Sportscard investment

Tomi

So let's say you have $50,000 to invest in sportscards right now that you plan on keeping for the next 15-20 years. What do you invest in? High grade rookies, high grade sets, Mantle, Ruth, etc. Curious to see the approach people here would take. Remember, for investment purposes only.

jgrigali

About half in vintage unopened. and then the nicest 1952 mantle i can buy

natetrook

Don't think sports cards are a good investment at all.
Would leave that money in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.

If you have $50,000 to burn, and would like to look at your investment for pleasure and collecting purposes,
would think about supply and demand, as well as liquidity. How easy will it be to sell at the end.

Suggest fewer items to save on commission, rarity and high quality, and less volatility, avoid future stars and modern cards.
Pre-war is good. Nobody has lost money on a T206 Wagner, but $50,000 won't come close to low grade example.
Ruth, Williams, Mantle should do well. Rookies and highest known grade may be worth the risk.
Agree with vintage unopened.

PhilG

I would invest 50K in 93 Finest Refractors. In fact I did. There has been 20 years of refractors. The 93s being the first year. Think first year Topps in popularity. On eBay in 2012 there have been 261 unique buyers of 93 Finest Refractors.
Phil

handyman

Buy 50K worth of 1989 Upper Deck Baseball.
JK
Tough question. But you might do well buying the nicest T206 Complete set that you could with 50k.

jmmiller777

This really is a tuff one. There are several ways to look at it. I think about half of the cash would go into high end 30-50's (unopened vintage-I agree). But keep in mind that the generation who collected these years are getting pretty old. When these collections get sold, they prolly won't bring what was paid for the cards. In other words , I think the big gains for old vintage has peaked, not that it won't continue to rise a bit. High end stuff is the way to go, PSA 8-10's. Of course you won't get much.
I would take a quarter of the stash and do the same thing with 60-70's stuff, and unopened would be great here. HOF's in PSA 8-10 would be great. The other quarter of the cash I would use to buy newer stuff, years that had future HOFer's. It would be a crap shoot here, but unopened 93, 94, etc. I would only buy unopened and graded high stars, nothing raw unless you wanted to have some fun. The $50K wouldn't go far, but it would be a blast!

digicat

15-20 years is longer than the current era of the market has been alive. A lot has changed in the last 15-20 years due to the rise in grading companies, Ebay, etc.

I'd put $50k in something else. You'd be lucky to get $50k back when you sold off in 15 to 20 years.

itzagoner

i think at this point in time, i like the unopened for the long term. it will continue to pace itself entering the market as well as drying up, but there just doesn't seem to be any reason not to believe that values will continue to rise as they have for the past several years.

all you need to do is witness the feeding frenzy around here whenever someone whispers "group rip".

EOMINT

MattyC

Only time and several bets of 50K could tell for sure, so this is all our best guesswork. My thinking would be as follows...

As a pure investment to sell in 15-20 years, I would buy Mantle and Jordan. They are the surest bets. They have the broadest, deepest markets. The most collectors. 52T Mantle. 86F Jordan. 84 Star 101 Jordan in highest grade available. These are cards legions of collectors lust after and are proven to pay top dollar for.

The population of these cards in higher grade simply will not satisfy demand in 15-20 years. Bottom line. I know many, many people in their 30's now who want Mantles, and they will be in prime buying age in 15-20 years as well. A Ruth RC or Wagner is already out of range.

Younger players are out: too speculative. You could take a serious bath.

Unopened... This is a niche market: focusing on its rarity too much can make one blind to other factors. There are far fewer buyers for unopened than the Mantles and Jordans, and there will always be two layers of uncertainty there-- (A) what is inside and (B) is it authentic.

Yes, Steve Hart is amazing, but the OP is talking about finding a buyer in 15-20 years who will spend MORE THAN $50,000 on the hypothetical items in question. If you have an unopened box of 1965 Topps authenticated from Steve Hart or the like, it is a great piece, and rare to be sure, but in 15-20 years you have to locate the relatively few deep-pocketed buyers and hope they will battle it out to maximize your gain. That's a risk, compared to the amount of people who will bid enthusiastically on a PSA 10 Jordan Fleer RC or one of the 18 or so existing BGS 9 Star RCs, or a nicely centered Mantle 52T.

That said, I think boxes of 1986 Fleer Basketball represent a good upside. As Jordan gets on in years and the RC inches up, as younger people mature as collectors and no doubt find their way to that set, as people consistently yield to the temptation to bust those packs (see this past National), I could see broad demand in that box.

There are so many cards we love and appreciate the toughness of, Prewar gems like T206, Cracker Jack... Then there are whole graded sets with extremely low-pop commons, but many of these are for a relatively smaller pool of very advanced collectors. And if there is a "must sell in 15-20 year" parameter to this hypothetical, I think breadth and depth of market has to be a prime factor.

itzagoner

i agree that selectivity on the unopened stuff is crucial, but 15-20 years from now, there will still be deep-pocketed advanced collectors or investors looking for something tangible which includes the element of scarcity, so having just any product of course won't work.

15-20 years AGO, there were similar concerns regarding vintage unopened, Steve Hart wasn't authenticating everything, and the best stuff still went for record prices, which pale in comparison to those of today.

MattyC

It all depends on whether the OP wants the safest return or to incur some risk. Also, would he be willing to be patient when the time to sell came, to match a piece for the niche collector with its ideal buyer?

Also with unopened in terms of risk avoidance-- if that is a factor-- all it takes is one bad buy years from now to become highly publicized and that niche is scandalized. No such risk involved with a 52 Mantle.

itzagoner

the OP did not allude to any risk avoidance, and playing it that way would surely limit your possibilities. i like the Mantle idea as well, but i see a better play on the right box(es), packs, etc. making that investment win, ESPECIALLY now that there is a highly regarded authenticator in place for whatever reassurance you could muster from it.

we both know for sure that nothing is scandal-proof, so risk avoidance pretty much goes out the window once you enter the room.

MattyC

Too true.

Juggs

'88 Donruss commons?

Honestly, I'd get as much vintage unopened as you can....or, at least $50K worth.

MinorLeaguer

It would be fun to open this thread in 20 years to see how we all did! lol.

I agree with all the assessments, but I'd pay some attention to modern in order to hedge the "risk" of the possibility of what I'll call for lack of a better term, the "Shirley Temple" effect. The people who loved Shirley Temple have for the most part passed on and interest in her memorabilia has waned. Probably not going to happen with the biggest names in baseball but you should hedge for the possibility of it could. So don't put your eggs in one basket as they say. Also, on the other side of the spectrum, you have the "ten bagger" effect. It may prove tough to get a $50,000 card to go up 10x's in value from there. It just may be easier to find a few $500 cards that go up to $5,000. Take on some risk to gain from the possibility that if the prices of some modern can someday get up to the real big money, you could have a great investment.

Many seemed to have thrown the baby out with the bath water when it comes to modern. Some mention they wont collect 1980 to mid 90's period. I think that may be shortsighted. Where I see possibilities in that period is in the lesser produced stuff. Some have already appreciated quite nicely. I'll shy away from the PED guys for now. I also tend to only collect baseball and hockey from modern so I'll give my opinion in those 2 sports only. I'm sure I missed some gems from this list. Must by in high grade, PSA 9 and 10. That should have went without saying. Pay attention to production print run info that is available out there. Some stars I left off due to high print-runs. These come to mind:

Baseball:
TCMA Minor League sets in no particular order:
1982 Hawaii Tony Gwynn
1982 Columbus Don Mattingly (I am amazed there are only 16 in PSA 9 and 9 in PSA 10. I think we can get these 25 cards spoken for easily just with all the Mattingly fans on this board!)
1982 Oneonta John Elway
1980 Reading Ryne Sandberg
1981 Pawtucket Wade Boggs
1980 Charlotte O's Ripken (both versions)
1979 Ogden Rickey Henderson
1985 Utica Larry Walker (.313 lifetime BA should just might get him in the HOF)
1977 Evansville Jack Morris

1986 ProCards
First cards galore of HOF'ers, stars and local favorites may give this compilation of team sets a lot of oomph.
West Palm beach Randy Johnson
Pittsfield Greg Maddux
Elmira Curt Schilling
Lakeland John Smoltz
Greenville Tom Glavine
There are first cards of many more beloved players as well (Todd Ziele, Mark Grace, Edgar Martinez, Sandy Alomar jr, Ramon Martinez, Carlos Baerga, Moises Alou, David Justice, etc. etc. etc.)

Other team sets:
1977 Chong Rickey Henderson (150 produced)
1988 Jones Photo Craig Biggio
1987 Crown Oil Tom Glavine
1987 Bobs Camera Tom Glavine (500 produced)
1989 Salem Mike Piazza
1988 Best Platinum Ken Griffey Jr (1300 produced)

For Hockey:
Junior League Police sets with stars from the 1980s. I do not know how many were produced, but they just do not come up often enough on ebay and many times the set with a first card of an HOF can be had for $15-35. Many times the first card can be 3-4 years prior to the OPC or Topps RC.

here are some high profile cards:
1980 Soo Greyhounds (John Vanbiesbrouck, Ron Francis)
1980 Oshawa Generals (Dave Andreychuk)
1982 Kitchener Rangers (Al MacInnis)
1985 London knights (Brendan Shanahan)

Next, 1983 Canadian National Juniors set. Any set with the first cards of Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman has to be a winner. 2 of the best ever. Plus an XRC Dave Andreychuk and a first card of Mike Vernon. The set is not extremely hard to find, but is extremely hard to find in high-grade as the original packaging damaged the corners and edges a lot. Amazing, you can get the set raw for around $100-200.

ProCards did make junior hockey sets in the late 80's to 1990 and have first cards of a few high octane stars. I cannot confirm the print runs but the pop reports of the big 3 TPGs currently tell me it was somewhat reasonable:
1988 Saginaw Hawks Ed Belfour is a steal at around $30-40 for PSA 10 when 5 currently exist.
1990 Indianapolis Ice Dominik Hasek PSA 10 has been selling for $15-25! (I am stumped at that! Currently 28 exist)

7th Inning Sketch
1990 Martin Brodeur #222 is one of the nicest looking "same year as RC" card I've seen with pics on both sides, and although not rare, is much rarer and much nicer looking than 1990 Score. PSA 9 has been selling for $15-25. PSA 10 in the $75-150 range.

I really feel we will look back on 1985 to 2000 as the best goaltending period in hockey ever. Roy, Hasek, Brodeur, Belfour, Vernon, Osgood, etc.

The final one is the 1981 Red Rooster Gretzky Long Hair version. It has everything going for it. Super Star power, T206 Honus Wagner type story behind it, early card of the great one. If history repeats itself, as it tends to do, this could be one sick return. Only 9 ever graded combined by PSA and BGS- 30 years later. In addition, I have only seen two sheets on ebay and 2 raw long hair Gretzkys. I have read 2 dealers have stated they have only seen 2 sheets in their career on the card show circuit. I'm sure there are more somewhere, but it could end up that less than 100 exist. There are 4 variations to add to the intrigue. I could be wrong about it, but it's nice to dream big.

Good luck!

Beck6

In no particular order

1) High grade examples of OPC HOFers (Look at a Mike Schmidt OPC rookie sales) That is a tough card, but no real premium
2) High Grade HOF Basketball from the 60's
3) Michael Jordan
4) Derek Jeter (One that comes to mind is the 1993 Pinnacle PSA 10 doesn't get alot of love, but a tough card)
5) High Grade Food Issues 1950's and 1960's
6) Topps Tiffany PSA 10's

handyman

Vintage Hockey

MattyC

Folks seem to put a lot of faith in the ability to authenticate unopened vintage packs. There is a thread archived somewhere that discusses a PSA-slabbed Schmidt RC pack with a very odd wrapper on it. I found it to be quite a rational discussion, and there were some very knowledgable collectors involved who made some great points. Though my passion for unopened will always be strong, such examples as that have helped me stick with my favorite blue-chip graded cards, when weighing the choice between a card and unopened.

I will buy boxes and packs to rip for fun, no problem (from BBCE). But I'd pause before buying a 25K box over a 25K 52T #311.

CocoaBeachDodgers

If I put a lot of weight on purely the investment side of sports cards, I would want to take into consideration that at time of resell, how large would my buying audience be and how to make my investment as safe as possible.

Keeping that in mind, I would invest in HOF rookie cards, both high grade & mid grade. You than have items that are sought after by:

1) Set collectors, folks putting together a 1958 Topps set need the Orlando Cepeda RC for example.
2) Hall of Fame Sets, there are quite a few in the Set Register.
3) Rookie Collectors
4) Team Set or just favorite teams collectors, if I am a Dodger fan a Sandy Koufax rookie is a must.
5) Investors, rookie cards have always been the backbone of the hobby so many investors mainly want rookies.

Also by investing in many cards instead of speculating in just Mantle or Jordan, I think you have become a little safer.

Unopened material is a lot of fun, but I think for serious investing, you have a much bigger market with the slabbed card.

perkdog

I think the staple of Vintage will always be Ruth, Mantle, Cobb thats where my money would go and I would feel very comfortable with it.

NickM

I'd look to HOF rookie cards from all the major sports too - and just about any pre-WWII HOFer cards in baseball.

Nick

fiveniner

nothing post 60.

Objectivity

Baseball and baseball card collecting are on the downward side of the slope and I don't see that slowing down.

The way the kids' baseball leagues are set up now, you are probably better off investing in renting field times and running tournaments, as opposed to dropping 50k on cards...because the kids who play right now don't devout the same time and energy to cards as they do to playing all those tournament games; and their belligerent parents are just too busy sitting in the stands with pipe dreams of their kid at age ten landing the next 10 million dollar contract, and when the kid DOESN'T land that deal, they aren't thinking about cards, they instead partake in America's TRUE PASTIME...blaming everyone else for those failures

Become a snake oil salesman and promise these out of whack parents all sorts of things and gadgets on how to make their kid become the next Bryce Harper, and you will roll in the dough for the short term at least.

Football will continue to be popular, but since the majority of people who follow it do so for gambling purposes or for the social purpose of going to a friend's house...it will be the bookies, beer companies, and potato chip companies who will reap those monetary benefits, not football card investors.

Basketball...its time has come and gone. If you didn't buy in the mid 80's and sell in the mid 90's, no point even bothering now. Not really even worth detailing how the NBA and its continued garbage product is not worthy of your 50k.

Hockey: it would probably help if there were fans to buy cards. Nice lower print runs for the early Hockey stuff, but nobody wants them....and in terms of fan growth, they are going more the way of gymnastics or bowling as opposed to the big three in their heyday's. Losing cause.

High grade stuff and unopened stuff are cool. However, any dent in their credibility would cause you to lose big time....not to mention the above causing it to lose naturally.

Bottom line, after inflation is accounted for, you will lose on 99% of the things 20 years from now. Stick with short term flips, that is workable, and you won't get stuck with the hot potato. If you want them for nostalgic purposes, and you have collecting blood and enjoy them for that reason, go for it.

sportscardtheory

Don't listen to these people. Vintage baseball has been one of THE best possible investments one could make, even during this prolonged economic downturn. The stuff never decreases in value and most of the time increases.

Dpeck100

Tell Marshall Fogel baseball cards are a bad investment. LOL

Just like high end art, wine and many other hard assets high end investment grade collectibles go up over the long term.

itzagoner

Objectivity. heh heh.

my son was a real good baseball player. good enough to be asked by a major university to participate in their program. never made it, though, G-D knows he tried.

so he parlayed his disappointment into a 4-year education and graduated this past spring with honors.

a pipe dream places you somewhere you conciously don't belong. ambition begets success. and without being good enough to play a sport, my kid likely doesn't get asked to attend.

i'll consider the tuition money we paid my best investment yet. as for the tournament idea, i doubt there's very many folks making a fortune off that, besides Cooperstown Dreams Park.

we're not so out of whack. some folks we've known actually did raise pro ballplayers.

as for that tuition $$, some of it came from a 20-year sportscard investment plan i began over 20 years ago.

Objectivity

<< <i>Tell Marshall Fogel baseball cards are a bad investment. LOL

Just like high end art, wine and many other hard assets high end investment grade collectibles go up over the long term. >>



That window is now closed. The ship has sailed.

Marshall Fogel, buying baseball cards RIGHT NOW with the purpose of making money on them 20 years from now, is a bad investment. I just told him.

If you want to buy them for enjoyment, then God bless. People should do what brings them enjoyment.

He bought them at a different time(which we are in the tail end of right now due to the upbringing customs of current buyers still active), when baseball held a different place, and when collecting baseball(sports) cards held a much higher prominence among younger people. That is no longer the case. It is on a downward slope as outlined above. You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise.

The generation of the kids now(which includes kids from the previous 10 years or so) are not sports cards collectors...there are far fewer than there were during the 80's.

Also, one has to factor in inflation if an item really does go up.

Do you think that society never changes? Sociological factors change. There are things right now that will be good investments 20 years from now. However, sports cards aren't one of them.

All you have to do is look at the trend of baseball itself, and the trend of what kids have been(and continue to be) interested in and spend their money on, and it isn't hard to see the trouble ahead for the sports card field.

Stick with short term flips, you can still make cash if you buy right...and you can get out a lot quicker.

itzagoner

you echo what was being said about the very same topic 20 years ago. guess they were so right about cards being a bad idea for your money.

the post above yours outlines it perfectly. if you invest at inflated rates compared to market value, then of course you will see little progress.

Objectivity

<< <i>Objectivity. heh heh.

my son was a real good baseball player. good enough to be asked by a major university to participate in their program. never made it, though, G-D knows he tried.

so he parlayed his disappointment into a 4-year education and graduated this past spring with honors.

a pipe dream places you somewhere you conciously don't belong. ambition begets success. and without being good enough to play a sport, my kid likely doesn't get asked to attend.

i'll consider the tuition money we paid my best investment yet. as for the tournament idea, i doubt there's very many folks making a fortune off that, besides Cooperstown Dreams Park.

we're not so out of whack. some folks we've known actually did raise pro ballplayers.

as for that tuition $$, some of it came from a 20-year sportscard investment plan i began over 20 years ago. >>



20 years ago you had a sports card investment plan. I sure hope you don't wait another 20 to capitalize on it! It is beginning to be a different time already.

Glad your son got to college via baseball. But he is one of the few who made it to at least college via baseball. Most don't.

Yup, a very small scant number of people make it to MLB, but unfortunately 99% of the others don't. Question is, did you act honorably throughout your son's time on those teams? I'm sure you will say yes, and maybe you did. However, the majority of parents do not, and usually because they couldn't face the reality that the genes they passed down to their son is the reason why they didn't make it...so they partake in American's true pastime...blaming other people, lol.

However, all those baseball playing kids are not producing enough baseball card collecting kids, and that is the main point! They are producing a lot of X-box gamers though, which is where their money is going.

Objectivity

<< <i>you echo what was being said about the very same topic 20 years ago. guess they were so right about cards being a bad idea for your money.

the post above yours outlines it perfectly. if you invest at inflated rates compared to market value, then of course you will see little progress. >>



20 years ago the prevailing thought was that cards were going to pay for your kids college funds. But again, those collectors, and the older collectors NOW, were part of a generation that held collecting sports cards as a 'way of life'. However, those people are going away and are being replaced by people who simply do not collect sports cards(they have been weened to spend their money on other things).


If I am off, I am off by the number of years. It may not be 20 years, it could be 35 years away...but that is the slope it is on. The buyers simply won't be there.

itzagoner

no disagreement there. but some of those kids will achieve, get an education, and if not playing sports, maybe they'll become investment bankers or consultants.

they'll know enough to differentiate between what's worthy and what's not. they'll need to guide their clients appropriately.

hopefully, a little sportscard background will be included. but it doesn't need to be about collecting, just knowledge. they may never know what it's like to empty out a monster box. so what.

as for blaming other people, they were umpires. always umpires. they ruin everything.

Objectivity

<< <i>no disagreement there. but some of those kids will achieve, get an education, and if not playing sports, maybe they'll become investment bankers or consultants.

they'll know enough to differentiate between what's worthy and what's not. they'll need to guide their clients appropriately.

hopefully, a little sportscard background will be included. but it doesn't need to be about collecting, just knowledge. they may never know what it's like to empty out a monster box. so what.

as for blaming other people, they were umpires. always umpires. they ruin everything. >>



I agree about umps...I will give you that, lol!


I love sports cards, but the reality is right there in my face, we experienced the pinnacle of sports card collecting, and it was a great run. Baseball cards were junk in 1955, basically just 'toys', a few smart people collected them and maybe saw a future in them, and they hit it right for sure. The trick is finding 'the next baseball cards'. I just don't see it as being sports cards again. Society is changing.

itzagoner

we will agree to disagree, so be it. there are new gurus ready to rise up, happens from generation to generation, and cards aren't going anywhere just.

in fact, the more the better. let the cream rise to the top.

grote15

I wish I could go back in time and buy vintage unopened product at the prices it was going for 20 years ago....if the market does turn downward (and no one really knows
if and when that will be), I will be long dead and buried.

But I think that unlike other investment avenues, sports cards are collected because collectors get enjoyment out of owning them and looking at them, and to me, that is
why this pursuit is still called a hobby.

perkdog

In harsh economic times 3 things will always have a buyer... Tobacco, Alchohol and Sports Collectables.

perkdog

<< <i>I wish I could go back in time and buy vintage unopened product at the prices it was going for 20 years ago....looking at them, and to me, that is
. >>



I still remember buying 1986 Topps Baseball and turning my nose up at '86 Fleer Basketball at my local Richdale. I want to go back in time and backhand that 16 year old kid that was me


BTW Hi Tim!

RookieWax

Objectivity, the thing you are forgetting is that the buyers and collectors who were in this hobby at its peak in the early 1990s are still mostly in their thirties. And we have all taken time off of the hobby at some point or another, only to return at some point in full force. If even only a small percentage of those collectors return in the next 5 to 15 years, the hobby and prices will continue to grow from this point forward. Many new members on this board are former collectors and I can see many more following in their footsteps. And the key is that the bulk of collectors left before the graded card era. They will return and discover how TPG has improved buying and selling and changed the hobby.

miconelegacy

<< <i>Objectivity, the thing you are forgetting is that the buyers and collectors who were in this hobby at its peak in the early 1990s are still mostly in their thirties. And we have all taken time off of the hobby at some point or another, only to return at some point in full force. If even only a small percentage of those collectors return in the next 5 to 15 years, the hobby and prices will continue to grow from this point forward. Many new members on this board are former collectors and I can see many more following in their footsteps. And the key is that the bulk of collectors left before the graded card era. They will return and discover how TPG has improved buying and selling and changed the hobby. >>



+1

sportscardtheory

One thing I don't really understand is why there is barely ANY advertising by trading card companies aimed at the general public. No Topps commercials. No Upper Deck signage on buses. No Panini Nascar car. Nothing. They only advertise to people who already know about them. I would love to see a trading card commercial or a trading card television station. The market is HUGE and could be even larger with real advertising to the masses.

Objectivity

<< <i>we will agree to disagree, so be it. there are new gurus ready to rise up, happens from generation to generation, and cards aren't going anywhere just.

in fact, the more the better. let the cream rise to the top. >>




Only time will tell! I would just be cautious. The hobby peak we have experienced(and are still in the tail end of) will not last forever, and based on the trends of the sport of baseball, and the lack of the number of younger collectors, it only has down to go.

IMO, the cards that will do best to hold their value are early Ruth cards pre-Goudey.

grote15

<< <i>

<< <i>I wish I could go back in time and buy vintage unopened product at the prices it was going for 20 years ago....looking at them, and to me, that is
. >>



I still remember buying 1986 Topps Baseball and turning my nose up at '86 Fleer Basketball at my local Richdale. I want to go back in time and backhand that 16 year old kid that was me


BTW Hi Tim! >>



Hi Paul!

If you guys ever get a half-decent D, you are going to be mighty dangerous!

sportscardtheory

<< <i>

<< <i>we will agree to disagree, so be it. there are new gurus ready to rise up, happens from generation to generation, and cards aren't going anywhere just.

in fact, the more the better. let the cream rise to the top. >>




Only time will tell! I would just be cautious. The hobby peak we have experienced(and are still in the tail end of) will not last forever, and based on the trends of the sport of baseball, and the lack of the number of younger collectors, it only has down to go.

IMO, the cards that will do best to hold their value are early Ruth cards pre-Goudey. >>



Are you Dmitri Young? Is that why you sold everything recently and most likely made a killing? Because you know the trading card market will tank?

Objectivity

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>we will agree to disagree, so be it. there are new gurus ready to rise up, happens from generation to generation, and cards aren't going anywhere just.

in fact, the more the better. let the cream rise to the top. >>




Only time will tell! I would just be cautious. The hobby peak we have experienced(and are still in the tail end of) will not last forever, and based on the trends of the sport of baseball, and the lack of the number of younger collectors, it only has down to go.

IMO, the cards that will do best to hold their value are early Ruth cards pre-Goudey. >>



Are you Dmitri Young? Is that why you sold everything recently and most likely made a killing? Because you know the trading card market will tank? >>



Ha, no! I don't know what he paid for some of those or how much he made, so I can't comment. IMO he did better with those than he would have 20 years from now though.

perkdog

Objectivity is no Dmitri Young but he knows a hell of alot more about Baseball than him

handyman

and money

Objectivity

<< <i>Tell Marshall Fogel baseball cards are a bad investment. LOL

Just like high end art, wine and many other hard assets high end investment grade collectibles go up over the long term. >>



Only the highest of the high end fall into that category, and in baseball it would be a very select few like the Wagner, or the Baltimore Ruth, and maybe a handful of others. Nothing that is 50k in sports cards remotely comes close to what you are saying. All that other stuff will stagnate or fall(especially considering inflation).


For investment purpose it is a bad investment for the OP's initial question. You are going to have to sell those for $80,000 20 years from now to probably break even(accounting for fees and inflation). Unless you found them now well below current market, that ain't gonna happen!

If you love cards for the enjoyment they bring, and you can afford to put 50k into them and want to build a collection to enjoy, then buy as much as you desire.

I agree that unopened packs are a little special because the supply actually does go down(and is already limited), so in theory those should be great investments. However, the jury is out as to how easy it is to create an 'unopened' pack, and that will always loom in the background so there are different hurdles there. Plus if the contents of the pack goes down, the incentive to pay a higher price goes down too.


All that being said, your best bet is Pre War(not Goudey and not T206...they are too common).

MattyC

I agree with this:

"If you love cards for the enjoyment they bring, and you can afford to put 50k into them and want to build a collection to enjoy, then buy as much as you desire."

This is what it's about.

None of us has a crystal ball. What we have is a love for cards.

If we continue to collect and our kids eventually do as well, the hobby will be fine. Still, I would be happy to be buried with my cards. My whole collection consists of 75 cards now, so it's possible.

handyman

People once said back in the 80s what the sure thing was to put your money in. Just grab any of the old sportscards issues you can find. They said buy Tom Glavine!! By them in 1000s you cant loose. Well we all know what happend. The point is like said just above this post buy what you like. If you are trying to make a mil good luck. Everyone is doing that in every area of this world as we speak. It all depends on what % risk you want to have involved with your 50k.

Objectivity

MattyC and Handyman well said.

Perkdog, thanks for the compliment my man


It is a great hobby and I would never discourage anyone from pursing this hobby, I've spent practically my whole life in it! Don't go in expecting to make money in the long run off of stuff that you are buying at current market value.

If making money is your desire, some guys have shown on the board how quick flips can do that for you. If you go along those lines and are a good hunter and have a good eye, then you might make some cash.

I will say this, even if the cards lose value down the road, you will probably still come out better money wise than any TV, or any home decor, that you ever bought !

sportscardtheory

It's strange to see someone telling us how badly the hobby is doing, and then suggest investing in modern product (quick flips) instead of high grade vintage (the best possible investment in this hobby).