Should we hold on to these cards?

CubsKiller99

I'm talking about the steroid-tainted players: Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, etc.

Should we hold out hope that their rookie cards and others are ever going to appreciate in value?

If they're elected to the Hall of Fame... does that change the situation? How so.

I for one have a lot of 80s potential gem-mint cards of these players and I'm curious to know
what others think about this.

vladguerrero

I would focus more on the era of cards, they will never be rare.

Foo3112

Clemens and McGwire rookies are worth getting I feel, that is if you get the right cards. Clemens 84 Fleer Update PSA 10 sells for $500 and McGwire 85 Topps PSA 10 goes for over $350+. I would have gotten the McGwire by now but I'm afraid it might pull a Joe Carter 84 Donruss PSA 10 and go from about a $400 card (2005/6) down to an $80 as more get graded in the next few years as grading cards becomes more and more popular. McGwire will always remain a fan favorite however.84 Fleer Update is more limited so its safe to say that card will stay at that and go even higher. He was an incredible pitcher regardless. Best since Nolan Ryan.

epatmythes

Bonds & Clemens... yes. When the dust settles, they'll still be worth something (mass produced and all). Ty Cobb... world class a-hole... today, valuable. Babe Ruth... egotistical, womanizing, fat ass... beloved and valuable beyond belief. Mickey Mantle... overrated (statistically), dead beat, alcoholic. Time heals all wounds, and regardless of the human being you were... eventually people will remember you for what you did on the field!

Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro... who knows... but I'm not as confident.

NOTE: says the guy who was a huge Sosa fan

yankeeno7

If you are a collector and you have fond or even bad memories of them, they are worthy of having in your collection. If you are investing, dont bother.

Sheamaster

Good question. I say yes for Bonds and Clemens as well. I don't even pull Palmeiro from my commons now.

Mdube16

If the question is should you hold onto them because you already have them, what choice is there?

CubsKiller99

<< <i>Clemens and McGwire rookies are worth getting I feel, that is if you get the right cards. Clemens 84 Fleer Update PSA 10 sells for $500 and McGwire 85 Topps PSA 10 goes for over $350+. I would have gotten the McGwire by now but I'm afraid it might pull a Joe Carter 84 Donruss PSA 10 and go from about a $400 card (2005/6) down to an $80 as more get graded in the next few years as grading cards becomes more and more popular. McGwire will always remain a fan favorite however.84 Fleer Update is more limited so its safe to say that card will stay at that and go even higher. He was an incredible pitcher regardless. Best since Nolan Ryan. >>



If these guys never make the hall of fame, will their graded card values decline sharply or still stay relatively
decent? McGwire for example. He's never going to get in, so what is going to keep his card at $350?
Fond memories only last so long, eventually a whole generation of new collectors that never saw him play will
just know he was the cheater that didn't get into the Hall of Fame.

I guess I'm not seeing the long-term potential for graded cards of some of these guys if they are kept out of the
Hall of Fame. And Pete Rose is not a comparable situation.

CubsKiller99

<< <i>If the question is should you hold onto them because you already have them, what choice is there? >>



There is always the trash can I guess. These things take up space in my storage bins that
I could be using for other cards.

I have several hundred ungraded steroid-boys from 1985-1991 Topps, some could be Gem-Mint 10
if I chose to have them graded some day and if they would have deent value. So would it be best to
hold onto them a while longer or not.

Bonds and Clemens have some possibility of redemption, but I don't think that McGwire, Sosa, Canseco
or Palmeiro are going to ever achieve that.

McGwire has been my most familiar example. He's barely cracked 20% in the four HOF votes and has
gone from being a living legend in this town to mister nobody. I don't honestly see that changing in
my lifetime.

emar

I still have a hard time pulling the trigger on a nice Clemens even tho he was awesome.
I believe many feel as I do.

I wanted to BURN my Ramirez card after he was busted the 1st time.

Yankees001

The players you like, pick up for that reason.

The players you do not like don't pick up. The risk is not worth the reward. How many PSA 9 and 10's are out their of these players? How many cards are just in collections ungraded, how many millions of packs are out their? You can pick one up later, and probably save money when the market gets flooded.

My rule: Junk Wax era only buy what you like, do not buy for an investment. Which is what you asked "Should we hold on to these cards?"

JoeBanzai

<< <i>Ty Cobb... world class a-hole... today, valuable. Babe Ruth... egotistical, womanizing, fat ass... beloved and valuable beyond belief. Mickey Mantle... overrated (statistically), dead beat, alcoholic. >>



Ty Cobb, world class a-hole possibly, but his views were much closer to the norm in his day than they would be today. He was considered the best player of all time for MANY years.

Babe Ruth egotistical and womanizing like 90% of all players in all major sports. Fat ass, not really until the end of his career, again like many players.

Mickey Mantle was/is actually underrated statistically he DOMINATED EVERYONE during the years 1955-1964, look at his OPS. Dead beat WTF? Alcoholic, again like a lot of people, especially famous. Having a disease should not really get him criticized.

Try to get your facts straight.

Thank you,

Joe

jay0791

I like many of my fellow collectors am 'stuck' with cards of steroid users.

A sure loss no matter what happens. If none make the hall..there are so many vs demand that price will plumment even more.

If in the future the writers/public/fans....go soft and start to feel Bonds was a hofer before the PEDS then he might be worth saving.

To sell in a very bad market is well...very bad. You are gambling that thier cards go to about zero vs posible small gain.

Clemens has a much rarer card that is notoriously off centered a bit. 50-50 is hard to get. 60-40 is common and many for sale are worse than that.
His card was at $1500+ in the good times. Have not looked lately but I think it can be had for 400-500 in a 10 now.

He has never been caught or convicted. He is carrying the PED refrigerator on his back...but when he was vindicated in the court case his
cards did take a slight upswing. If I can buy a 50-50 10 on the cheap of around 400 I will buy it. Nobody can possibly doubt his hof qualifications (bonds also)

so I feel the risk (there is risk in any invetment that has a higher yield) that might be worth taking.

If by chance the others make it or get positive attention...there will be so many hi end cards that people would be more than willing to dump that the price will still go nowhere.

Foo3112

These prices for a Clemens look pretty strong to me. Especially from a non Hall of Fame player. Face it, hes always going to bring in more money and sell like a H.O.F'r just like Roger Maris. This card has stood and clearly passed the test of time.

PSA 10 - Average Price: $484.95

3/17/13 eBay Auction $620.00
3/7/13 eBay Auction $671.00
2/14/13 eBay Auction $426.77
2/2/13 eBay Auction $511.00
1/28/13 eBay Auction $449.00
1/4/13 eBay Auction $400.88
12/16/12 Memory Lane $493.85
11/8/12 eBay Auction $454.00
11/5/12 eBay Listing Best Offer $475.00
11/2/12 eBay Listing Best Offer $450.00
9/9/12 eBay $551.00

JustinsShoebox

While I would not put stock in the player, there are cards that feature each of these players, that I feel will hold value. That value will hold not because of the player, but more because of the iconic value of particular 1980s cards. The OLY McGwire will always be the sought after card in the 1985 product. The Bonds Topps Traded Tiffany will always hold a premium. I would also hold on to cards from the 1984 Fleer Update set. Palmeiro nor Sosa are worth having, IMO. The only reason I still have the Sosa Leaf 90 is for my Leaf 90 set.

Justin

CubsKiller99

<< <i>The players you like, pick up for that reason.

The players you do not like don't pick up. The risk is not worth the reward. How many PSA 9 and 10's are out their of these players? How many cards are just in collections ungraded, how many millions of packs are out their? You can pick one up later, and probably save money when the market gets flooded.

My rule: Junk Wax era only buy what you like, do not buy for an investment. Which is what you asked "Should we hold on to these cards?" >>



My own personal interest would be to have some graded for resale only if they can get PSA 10 and only if that
grade would still be worth it. I'm not planning on keeping them in any event and I'm not grading them now
until I see how this plays out.

I"m pretty sure I'll have my answer in another few years, but was just curious to see what other people were
thinking about their steroid-cards.

JoeBanzai

Clemens is CLEARLY a hall of fame player, in fact with his stats he looks like one of the best pitchers of all-time. He beat the steroid accusation in court, but the real question is will he beat it in the minds of the collectors and the HOF voters?

Bonds is a little different, another obvious HOF'er, and statistically one of the all-time greats, he too has not been found guilty, but people seem to pretty universally think he cheated. His Tiffany rookie has value in PSA 10.

Palmeiro, wasn't he the guy that said he never did steroids then promptly got caught? If so, his stuff won't be worth much.

McGwire admitted to cheating, so in his case, there could be some forgiveness. Will the VOTERS forgive though? If he gets in the HOF, his cards might have a nice rise in value.

Sosa was on the list of users, so he looks dead in the water.

Yes, if any of these guys get in, it will change the situation in a positive manner.

Since you are not going to get much for them now, hold on to them and see what happens.

Joe