Which Card To Auction? Tough Call. Call made. Thanks, fellas.

mattyc_collection

So those of you who know me well know I am hardly ever a seller. Only when a major card bill has to be offset by some sales. Because of my new Mick I've parted with some stuff lately, and I actually must say I had a good time selling my Aaron on ebay, deciding what price it should be, doing the write up, the cool/bittersweet feeling when it sold; so now I am thinking of doing my first auction of a card I really like. Usually for card I like so much, I do BIN only, but I think the thrill of an auction will be fun!

Now I know it seems the huge clearing houses are the brand names that get all the eyeballs and all the big bidding action, but I am willing to test the waters and see if a card's quality can win out in the end-- I have always been a huge and sole believer in the power of a great card. I also think there's a genuine appetite among collectors/buyers for auctions they know are legit from straight up fellow collectors. Maybe I'm just betting on good karma in that respect, but it's all good.

So now I'm deciding between putting up either my 1981 Henderson PSA 10 or my 1977 Yount PSA 9. Both merit the grade. Both I can see doing real well at auction setting. The Yount is the best of the few 9s that I'v ever seen, due to centering. My question thus is: which one would you keep for your collection? Which one should be the better collection piece in a decade or so? Please opine and I'll process things then put one of the bad boys up. Torn on which to keep. THANKS.

DanBessette

Keep Rickey.

cree

I agree. Keep the Henderson. I would love to see scans of both of the cards.

70ToppsFanatic

I'd keep the Yount. Given the difficulty with the 1977 Topps paper stock, it would be harder to replace
it than the 1981 Henderson. Also, the amount of 1981 unopened and vending still out there is likely to
be significantly higher than for 1977 so there is a greater chance of seeing the 1981 population increase
(IMO).

WhiteTornado

I don't actively collect baseball, but from what I've seen on this forum and other card-related sites, keep Rickey. There is just something about a 10, they command such huge premiums. Probably will retain a lot of value long-term. Best of luck on the sale, whichever you decide to part with.

ThoseBackPages

That is a tough call. May we see scans of each?

JustinsShoebox

<< <i>I'd keep the Yount. Given the difficulty with the 1977 Topps paper stock, it would be harder to replace
it than the 1981 Henderson. Also, the amount of 1981 unopened and vending still out there is likely to
be significantly higher than for 1977 so there is a greater chance of seeing the 1981 population increase
(IMO). >>



Due to the availability of unopened, I agree with Dave on this one. The 1981 Henderson PSA 10 population should rise.

The 1981 Henderson PSA 10 should also be more attainable in the future if you wish to reacquire it. The only thing that could hurt you with selling the Henderson is that at any given time, I've seen quite a few of these available. This presents a possible ceiling for the price at that given window. At this point, I think you'd also see a higher price for the Henderson than the Yount, and be able to acquire the Henderson later at a lower price (once the pop rises).

My final thought is that the Yount (heck the whole 1977 Topps vs 1981 topps) looks better than the 1981 Henderson.

Good luck with whatever you decide to choose!

Justin

cardcountry

I'd say keep the card you like better- the one you'll be more bummed to sell.

Jeff

vettfanatic

I'd say keep the 1977 Yount. That's a really tough card in a 9. I'm probably a little biased though.

Jeff

ClockworkAngel

I'd definitely keep the Rickey bro. He's one of those legendary players that is at a different level. The demand for Rickey cards will always be much stronger than Yount. Rickey changed the way baseball was played and how everyone looked at lead off hitters. He's one of a kind. There will never be another Rickey. Yount of course was one of her best players in the 1980's and early 90's, but just isnt at nearly the same level. Other pro is of course 10's always being the most popular and in demand.

mattyc_collection

<< <i>I'd definitely keep the Rickey bro. He's one of those legendary players that is at a different level. The demand for Rickey cards will always be much stronger than Yount. Rickey changed the way baseball was played and how everyone looked at lead off hitters. He's one of a kind. There will never be another Rickey. Yount of course was one of her best players in the 1980's and early 90's, but just isnt at nearly the same level. Other pro is of course 10's always being the most popular and in demand. >>



I hear you Todd when it comes to players but what makes this a uniquely tough call is that the 1977 Yount in 9 is a pretty tough card, kind of infamous in hardcore 77 and Yount circles. Only 410 even submitted, which is some indicator of how rarely it's even found worth grading. With a lone PSA 10 and 35 PSA 9s, many of which are worse than this one in question. On the other hand, 1981s are not too shabby either when it comes to cards being ugly right out of the pack. Though this is offset by the sheer amount of unopened. But then the price of unopened is making cracking cases a bit of a scary proposition these days, so who's really doing that. Hence why I can see both cards doing well now and in the future.

Here they are... Bear in mind the Yount is a poor scan I will redo; the card's left edge is obscured by the inner ridge of the holder. On my proper scanner I will get it right to showcase the centering. If you focus on the bottom left area not obscured by the holder ridge, you can see all three of those borders are of equal thickness.

psychump

Close call. Sell the one that will get you the most $. What Aaron did you have fun selling?

ToneD

I would sell the Henderson. It will be tougher to replace the Yount. Then at some point in the future, replace the '81 Henderson with really nice PSA 9. Good luck with whatever you decide.

CW

Just from a "which card looks cooler" standpoint, I'd keep the Yount.

'77 Topps is probably my favorite Topps base set from the 70s, though, so I am biased.

And nothing personal against your Henderson, but that particular copy doesn't have the best L/R centering, if I'm being picky.

But I repeat... I am biased.

gameusedhoop

Sell Rickey and send the Yount back in and try for a bump, there's your upside.

60sfan

Agree with clockwork's comments aboutbRickey's impact on the game..........but in a tough call situation I'd keep the card that has the nicer design / nicer photo ---- the Yount.

Dialj

Rickey says "I would keep Rickey, sell Robin"

ThoseBackPages

is there a tilt on the Rickey? or is it just the scan?

thenavarro

Sell 'em both, and do whatever you want with the $$$

lbcoach20

Your dilemma was mine a couple years back. I sold my 1977 Yount PSA 9 a couple years ago on eBay. Got a good price for it. I enjoyed it for a long time. It was a self grade on a whim. I still think about it to this day. I have a picture of it that I look at from time to time. I replaced it with a nicely centered 8 and have repurposed the $ into other cards I wanted. With my experience, those that said the '81 Henderson is probably going to be easier to replace if you choose to has a lot of merit. The Yount is not going to rise in pop like the Henderson. '81's aren't easy either, but I'd keep Robin. Just my opinion.

PasadenaMudSlide

I'd hold onto the Yount, as well!

mattyc_collection

Thanks for all the well-considered, thoughtful opinions. Having taken all into account, I've decided to list both. I'm not much of an auction guy on the rare times I do sell stuff, but I decided to let these fly for the thrill-- and also as something of an experiment: to see if a humble small-time collector can sell and do anywhere near as well as the big boys. My hope is that it is all about the cards, and the cards will do their thing. Will be fun to check in on the auctions when procrastinating from the day job. I also figured I can have a little fun waxing poetic (if not hyperbolic ) when doing the write-ups on the cards-- at least on par with the AHs, LOL.

CW

I just did a search for "1977 Topps PSA 9" and couldn't find it. When I add "Yount" to the search it showed up in "other items". Looks like you forgot to put "PSA" in the title. Just a heads up.....

Good luck with the auctions!

mattyc_collection

Chuck,

THANKS. Can't believe I didn't double-check that after typing the title. Had to end the item and re-list it. Guess this is why the pros do it and I should remain at the day job! Hopefully having ended and re-listing it doesn't mess up the auction. Thanks again for catching that, brother.

60sfan

Your write up on the both cards is outstanding..........probstein should hire you!............good luck with both auctions.

grote15

<< <i>Your write up on the both cards is outstanding..........probstein should hire you!............good luck with both auctions. >>



What, he didn't just put CENTERED in the title? LOL..

Good luck on the sale, Matty! To me, personally, the Yount is the nicer card with better eye appeal for the grade, and if I'm choosing between a 77 and an 81 condition rarity card, I'm going with the 77, as there are way more untouched bricks of 81 Topps out there waiting to be graded as opposed to 77 Topps.