Sporting News Ruth Rookie Buy in Price

[JamesGallo]

I haven't been very active lately and I haven't tracked this card much but I am curious what the buy in for this card is. I assume the blank back would be the cheapest. I saw a really nice fair in a SGC holder that appears to have sold for 75K. That seems extreme so was curious what the thoughts are here. Thanks

James G

[ullmandds]

id say for a card that presents reasonably well yet is graded lower on the scale...75K is right about there for the entry point.

this card has been on the steady rise as of lately.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

id say for a card that presents reasonably well yet is graded lower on the scale...75K is right about there for the entry point.

this card has been on the steady rise as of lately.

+1. The last time for most collectors who don't fit into the big bucks category of collectors to buy this card at a reasonable price was really the early 2000's. By 2007, by my recollection, a VG example would have set you back about $15K. The real question is what cards may take a similar appreciation trajectory in the future.

Happy collecting,

Larry

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

+1. The last time for most collectors who don't fit into the big bucks category of collectors to buy this card at a reasonable price was really the early 2000's. By 2007, by my recollection, a VG example would have set you back about $15K. The real question is what cards may take a similar appreciation trajectory in the future.

Happy collecting,

Larry

Any thoughts on what those cards might be?

[glchen]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

Any thoughts on what those cards might be?

I would guess any player that is consistently in the Top 20 list of greatest baseball players ever. And the RC or early card of that player, and if it is more vintage, then high grade. Finally a card that is always on people's want list, but probably goes under the radar. Given this criteria, my guess is: Zeenut Joe DiMaggio. (Note that I do not own one of these cards yet.)

[Leon]

Originally Posted by glchen

... Given this criteria, my guess is: Zeenut Joe DiMaggio. (Note that I do not own one of these cards yet.)

Might be too obscure of an issue for a take off?

[sbfinley]

For the past year and a half that is where it has seemed to be heading.

[JamesGallo]

I thinking more a beat card, not a lower grade card that presents well. I know there was one example with 1/4 of the card missing....

Just not sure I can stomach a 75K card.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by JamesGallo

I thinking more a beat card, not a lower grade card that presents well. I know there was one example with 1/4 of the card missing....

Just not sure I can stomach a 75K card.

i hear you...I know I cannot!!!!!!! Well maybe for a piece of a ruth rookie or a card in pretty rough shape im sure the buy in would be closer to 20-30K

[uniship]

I'm thinking right now the new buy-in for the worst of the worst is $40k. how many of these are there to go around? 70? Of a RUTH ROOKIE? $40k seems right (at the moment) to me. Further - I think down the road could easily one day reach $100k buy-in.

[canjond]

The $75k card was a "best offer" - I believe it actually sold for $55-65k (just can't remember what exactly).

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by uniship

I'm thinking right now the new buy-in for the worst of the worst is $40k. how many of these are there to go around? 70? Of a RUTH ROOKIE? $40k seems right (at the moment) to me. Further - I think down the road could easily one day reach $100k buy-in.

There's probably closer to 150-200 total out there, including all of the different backs. One knowledgeable dealer I respected re his estimates of surviving populations of key cards gave a figure of 200 in the early to mid-'90's. The price is so high because the demand is enormous for each and every example, and why not? It is the real (read major league) rookie of the Babe, after all.

Best wishes re your collecting,

Larry