Babe Ruth Investment?

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by theotobel

Hello everyone!

I am a new collector - I am 14 years old.
I am very interested in obtaining a Babe Ruth card for an investment.
What is the best Babe Ruth card to invest in for less than $5,000?

Go Dodgers!

Thanks,
Theo Tobel

Welcome.

First of all, at your age, you should not be spending that kind of money on cards. During your teenage years, you should just focus on educating yourself on the hobby. I remember I used to have hobby magazines scattered all over my bed and I'd read the forums using my free dial-up Internet connection. I was like a sponge during those years; I just absorbed everything I could. By the time I was making money in my early twenties, I knew exactly what moves to make, and I didn't have to ask anyone for advice either. And yes, that's the second point I want to make, and that is never ask other people what to do with your money. If you find yourself doing that frequently, then it means you don't know much, and if you don't know much, then you definitely shouldn't be spending large amounts like that. Knowledge is power, my friend. Have fun learning about the hobby.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Welcome.

First of all, at your age, you should not be spending that kind of money on cards. During your teenage years, you should just focus on educating yourself on the hobby. I remember I used to have hobby magazines scattered all over my bed and I'd read the forums using my free dial-up Internet connection. I was like a sponge during those years; I just absorbed everything I could. By the time I was making money in my early twenties, I knew exactly what moves to make, and I didn't have to ask anyone for advice either. And yes, that's the second point I want to make, and that is never ask other people what to do with your money. If you find yourself doing that frequently, then it means you don't know much, and if you don't know much, then you definitely shouldn't be spending large amounts like that. Knowledge is power, my friend. Have fun learning about the hobby.

THEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You don’t have to worry about this kid — Theo is the smartest 14 year old around and will be the GM of a team someday. He is hugely knowledgeable not just about baseball but the numbers beneath the game. He knows what he’s doing.

[calvindog]

And I would agree that a 1921 Exhibit or any of the four 1933 Goudey cards in a graded holder would make a great investment.

[EvilKing00]

Id agree with what almost everyone has said. Dont blow 5000 on a card. There are plenys of ruth cards u can have for much less to start off. Get a nice looking card or 2 for 300 -500 each. Put the rest in in a stock like at&t that pays a nice dividend.

[Bicem]

This.

[Bicem]

Or this

Or this

Or this

Really any great looking, early or iconic Ruth item is a better investment vs the more mainstream cards in my opinion.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Or this



Or this



Or this



Really any great looking, early or iconic Ruth item is a better investment vs the more mainstream cards in my opinion.

Fun suggestions!

Theo - if you go a route like this, at an auction house, you’ll need to brush up on rules, including if you need to bid on a certain item before “extended bidding” in order to continue bidding on it, bid increments, what additional buyers fee (plus handling fees, etc.) there are and more. Not to mention that you’ll need to set up an account with the auction house (typically abbreviated “AH” in many posts). It is a different beast than eBay.

Good luck and most importantly, have fun!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[itslarry]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Welcome.

First of all, at your age, you should not be spending that kind of money on cards. During your teenage years, you should just focus on educating yourself on the hobby. I remember I used to have hobby magazines scattered all over my bed and I'd read the forums using my free dial-up Internet connection. I was like a sponge during those years; I just absorbed everything I could. By the time I was making money in my early twenties, I knew exactly what moves to make, and I didn't have to ask anyone for advice either. And yes, that's the second point I want to make, and that is never ask other people what to do with your money. If you find yourself doing that frequently, then it means you don't know much, and if you don't know much, then you definitely shouldn't be spending large amounts like that. Knowledge is power, my friend. Have fun learning about the hobby.

Ok, boomer. Maybe the kid is makign money? Dont have to be old to be rich.

How old should you be to buy pieces of cardboard ment for kids?

[1952boyntoncollector]

if I have 60 years to invest. an index fund is a far better investment that follows the market.. I think if you invested 10,000, 40 years ago, and if you reinvested all dividends you make about 600k or something...wont get that with a ruth


plus if people have tons of money to invest in big time cards, there is an argument that the stock market would have to be doing really well for that as well.

[ullmandds]

People! The kid asked for advice on buying a babe ruth card...not financial/estate planning advice! Not the best way to maximize his return on his 5K!

I might also suggest a decent babe ruth autographed ball as an alternative.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

if I have 60 years to invest. an index fund is a far better investment that follows the market.. I think if you invested 10,000, 40 years ago, and if you reinvested all dividends you make about 600k or something...wont get that with a ruth


plus if people have tons of money to invest in big time cards, there is an argument that the stock market would have to be doing really well for that as well.

In 1986, you could have bought 3 52 Mantles from Rosen's find. What are they worth today? Don't you think if he has 5k today for a Ruth card, he may already be or soon be investing in other things too?

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by rats60

In 1986, you could have bought 3 52 Mantles from Rosen's find. What are they worth today? Don't you think if he has 5k today for a Ruth card, he may already be or soon be investing in other things too?

no idea..but you are saying from Rosen fine ..if you bought 3 1952 PSA 4 mantles, that wouldnt of outplayed the market in 40 years..

basically 99 percent of cards would not have outgained the market in 40 years with 5,000 dollars...... most of us dont have 40 years...he does..

plus they are tied together..if the market tanks....i imagine cards do as well or a large portion


i have met collectors with all of their savings into cards and nothing in traditional investments, i wouldnt assume anything

Its ok for risk i get it..but 99 percent versus 1 percent.....is a different story

[pokerplyr80]

Normally I would agree with those saying the 33 Goudey but they have gone up in price considerably over the last two years. Those or the 21 exhibits are probably the safest investments.

If you want to take a shot at a nice return find an early 20s issue collectors aren't paying as much attention to and hold it for a few years. But you really can't go wrong with any Babe Ruth card long term.

I picked up this one a while back. Not really sure if the price has gone up much but it's a card I enjoy owning.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

no idea..but you are saying from Rosen fine ..if you bought 3 1952 PSA 4 mantles, that wouldnt of outplayed the market in 40 years..

basically 99 percent of cards would not have outgained the market in 40 years with 5,000 dollars...... most of us dont have 40 years...he does..

plus they are tied together..if the market tanks....i imagine cards do as well or a large portion


i have met collectors with all of their savings into cards and nothing in traditional investments, i wouldnt assume anything

Its ok for risk i get it..but 99 percent versus 1 percent.....is a different story

Mantles from the Rosen find graded 8 to 10 and that was 33 years ago. 40 years ago Mantles were 375 in vg-ex and they certainly have performed well against the market. The 99% that haven't outgained the market are called commons and minor stars. Pretty much any name HOF RC or Superstar card has. 1933 Goudey Ruths were 55-65. The stock market average was 844 in 1979 to 26184 this year. That is an increase of 31 times.

No one knows what the future is going to be for stocks, collectibles or other investments. I agree it is good to have a diversified portfolio. At this point 5k for some one 50+ years from retirement shouldn't be a big deal.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by rats60

Mantles from the Rosen find graded 8 to 10 and that was 33 years ago. 40 years ago Mantles were 375 in vg-ex and they certainly have performed well against the market. The 99% that haven't outgained the market are called commons and minor stars. Pretty much any name HOF RC or Superstar card has. 1933 Goudey Ruths were 55-65. The stock market average was 844 in 1979 to 26184 this year. That is an increase of 31 times.

No one knows what the future is going to be for stocks, collectibles or other investments. I agree it is good to have a diversified portfolio. At this point 5k for some one 50+ years from retirement shouldn't be a big deal.

There are dividends collected and reinvested on the stocks though, not the cards...you are making far more than 31 times..and again if the market tanks so do the cards..

on 10,000 in 1979 on an index dow fund you would have far more than 31x, you would have over 600,000.. so thats 60x.. correct me if im wrong

buying a PSA 5-6 1933 goudey ruth with 10,0000 and getting into the market for 35 years on an index fund. ill take my chances on the stock being $500,000 versus the ruth from this point on..

[steve B]

Originally Posted by rats60

1933 Goudey Ruths were 55-65.

If they were, I'd probably have one. They were usually 100 unless they were really bad or really nice. The shop near me as far as I can recall didn't get any really bad ones. (late 77 through mid 81 I was there almost every week, often multiple days- it was on the way home from school.)