What's the obsession with "Prospects" in modern baseball cards?

Hallco

I joined Blowout Cards last year and it is amazing what kind of money people lay out for players I have really never heard of! Can anyone enlighten me on why there is such an interest in guys that may never make the big leagues?

digicat

For some, it's another form of gambling.


Could also just be another merger of being a fan of a team and being a card collector. I love picking up all the Giants prospects in the Bowman Chrome and Elite Extra Edition sets each year.

ThoseBackPages

Blame Mickey Mantle

otwcards

Potential sells... Oddly, it is little more than a game of hot potato. Very rarely does the price do much after the prospect makes The Show even if they meet expectations. The "value" has already been incorporated. Mike Trout may be one of the few that jumped significantly AFTER making it and it took an all-time MVP-type performance to catapult his prices. Ironically, one of the few cards last year that escalated because of performance at the major league level was R.A. Dickey and that was after his RC had been dormant for 15 years!

addicted2ebay

Leard my lesson back in the 80's with my dad trying to put away RC cards of players that we thought were going to be studs. Now we just stick to dead or retired players. Less volitale collecting

bobbydigital731

You're right the prospect cards are crazy. I have sold two Jorge Soler cards, a Billy Hamilton, and some other yankee prospects for around 40 to 50 dollars each. The only time Soler has made the news lately is when he brought a bat out of the dugout threatening to hit a player with haha

1985fan

<< <i>I joined Blowout Cards last year and it is amazing what kind of money people lay out for players I have really never heard of! Can anyone enlighten me on why there is such an interest in guys that may never make the big leagues? >>



This is hardly new, and I can pinpoint it back to 1981: Fernandomania. That was the first time I can really remember a single card going crazy. The 'hits' kept coming on after that. Remember Ron Kittle? The list goes on and on.

estang

I would maintain the 1997 Masters card of Tiger Woods as being a great investment

ThoseBackPages

otwcards

Don't even get me started on the bulk prospect buying days. I've still got 25,000+ 1991 Topps Marc Newfield RC's in storage (along with excessive counts of Mackey Sasser, Sam Horn, Hensley Muelens and Alex Ochoa). Luckily they losses were offset by gains on the likes of Moises Alou, Bernie Williams, Kevin Maas and Ivan Rodriguez. However, the days of being able to access bulk (thousands, not tens or hundreds) and buy them for pennies or less are long gone.

Now, it's a risky game. I play lightly in the game with a few prospect each year, but made a strong move on Wheeler over the winter and hoping it pays off, but the time to cash out for me is now. Hoping for another solid start on Tuesday and I'll be out...

Meatloaf

I bet hoarding Mike Trout before his break out paid off...time to sell if you have them!

AUPT

Part of it is the natural human tendency to want to be "first."

"Look at me, I'm so clever and such a great scout of baseball talent that I recognized this guy's value before everybody else."

Like casino gambling, in the long run you can't win.

olb31

<< <i>Part of it is the natural human tendency to want to be "first."

"Look at me, I'm so clever and such a great scout of baseball talent that I recognized this guy's value before everybody else."

Like casino gambling, in the long run you can't win. >>




this is a great statement!!

Hallco

Thanks for all of the replies! I guess I don't get it because I'm not in the hobby for any re-selling opportunities!

GB5HOF

<< <i>I joined Blowout Cards last year and it is amazing what kind of money people lay out for players I have really never heard of! Can anyone enlighten me on why there is such an interest in guys that may never make the big leagues? >>



The guys on Blowout probably feel the same way about what goes on over here. People paying hundreds of dollars for a PSA 9 or 10 graded common of players they've never heard of, or never made a dent in the big leagues.

When there is money to be made and buyers willing to pay crazy prices to get what they want...people will continue prospecting modern chrome autos...and other people will continue to sift through thousands of vintage cards and blowing money on unopened vintage packs in attempt to find that white whale. Its all the same quite honestly. Supply and demand fuels both.

onebamafan

i think many do it for a quick flip, looking to make a little cash......it is fun to pickup some prospects nobody else wants , only to have them become really good A+, or AA prospects. Example, If you had any Puig autos they doubled, tripled, or more in value since he got called up. At least the first couple of weeks. (sell, sell ,sell) He is not the norm, but an exception to the rule. I find its a good way to keep up with orginizations farm systems and potential future players. Also, if you live in a minor league city its a great way to check out some of these guys before they reach the bigs. Also, alot of times cards can be bought for just a couple of bucks, its pretty cheap entertainment and kind of neat to pick a few and follow their progress. Just my 2

GB5HOF

Exactly...and some players are so low risk, like for example Pat Corbin Platinum autos could be had for $2-$3 when the team broke from spring training and he was announced as the 5th Starter...they are selling for 6-7x that now...low risk flips like that are fun in my opinion. Grab some quick cash and purchase established stars rookie autos for my own collection.

JHS5120

Prospects are a form of speculative trading for "collectors" who aren't quite old enough to gamble. I was in a hobby shop last month and watched a 14 year old blow $600 on some newer product just for the autos and prospects. Who would've thought a Derek Jeter base card is worthless in the eyes of young fan? I have never heard of any of these players, but they seem to always command a premium.