from any sport that you could buy for investment purposes, what would you choose?

Comments

  • mcadamsmcadams Posts: 2,618 ✭✭✭
    My collection would start with the 1/1 Ron Guidry blue pen border '88 Topps variation. The other 4 could be anything.
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    Always buying Bobby Cox inserts. PM me.
  • vladguerrerovladguerrero Posts: 4,077 ✭✭✭


    << <i>My collection would start with the 1/1 Ron Guidry blue pen border '88 Topps variation. The other 4 could be anything. >>



    +1, piece of art .....piece of art
  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭
    Two that come to mind are the '05 Cup Sidney Crosby and a high-end '02 Mauer auto card of some sort. What I'm not buying is any card where much of the value is determined by the slab the card is in, so that flat out eliminates all high grade vintage.
  • sportscardtheorysportscardtheory Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭
    In no particular order

    1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan RC PSA 9 or better
    1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky RC PSA 8 or better
    1939 Play Ball Ted Williams RC PSA 6 or better
    1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 RC PSA 6 or better
    1958 Topps Jim Brown RC PSA 7 or better

    Besides any "unattainable" cards like the Wagner, these are fairly affordable. I don't believe that these cards can do anything but go up in value. If I had an "affordable" pinnacle of collecting, these would be my personal top-5. I hope to have them all someday.
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  • judgebuckjudgebuck Posts: 1,019 ✭✭✭
    Not in any particular order:

    1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53

    T206 Ty Cobb green background

    1952 Topps Mickey Mantle

    1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle

    1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb

    Must be high grade to be investment quality

    Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.

  • ElToroLocoElToroLoco Posts: 914 ✭
    I'll take a modern stab at the 5.

    BB 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols Auto
    BB 2001 Ultimate Ichiro Auto
    FB 1998 Playoff Contenders Peyton Manning Auto
    BK 2003 Exquisite Lebron James Auto
    HK 2005 The Cup Sidney Crosby Auto
  • eagles33eagles33 Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭
    in no order

    1) 52 topps mantle - in my opinion the worlds most popular card. it is common enough so just about anyone could buy one in poor condition for low 4 figures.. plus yankee cards are always a good investment. there will always be high demand for this which is always good for prices

    2) cassius clay early cards - i certainly dont hope it is not anytime soon.. but when he passes i think demand for this cards will spike. the problem is picking the right card. i dont like it but prob the 71 barrett.

    3) 1984 star jordan - this is a gamble but i think it has a lot of upside IF psa ever decides to grade these. they might never but there is a chance. i think just having a big player like bgs grading them helps the investment value

    4) 1993 sp jeter- not very expensive but i think will be a must have for future yankee fan generations.. buy a 10 or 20 lot and flip then either if the yankees make the ws or when he retires

    5) 1986 fleer jordan - another iconic card for anyone who collected cards in the 80s and 90s.
    Scans of most of my Misc rookies can be found <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.collectors.com/m...y&keyword1=Non%20major">here
  • TomGshotputTomGshotput Posts: 1,358
    First on the list would be a 1973 Topps Frank Robinson in vg condition. Guaranteed not to lose more than $2. Anyone really feel that strongly about a Mantle card or Jordan rookie?
    Tom
  • eagles33eagles33 Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭
    i thought about Sidney Crosby cards.. but i just dont know how much upside there really is with his cards. they are already priced pretty high and i think a lot of high expectations for him are already priced in... i could just be jaded since i never bought one and just keep watching them go higher and higher though
    Scans of most of my Misc rookies can be found <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.collectors.com/m...y&keyword1=Non%20major">here
  • bvcbvc Posts: 100 ✭✭
    Shooty Babbit, Keefe Cato, and Barry Foote rc's.
  • otwcardsotwcards Posts: 5,291 ✭✭✭
    The question proposed by the OP begs criteria.

    How much is to be invested?

    What is the intended length of the investment?

    What is the necessary return on the vehicle?

    With a reasonable budget, there are many avenues one could take. The wisest choice is to select the most consistent performers that are the most liquid with the least potential for downside.

    Hence:

    1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (mid grade, but centered)
    1955 Topps Sandy Koufax or Roberto Clemente (NM or better)
    1958 Topps Jim Brown (NM or better)
    1965 Topps Joe Namath (NM or better)
    1979 OPC Wayne Gretzky (NM or better)
  • mittecmittec Posts: 173
    no such thing
  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭


    With a reasonable budget, there are many avenues one could take. The wisest choice is to select the most consistent performers that are the most liquid with the least potential for downside.


    //////////////////////


    I think this is a great misconception. Given a reasonable budget, the wisest choice not the card with the lowest potential for downside- it's the card with the highest expected value going forward. Granted, much hinges on how we define 'reasonable', but to my ears a reasonable budget means that I can lose 100% of the investment and still sleep at night, in which the level of risk isn't an issue.

    I also disagree with the idea of taking consistent performers, particularly when it comes to vintage cards. Once you get past the VG-EX range people aren't entirely buying the card- they're also buying the plastic in which it's housed. And it's only going to take one scandal involving a major TPG to make the market value on most of this stuff plummet.
  • hammeredhammered Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭
    If I were buying raw modern

    2001 Ultimate Collection Albert Pujols #d to 250
    1997/98 Flair Row 0 Tim Duncan
    1994 Score Gold Zone Redemption Marshall Faulk
    1995 Bowmans Best refractor Vladimir Guerrero
    1996/97 Topps Redemption Kobe Bryant
  • AhmanfanAhmanfan Posts: 4,419 ✭✭✭✭
    I think it has to be the '51 bowman Mantle... and Pre War (especially the rare sets) HOFers. Also, chicle football.

    John
    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • VitoCo1972VitoCo1972 Posts: 6,135 ✭✭✭
    I wouldn't invest in baseball cards.

    Pop reports don't go down. Graded will only get less valuable.

    When was the last huge upswing raw cards took?

    Buy Certificates of Deposit if you're than concerned with showing a profit.
    My Autograph Projects

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  • shouldabeena10shouldabeena10 Posts: 1,357 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The question proposed by the OP begs criteria. How much is to be invested? What is the intended length of the investment? What is the necessary return on the vehicle? With a reasonable budget, there are many avenues one could take. The wisest choice is to select the most consistent performers that are the most liquid with the least potential for downside. Hence: >>



    Scott will be appearing at the Beltway Marriott this Saturday and Sunday ... with seminars at 2pm and 5pm.

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  • ShootyBabittShootyBabitt Posts: 970 ✭


    << <i>Shooty Babbit, Keefe Cato, and Barry Foote rc's. >>



    I agree with this.
  • lsutigers1973lsutigers1973 Posts: 11,093 ✭
    Baseball has a few under the radar players that have a high probability of being future Hall of Famers.

    As a Rangers fan, Michael Young always sticks out to me. If he stays healthy and can play until he is 40 or 41 (not uncommon in today's game) he will retire with over 3000 hits and probably a career .300 hitter.

    If you are looking for cheap flips over the next few years, there are a bunch of HOF locks coming up for election soon and a few that should get in over the next 2 or 3 years. Rookies of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson, Craig Biggio and Roberto Alomar can all be bought in bulk for cheap. Hold them until election time and list them on eBay a few days before the HOF elections that each are eligible in. Not going to retire off the profit but you can still make a few bucks.
  • larryallen73larryallen73 Posts: 6,069 ✭✭✭
    I would buy all of the 500 different Albert Pujols "rookie" cards. It's practically a guarantee they will appreciate.
  • gecko109gecko109 Posts: 8,231 ✭


    << <i>I wouldn't invest in baseball cards.

    Pop reports don't go down. Graded will only get less valuable.

    When was the last huge upswing raw cards took?

    Buy Certificates of Deposit if you're than concerned with showing a profit. >>




    Cant even beat inflation with current CD rates.....poor choice.
  • lsutigers1973lsutigers1973 Posts: 11,093 ✭
    gecko,

    Email me at muffun04@yahoo.com (please don't ask about the email address image ) You have my PM's blocked.
  • bigreddogbigreddog Posts: 1,156
    Ive never bought a card as an "investment" I buy em because I love them and what they reprsent to me.
    "Investors/Speculators" with no other interest other than trying to make money are parasites on the hobby.
    They've run most of the youth out of the hobby and drug many Lowlifes, Scumbags and Cheats into the hobby with them.
    I see the TPG bubble bursting before long. Hopefully then the The "Speculator/Investor" people will move on to be parasites
    on the next "Big Thing" and drag the Lowlifes, Scumbags and Cheats that have been ruining the hobby for too many years along with them.
  • TheCARDKidTheCARDKid Posts: 1,496 ✭
    -1952 Topps Mantle. I would agree, the worlds most popular card. Eye appeal, centered, with good color in low grades (psa 1-3/4) is a good bet. As solid as any post 1948 card.

    -1984 Star #101 Jordan in high grade. There's a GAI 9.5 bag on ebay now for $9,900.

    Not sure if it's worth that right now, but in the highest grades that could be a $25,000 or $35,000 bag eventually.

    Seems like the rarest and highest grade Jordan should be a fraction of the value of a Mikan 48 bowman psa 10, rusell psa 9 rookie, etc. If other basketball cards can cross 6 figures, the #101 jordan should be more than $5 or $7 k. If psa grades them. And if the market matures on it (but a wild card, speculative investment).

    -54 Topps Aaron PSA 10. Could be a $200 k card eventually. If the t206 wagner is at a few million (psa 8), 51 bowman/52 topps mantle in 10, at $750,000-1.3 million. Seems like an aaron 10 could have a lot of room to move up.

    -Pre war rarities. Like the 1933 Buttercream Babe Ruth sold by Robert Edward auctions a few years ago. There are probably at least 12-20 cards that could jump from $30-50k to six figures.

    -Also, Muhammad Ali cards, golf, etc could jump significantly.
  • sportscardtheorysportscardtheory Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Ive never bought a card as an "investment" I buy em because I love them and what they reprsent to me.
    "Investors/Speculators" with no other interest other than trying to make money are parasites on the hobby.
    They've run most of the youth out of the hobby and drug many Lowlifes, Scumbags and Cheats into the hobby with them.
    I see the TPG bubble bursting before long. Hopefully then the The "Speculator/Investor" people will move on to be parasites
    on the next "Big Thing" and drag the Lowlifes, Scumbags and Cheats that have been ruining the hobby for too many years along with them. >>



    The people you are talking about have always been in the hobby and always will be. They are also in every other "hobby". Cards are valuable. Deal with it.
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  • vladguerrerovladguerrero Posts: 4,077 ✭✭✭


    << <i>If I were buying raw modern

    2001 Ultimate Collection Albert Pujols #d to 250
    1997/98 Flair Row 0 Tim Duncan
    1994 Score Gold Zone Redemption Marshall Faulk
    1995 Bowmans Best refractor Vladimir Guerrero
    1996/97 Topps Redemption Kobe Bryant >>



    + 1 on The Vlad 1995 Bowman's Best Refractor RC

    And I'll throw in

    1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Steve Nash RC
    1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle RC
    2000 Topps Traded Miguel Cabrera Auto RC
    1957 Topps Hit Stars Buddy Holly RC
  • CrimsonTiderCrimsonTider Posts: 1,381 ✭✭✭
    Wait three more months and then lay an azz-ton of cash into BP stock. By then it will be at 20% of its actual value due to the public beat down it is taking. Three years later it will be back at it original value. Despite the hatred being hurled at them right now, they are sitting on over a trillion bucks worth of oil reserves and we as a country really really really like oil and thats not changing any time soon.
    collecting Dale Murphy and OPC
  • otwcardsotwcards Posts: 5,291 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Ive never bought a card as an "investment" I buy em because I love them and what they reprsent to me.
    "Investors/Speculators" with no other interest other than trying to make money are parasites on the hobby.
    They've run most of the youth out of the hobby and drug many Lowlifes, Scumbags and Cheats into the hobby with them.
    I see the TPG bubble bursting before long. Hopefully then the The "Speculator/Investor" people will move on to be parasites
    on the next "Big Thing" and drag the Lowlifes, Scumbags and Cheats that have been ruining the hobby for too many years along with them. >>



    How do you really feel? We're all friends here. There's no need to hold back... Let it out! image
  • CrimsonTiderCrimsonTider Posts: 1,381 ✭✭✭
    I see the TPG bubble bursting before long.


    I'm cool with that. That means that I can get me some minty Murphys for less dough. Of course, I'm a collector not an investor.
    collecting Dale Murphy and OPC
  • TomiTomi Posts: 643 ✭✭✭
    High end Mickey Mantle and Bobby Orr.
  • jswietonjswieton Posts: 2,870 ✭✭✭
    Personally, I think that the market for signed HOF rookie cards is going to skyrocket over the next 5-10 years. It is kind of a morbid thought, but it is the reality of how the hobby works. Once a player ot players has become deceased and can no longer sign. It puts a cap on how many of these cards will be available for future generations of collectors. The pop reportwill always continue to grow even when the player passes. This is just my $0.02.
  • nightcrawlernightcrawler Posts: 5,110 ✭✭


    << <i>If you had to pick 5 cards from any sport that you could buy for investment purposes, what would you choose? >>





    Baseball.
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