71 Topps Baseball is getting hammered!

SOM · April 29, 2010 3:31PM

Over the past few months, 1971 cards (PSA 7/8) have plummeted nearly 30%!

Just when I thought that prices for singles were as low as I could have ever predicted, Dave Sobie's Set Break (PSA 8) auction tonight sent them even lower.

Kinda reminds me of the Q4 2008 Stock Market.

Anyone know what's causing this? 1971 is usually considered to be one tough set.

Not so much right now.

toc1000 · April 29, 2010 4:24PM

Dunno. I don't watch '71 cards carefully, but it does a gorgeous design with several singles of surreal beauty (e.g. the Nolan Ryan; the Thurman Munson) and as such would always command a premium.

BugOnTheRug · April 29, 2010 6:41PM

Maybe now is the time for '71 collectors to buy. 1971T is one of my all-time favorite sets. Get it while the gett'ins good!

ShawnyD · April 29, 2010 10:28PM

or perhaps the market is correcting itself?

swartz1 · April 30, 2010 12:00AM

probably an indicator for other sets...

watch out !!!

itzagoner · April 30, 2010 12:08AM

<< <i>probably an indicator for other sets...

watch out !!! >>

maybe some.....check the results for the just completed hi-grade PWCC 1967 Topps baseball "snowball rolling down a mountain" set break.

augustaman · April 30, 2010 12:15AM

For those getting worried and ready to run away from
or unload your high grade '71s, I'm a STRONG buyer for
the following PSA 8 cards so please contact me.
#5, 608, 634, & 635

RonBurgundy · April 30, 2010 12:30AM

Just an indication of supply and demand. There have been a lot of sets broken or sold as complete in the last few months. It's going to drop more and that's fine with me.

It's still a great set, however.

Morgoth · April 30, 2010 12:45AM

I think the set has been overgraded. When prices went up people sent anything that would grade 7 in. Its the only set from the 70s recently worth grading so dealers and collectors just keep pumping it to PSA.

Eventually supply has outstripped demand somewhat. You can STILL find NM commons very easily at shows and from dealers so why would you pay 10 bucks for a PSA 7 common when you can get it for 70 cents to 1.50?

PSA 8s are tougher and 9s out of sight but in reality there is just too much graded to keep prices up.

itzagoner · April 30, 2010 12:48AM

what's astonishing is how the majority of PSA 8's barely cross the cost-of-grading line, while others in smaller supply command over $200.

wait a sec. that's not astonishing.

PSARich · April 30, 2010 1:35AM

I agree. I sent in ten or so 1971's with my last submission. I put about 5 1971 PSA 8's on ebay and they went for $5-$10 each. Grading was $4.50 plus S/I. I did have a checklist in 8.5 go for $43.

WalterSobchak · April 30, 2010 1:49AM

As someone who recently started a mid-grade '71 set with PSA 6/7 keys, I welcome this news.

Morgoth · April 30, 2010 4:00AM

I would say now is the time to do it but I am not sure the prices for commons and high pops is ever coming back. The keys in high grade will command more always. I feel that PSA keeps an eye on the pop report as well and you won't see 45 PSA 8 Munsons anytime soon in a bulk sub.

wallst32 · April 30, 2010 4:17AM

Once all the set collectors have their fill there is nobody left to buy common cards. Seriously who else wants a PSA graded card of Joe Nobody even in high grade?

fkw · April 30, 2010 6:08AM

agree with post above

Morgoth · April 30, 2010 6:47AM

My biggest issue with doing all graded sets is where do you store these monsters when your done? Geezus can't PSA come up with a smaller slab for commons?

RonBurgundy · April 30, 2010 7:00AM

My biggest issue with doing all graded sets is..........why?

I can see it for player sets and smaller sets of 50 cards or less, but beyond the failing economics of it I think it's rather pointless for most large issues.

Blacklabelsociety · April 30, 2010 9:13AM

<< <i>My biggest issue with doing all graded sets is..........why?

I can see it for player sets and smaller sets of 50 cards or less, but beyond the failing economics of it I think it's rather pointless for most large issues. >>

I certainly agree. Thats one thing i could never figure out?

SOM · April 30, 2010 9:23AM

I'm thinking I should've posted this in the Set Registry Forum

mittec · May 1, 2010 12:16PM

Lets face it the baseball card market is going to go down just like everything else.How many people are wasting there money on a piece of cardboard with a picture on it?

Pigs · May 1, 2010 12:27PM

<< <i>Lets face it the baseball card market is going to go down just like everything else.How many people are wasting there money on a piece of cardboard with a picture on it? >>

That's it, my T-206 Honus Wagner is going in the recycle bin tonight.

handyman · May 1, 2010 12:49PM

Its 1971
Id rather spend 20 bucks on a star card from the 60s than a PSA 8 70s common no name . Argument may be its has black boarders and its rare. Really if thats all you got give me the 1960s star card
Might be the thought of many in this market. Making prices go down

MULLINS5 · May 1, 2010 1:12PM

It’s a matter of supply and demand. As said before, once the few collectors have their set filled what else shows up on the floor generally will not bring as much as before.

The drop in grading fees by companies such as PSA, along with the temptation for people to make money subbing cards, caused low pop cards to raise in population, filling virtually everyone’s want lists, with the remaining cards having to be sold for under grading fees to mainly people looking to later turn a profit on them, and luckily, to that one lonely collector beginning his set, and picking up some nice deals.

It makes zero economic sense to build a PSA company set for modern cards, but then again most of our collections make no financial sense. I am building a company set, 1981 O-Pee-Chee Stickers, and soon 1982 Topps E.T., but what I have found to be different from collecting a player set is that by collecting a company set you are drawn to not only some of your favorite players, but the card’s design, rarity, or for some other personal reasons, for instance (in my case) my being born in 1981.

TheCARDKid · May 1, 2010 6:09PM

Honestly, I think *all* psa graded commons after about 65 or 68 could drop to barely the grading fee, or a little above it.

-It made no economic sense in good times to pay huge premiums for commons. Maybe there are 10-20 true condition rarities per set that would command a premium. But I dont see how 100 or 200 cards could command a high premium over everyone else.

-If it didn't make economic sense in good times to pay high premiums for commons, what happens in a prolonged recession/depression? On top of the aging baby boomers and gen x'ers that support vintage cards. There are too many potential financial problems in the next 5-10 years to support card prices the way they have been.

-Plus you have more cards coming out of the woodwork (like larry fritsch). Even with 71's. I think 71's in a super high grade will always command a higher premium than other years of the 70's, but not that high of a premium. And it becomes a balancing act vs 60's star cards.

1960toppsguy · May 2, 2010 12:32AM

My personal belief is that anyone purchasing cards has a decision to make . . . COLLECTING or INVESTING? I think if you are investing you are wasting money grading commons for any sets unless you are collecting. That makes a lot of sense? None!

Estil · May 2, 2010 12:31PM

I'm working on 1971 even as we speak. Or at least I had been till I got into collecting class video games. So this is good news for me!

71 Topps Baseball is getting hammered!

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