What card would you buy?

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Posted By: Chris Sabo

I'm not a serious card collector, but I know many of you are. My question is, if you had between $1000 and $5000 to spend on a card or cards, what would you buy? From an ivestment standpoint that is. Please don't try to sell me what you have, I'm just looking for expert recommendations on what you think would make a nice start to a collection. I look forward to your replies.Thanks.

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Posted By: Joe D.

Chris,

From an investment standpoint:

Spend your money on a nice eye-appeal Ty Cobb or Honus Wagner card.

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Posted By: peter ullman

to expand on Joe's comment...buy a scarce/rare wagner or cobb card in the best condition you can afford.

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Posted By: samuel

high grade, early 20th century. that's always safe if you're looking for an investment. some sets are more popular than others, so go for the popular ones. cobb and matthewson are good players to target.

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Posted By: Dave F

Cobb's and Wagner's are nice...but for investment i'd say go with a rarity and a "rare" Cobb or Wagner you won't get for 1k-5k. A Darby Chocolate..or a low grade Niagara Baking (if you can find a low grade common for 5k) is the way to go...just two examples, there are "rare" cards of all sorts that would be good investments to start off a collection.

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Posted By: peter ullman

dave...a t216 cobb just sold on bst for 3500 or so...not super rare...but certainly scarce and desireable. BTW...I agree with you that super rarities are always a good investment.

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Posted By: Matt

Just to echo the comments above - any of the pre-1920 mega-stars should do you fine; Cobb, Joe Jax, Wagner, Matty, WoJo.

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Posted By: J Levine

I would buy a nice Old Judge HOFer. Not really all that rare but they do hold their value and are pretty to look at.

Joshua

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Posted By: keyway

There's also a guy named Ruth who's cards hold there own.

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Posted By: Fred C

Chris,

You might as well enjoy what you collect/invest in. Do you have a particular era of baseball that you favor? Do you have a favorite baseball player from the Pre WWII era?

Purchase something that you will like and appreciate. The only problem with that is you may not want to sell it when the time comes to turn a profit. It's at that time that you'll figure out just how hooked you are to card board.

From an investment stand point people may try to guide you to the following:

• HIGH GRADE material - don't get suckered into the low population high grade example culture. I know I'm going to catch crap for that statement.
  
• Popular ball player in a low volume set (D304 Cobb, for example) - always a good choice because people always seem to want popular players, the tougher the issue, the better.
  
• Scarce/Rare 19th century card - tough to find but greatly appreciated by those people that collect that material.
  

Unfortunately, $5K doesn't seem to buy much from these categories.

Buy what you like and enjoy it while you have it.

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Posted By: Denny Walsh

Did You play for the Reds?

Mathewson's Cards are gonna sky rocket when someone makes a movie of his life, imho ofcourse.

Life's Grand,
Denny Walsh

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Posted By: chiprop

Cobb or Wagner postcards.

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Posted By: Chris Sabo

Thanks guys. Sounds like the consensus is turn of the century +/- 20 yrs, common names, in best condition possible. Any suggestions on the best place to buy?

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Posted By: Sean BH

Like most had said, a nice rare(r) Cobb or Wagner is always a pretty solid investment right now.

The best place to buy I think would be here at the BST; I usually think that people discount the cards a little here knowing there are no fees and that will save them around 10-15%.

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Posted By: T206Collector

SGC 50 or 60 Ty Cobb T206 Green Portrait

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Visit http://www.t206collector.com for Net54 T206 archive, signed deadball card galleries, articles and more!

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Posted By: Dave F

Paul

A T206 green portrait? I don't see where prices for those have steadily went up at all over the last couple years. In fact one may could make the arguement they've not only stayed the same but gone down a tad. I'd be leary to buy just about any T206 for an "investment" right now..that is one set that has seemingly fallen off, maybe due to economic factors.

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Posted By: quan

~$5000 gets you a bunch of e103 commons.

i have a few cases of 1990 topps left if you're interested. please email me privately.

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Posted By: Sean BH

Quan, e-mail sent!

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Posted By: Darren

The highest graded Cracker Jack Cobb you can afford.

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Posted By: T206Collector

The T206 Cobb Green portrait is the safest investment in the $1,000 to $5,000 range. There are always going to be a lot of buyers for that card. Scarcer issues may have done better over the past couple of years, but there are fewer buyers for those issues.

Edited to add: I see you have recommended a Darby Chocolate or a low grade Niagara Baking. While I am sure those are splendid cards, with perhaps a lot of upside, they are not as well known. I would rather have my money in cards that are classically known and thus widely collected, which is one of the reasons I concentrate almost exclusively on T206. For me and many other collectors of T206, it is the wide ranging availability of T206 cards that makes them so appealing -- and has made them so appealing for decades.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

of great players from great sets would be my preference rather than one card. I'd stick to the really big names, like those mentioned already plus Gehrig, Williams, Mays and Aaron. I'd stay away from highest grade low pop stuff because you are gambling on no more cards coming up. Similarly, I'd avoid sets that are limited in appeal because their liquidity is questionable.

Or you could buy a nice portfolio of stocks. Perhaps some AIG, WAMU, Wachovia and Lehman

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: Mark Evans

While I am no expert on card valuation by any stretch of the imagination, I would not buy cards as an investment. And, while I realize history may suggest otherwise as to certain vintage issues, there is simply no assurance, especially in a troubled economy, that cards generally, or cards you may purchase specifically, will necessarily increase in value. In my view, buy cards you think are neat with money you don't need and hope for the best.
Mark

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

"Or you could buy a nice portfolio of stocks. Perhaps some AIG, WAMU, Wachovia and Lehman"

--You mean buy the entire companies, right?

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Posted By: Cat

During these troubling times buy the one thing that will always be in demand...whiskey!

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Posted By: boxingcardman

"There's women and money and drugs...and religion if you can work it in."

While it is true that no investment is a sure thing, I feel a lot better holding a devalued T206 Cobb than a devalued statement from my broker. Looks a lot prettier.

And let me take this chance to wish all our Jewish friends here, L'Shana Tovah; best of health and happiness to you and your families.

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: boxingcardman

delete

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Posted By: Vincent

. . . the cleanest, best condition 1914 Cracker Jack Cobb I could find for the money. Damn caramel stains on the 1914's are tough to avoid. A honestly clean 1914 CJ Cobb is one of my "must have" cards.

Thanks.

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Posted By: JimB

Quan,
Hold a case for me too.
JimB

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Posted By: Wesley

You can't go wrong with rare cards of any of the five members 1936 Hall of Fame class (Ruth, Cobb, Wagner, Matty, and Johnson).

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Posted By: Craig W

I'd suggest a rare back T206 (Drum, Uzit, Red Hindu). There are always collectors looking for these.

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Posted By: Jake Dahl

a high end early 50s mantles

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Posted By: Ken McMillan

E121 Ruths , T207 ward Miller, T207 Vic Saier, E123 Elmer Miller, e121 Chas O'Leary