The Next Million $$$$ Card

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Posted By: Darren J. Duet

A recent SCD publication had an Article entitled the Next Million Dollar Baseball Card. A prediction by the author focused on the T210 Joe Jackson and how if a higher grade example came to auction it would be the Next One.

Our own recent survey for most desirable cards contains worthy candidates, and I'd guess a PSA 8 Cobb/Cobb back could break the mil barrier as well. Given the recent vintage card BOOM and validity of our hobby, there seems to be an ever growing market for the GOOD STUFF. The T206 Wagner was the first and currently the only member to the million dollar club.

The next member may not be the most deserving, but will have impeccable timing. Any thoughts on what card that may be?

What are the top 5 card prices realized(different cards)?

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Posted By: Marc S.

but besides the T-206 Wagner, the cards that come to my mind are:

1955 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 10 - Dmitri Young paid $~$150-$175k
1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie PSA 9
T-206 Doyle NY Nat'l. The PSA 2 sold for many times more than the PSA 4.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 10
1952 Topps #1 Pafko PSA 10 sold for $80k+ nearly 10 years ago.
Last reported sale of N172 Cap Anson uniform
1932 U.S. Caramel Freddie Lindstrom

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Posted By: WP

Dmitri paid 175 or less for the Clemente
The PSA 4 Baltimore News Ruth tops the list of non-wagner sales

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Posted By: barrysloate

I sold a Gypsy Queen California League card in 2001 for over 82K and to this day that is still the record for a 19th century card at auction. I find it shocking that in the last four years, unquestionably the greatest boom period in the history of the hobby, that mark hasn't been surpassed. Why is that? There are numerous cards- Four Base Hits Kelly, Just So Cy Young, Anson in Uniform- that would soar past that figure, yet the sale has held up all these years. 20th century cards have gone up fivefold during that period.
I know I digressed, but I think the Baltimore News Ruth will get there before the Jackson. But it's just speculation.

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Posted By: leon

None of the creme de la creme 19th Century stuff has traded/sold for at least 4-5 years, that I remember (nice caveat there). I presume if one of the key pieces went to auction it would easily topple 100k. Who knows...

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Posted By: Judge Dred (Fred)

It's a sad commentary when the label behind the plastic holder determines the price a card would achieve at auction. Darren, please understand that I'm not trying to dog your thread or question. It's a very valid and interesting question.

The next million dollar card could be inconspicuous to most. All it would take is two people (with a lot of cash to spend) to need the only example available of a card to complete a set (that both were working on). It could be that the two people really may not care for each other and therefore jacking up the price of the card may be of little consequence to their pocket book but it might bring them some joy in forcing the other to pay a lot of money for the card in question or to know that they are top dog - but that never happens...

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Posted By: barrysloate

Leon is exactly right, but why have so many great 20th century cards been auctioned over the last few years but not any of the really great 19th century? There must be an explanation but I don't have it.

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Posted By: Trevor Hocking

I think Fred hit it right on the nose. It is all up to who wants what at what time. The reason we haven't seen any 19th century cards break that mark yet Barry, yes for the mer fact that no rare highly collectable 19th century cards have hit the market. I'm sure if another PCL n172 would come out it would get close. Or maybe a new player for that same set. How about another example of a Gypsy Queen PCL I'm sure that would break it in todays market but the point is they are far more rarer 19th century cards than 20th century cards. Most of them will or have been sold privately. Most main stream 19th century collectors know who to sell there cards to and usually don't need to send them to the auction block.

Trevor Hocking

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Posted By: barrysloate

I know who to sell 19th century cards to also- I just don't know what to ask for them. That's the tough part and why I prefer to auction things. With the market as volatile as it is, if I had something ultra-rare I would feel compelled to put it on the block.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I'm still impressed when a card cracks the $1,000 mark.

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Posted By: Darren J. Duet

Ain't that the truth, Adam.

I used to get excited when I had $1K to spend on whatever I wished, now I can't get enough of trading that paper in for cardboard!

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Posted By: Mark

This list is 4 years old, but isn't $325k more than the Balt News Wagner sold for?

http://www.collectors.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=3093

I'm still kicking myself for buying the PSA 10 Tiger Woods.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I went into Chicago with more cash than I'd ever before had for a show and felt like I could spend it all the first night and not even make a dent in my shopping list.

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Posted By: JimB

My guess would be either a gem mint '52 Mantle or the card nobody has mentioned yet on this thread, the gem mint SGC 98 1914 CJ Jackson. If that card were ever broken away from its set and sold individually, I think the sky is the limit.
JimB

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Posted By: MW

Jim,

I agree. I think after the PSA 8 T206 Wagner it's the SGC 98 1914 CJ Jackson. I'd put the value of that card in the $500,000 to $1 mil range.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Yet someone was able to but the ENTIRE set of 1914 Cracker Jacks in mint condition for only $800,00????

Wow, they could sell the one card (Jackson) and get the whole investment back!!

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Posted By: MW

Hal,

Yep. Unbelievable card....was on display at this year's National. Can't think of too many cards of that prominence (besides the PSA 8 Wagner) that are in that pristine of condition. And it's a pretty safe bet that we'll never see another. The buyer did very, very well and could probably double his money if he broke up the set and pieced it out.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Hell, I would have paid $801,000.

Why the heck didn't they call me?

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

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Posted By: barrysloate

The card is so perfect that it looks like a reprint. But it's not. Put that one in a major auction and watch the fireworks that ensue. Maybe not a million yet, but a big chunk of a million for sure.

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Posted By: Glenn

Wow! I've never seen it before. Is there a story behind it? How'd it come out of a Cracker Jack box looking like that?

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Posted By: jay behrens

You can go to SGC's site and read all about it. Me trying to retell it would do it an injustice.

http://www.sgc1914crackerjack.com/

Jay

If you can sue a band for making you want to commit suicide, can I sue Barry Manilow for turning me into a wuss in the 70s?

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Quick answer:

These NEVER went into the Cracker Jack boxes. They were left behind at the factory.

This is what makes them SO RARE... because every other 1914 CJ in the world was pulled from a box of candy and has the potential for stains, wrinkles, etc.