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Another which one would you rather own and why thread - update card in hand**

Let's play again.

I sold the Jordan here on the boards last week.

I picked up the mantle last night for around $50 less than the Jordan sale.

Which card would you prefer to hold on to and why? Good move? Bad Move?


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Comments

  • BrickBrick Posts: 5,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thats a toughie. I don't collect modern cards but I like to get some HOF cards from the 70s-80s to round out my collection. I would probably go for the Jordan because I would take a Mantle in lesser condition but not the Jordan. If that makes sense.
    Collecting 1960 Topps Baseball in PSA 8
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    Ralph

  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭
    I agree with Brick.

    It may be the fact that I AM a modern guy that makes me very sensitive to the condition of the card. A modern card (even a Jordan RC) in less than mint condition isn't very desirable to me.
  • GarabaldiGarabaldi Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭
    I would go with the Mantle, just because it is older and probably more difficult to get in that condition. There is no shortage of Jordan RC's.
  • JHS5120JHS5120 Posts: 1,968 ✭✭✭
    I would take the Mantle.

    Mid to high grade Mantle's will always go up in value but there are many people on this forum who believe that the 1986 Fleer set has maxed out and will start dropping in value. I have no clue whether this is true or not but I would take the safer investment.
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  • Nathaniel1960Nathaniel1960 Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Please don't take offense, but I feel that Mantle is overgraded, unless its the scan. The bottom corners don't look so hot. I also think the 66-69 Micks are coming down in price. The Jordan RC is THE CARD in the basketball hobby, and will likely never be replaced. The 69 Mick is just another Mick. I would vote for the Jordan. There will always be demand for the card, unless MJ pulls an OJ.
    Kiss me once, shame on you.
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  • BobSBobS Posts: 1,738 ✭✭
    My thoughts:

    I have to believe that there are still thousands of PSA 7-8 Jordan RC's still left in packs out there waiting to be graded. However, I do not think there are as many PSA 7-8 69 Mantles out there waiting to be graded. Who knows, maybe there are, but I looked at it as a simple supply/demand exercise using the current quantities of each card available as my basis.

    I also took into account what I think the future value of each card will be, based on their respective grade. I feel the Jordan has peaked and as more packs get busted and more get graded, the price surely has to keep going down.

    I also took my current collecting focus into account. I'm trying to build the mantle basic set and each new card get's me that much closer. Sure, there will always be a large quantity of his cards available for purchase, but finding a decently centered one is another story. Compared to finding a decently centered Jordan RC that is.
  • RonBurgundyRonBurgundy Posts: 5,491 ✭✭✭
    Mantle > Jordan.

    69 Topps > 86 Fleer.

    Only exception: Jordan RC PSA 9 is a card worth having. Anything in a lesser grade would be uncivilized.
    Ron Burgundy

    Buying Vintage, all sports.
    Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭
    i have never been a Mantle fan or an avid collector of his cards {ducking thrown tomatoes}.

    the '69 card is Mantle's last and holds a sacred spot in the hearts and minds of his fans, but the Jordan RC is more emblematic to the hobby.

    me like Mike.
  • Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,261 ✭✭✭✭
    I was watching that one (69 Mantle). I think you paid a strong price. I would not have paid that high. This is my theory on 7.5's: Pretend it is in a 7 and decide...Is this really high end? How much would I have paid for this card like 3 years ago; because that's how it used to be. The only thing that's changed is the flip. The top left corner scared me a little bit. I've had little success purchasing 7.5's. The corners have been weak even for a 7.

    To answer your question====I'd pick the Mantle all day long over the Jordan and you kept $50....You did fine.

    Centering was nice on that Mantle card.
  • larryallen73larryallen73 Posts: 6,069 ✭✭✭
    This one of the more interesting threads in a while. Lots of subtleties to consider as noted above.

    For me, if the Jordan was an 8 I would prefer the Jordan. However, at 7.5 it's pretty even for me.

  • hammeredhammered Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭
    I'd go with the Mantle, might be a bit overgraded but it is well centered, and those 69s are tough to find centered.
    I agree that any Jordan RC less than PSA 9 is not a good long term investment.
    I think you made the right choice.
  • jradke4jradke4 Posts: 3,573 ✭✭✭
    should the overall condition of a 7.5 be roughly the same regardless of the year of production?

    to me the mantle is a soft 7.5 vs the jordan. from the scan the corners on the mantle look soft. where as the left bottom corner of the jordan is bent.

    as for which one i would rather have. i would probably take the mantle as i already have jordan. otherwise i think the jordan might actually go up in value more in the future than the mantle. soon all those mantle horders are going to start dying and their kids will cash out the cards flooding the market with mantles.
    Packers Fan for Life
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  • BobSBobS Posts: 1,738 ✭✭
    Some additional thoughts.

    I took a gamble that the mantle is not as soft as the scan shows. I've bought from the seller a number of times and everytime the card has been a little sharper than his scans.

    I have had mixed results with .5 graded cards. Some have been skewed towards the lower grade but others have me scratching my head as to why they didn't just give the card the next full grade.

    Mickey - I do not think I overpaid. As you know, centering is a bear on the 69 Mantles. Decently centered 7's will run $300. Decently centered 8's over $700. I paid much closer to 7 money than 8 money.

    Anyway, I appreciate all the responses.

    Happy collecting!!
  • Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,261 ✭✭✭✭
    BobS,
    I did not say you overpaid. I said you paid a strong price (which I meant you paid full value in my opinion).---I could see where this statement could get misunderstood.
    Like I said== you picked up a nice card. This will play out 1 of 2 ways for you. You have a well centered 69 Mantle for sure- 1. It was not a great scan scan and the corners are even better than you thought; therefore you have an 8 in my book or 2. The corners are as they appear in the scan and you have a fairly accurately graded 7.5. Either way you're fine.

    Mickey71
  • I would have gone with the Mantle too. While I hope to have a Jordan Rookie down the road I just think in that grade the prices will only fall as there are still a ton out there.
  • VitoCo1972VitoCo1972 Posts: 6,135 ✭✭✭
    I prefer the Jordan. I'd rather own the rookie card of 1st or 2nd best basketball player ever to the final year card (regardless of variation) of the 12th-20th best baseball player ever.
  • cpettimdcpettimd Posts: 1,050 ✭✭✭
    Mantle. Agree with hammered.
    Collecting Clemente master (#6) and basic PSA registry sets, Hank Aaron master and basic sets, Mantle oddball issues, 1970's mega decade HOFs, 1967 Topps pin ups, and high grade Topps Clemente and Aaron. Numerous transactions with over 100 board members.
  • SidePocketSidePocket Posts: 2,901 ✭✭✭
    Mantle any day. I would want an 86 to be an 8 minimum. Nice pickup!

    "Molon Labe"

  • The Mantle. (Speaking as a collector, not investor.)

    Why?
    1) I don't collect basketball.
    2) The 1986 Fleer design is extremely ugly. It really does hurt my eyes...
    3) Agree with the other commentators that modern cards should grade at least an '8'.
    4) I'm very fond of so-called FCs (final cards) cuz they list the entire career stats of a player. (I actually like FCs more than rookies, so far as concerns vintage.)

    The weak corners on the Mantle do concern me though... the corners shouldn't make a 7.5, and just barely a 7.
  • Btw, the 1969 Topps Mantle is a handsome card.

    It's visually pleasing to see Mantle as a youthful, strapping, yet friendly-looking dude. Intelligent and focused-looking too. All Americana.

    Again, contrast with the ugly, up-the-nose shot of the 1952 Topps...
  • The 1969 T Mantle really reminds me of the America that was, and no longer is.

    The Jordan rookie kinda presages the degeneracy it's become...

    (Another reason to favor the Mantle.)
  • I'm a big Jordan fan but for me anything less than PSA 9 Jordan I'd pass and take the Mantle.
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  • TabeTabe Posts: 6,236 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would definitely take the Mantle. Like others, the Jordan would have to be an 8, preferably a 9, for me to want it. Plus, I can't stand Jordan and I don't collect basketball image

    That said, Mickey's not in the top 20 all-time baseball players, sorry.

    Tabe
  • BobSBobS Posts: 1,738 ✭✭
    So, card came in yesterday. My scanner is a little better. Corners are not soft at all, at least the bottom two aren't (look like 8 corners to me). Top left is a little and top right is strong 7'ish. Very happy.


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  • MBMiller25MBMiller25 Posts: 6,056 ✭✭
    Bob, I think you got the better end of that deal as well. Would rather own the Mick's last card. Nice job!
  • leadoff4leadoff4 Posts: 2,392
    Nice card... looks like an 8 to me.
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