CJ 14 prices surging--theories?

[GregMitch34]

It's been building and building but (in my mind) peaked last night with $2000 paid for a Slim Sallee SGC 55 at Love of the Game, and $1450 for a Joe Wood SGC 40 (remember, he's not a HOFer either), and so on. Flipped over to eBay and saw, perhaps in response, that a common SGC 40 just sold for $350 and a Bender SGC 45 for $800. Then the trickle down: at ebay even the 1s and 2s soaring, for example, a common, grimy, Sweeney PSA 2 is already at $224 with 9 hours left in an auction. And has followed a couple months of increases--with SGCs finally starting to close gap on PSAs.

Why? Just a phase? If more collectors (perhaps of SGCs)--why now? Seems to be has also been recent climb in all t206 HOFers 5 or above. I wonder if this reflects appeal of cards that are both "safest" yet also oddly "hottest"--as collecting economy overall fully gets over 2008 collapse at last?

Note: Other Love of Game prices included $1900 for Knabe 3.5, $660 for McGraw SGC 40 and $960 for PSA 4 Collins and SGC 50 Baker and Walsh.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

My 2 cents - I think that part of the increase in prices is due to the nostalgic link between Cracker Jack and baseball.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by I Only Smoke 4 the Cards

My 2 cents - I think that part of the increase in prices is due to the nostalgic link between Cracker Jack and baseball.

Nah........

There are a couple more set builders in the market, it only takes 2. When you got a couple guys who need a lot of cards, not to mention all the other non-set builders like HOF guys, you can see prices do his as we did a couple years ago.

A big shock to me was the Pratt, kinda rough for the grade and to get $9600 is very strong compared to the last couple that sold, although they were not as nice as this one.

There will always be that market from type, HOF and guys looking for upgrades on these cards, they are too mainstream, popular and beautiful not to. Throw in some set builders and there you go...my theory.

FWIW, 1915s have been escalating for a few months now.

[dtp717]

How on earth does a PSA 3 "15 Jimmy Austin go for over $500?

[btkpath]

I tend to agree with Steve. There would appear to be a cadre of new collectors of the set with reasonably deep pockets. Several years ago, I was one of three collectors who were actively putting together a 1914 CJ set, and I know we were responsible for a bump in prices back then. All three of us completed our sets, and now there are several new collectors. The prices for the higher grade cards certainly seem to be strong, but the saying about rising waters raising all boats holds true. There is going to be a trickle down effect on lower grade cards, as well. Also, there is probably a cyclical effect to most card sets, with them becoming more and less popular.

The cards that really surprised me last night were the Becker and the Marsans. The Marsans is a very low population card and sold at a reasonable price (IMHO). Granted it was marked, but it is still a nice looking card. Also, the Becker sold very strong. Perhaps it is getting the credit it deserves as being equally touch to acquire as the Pratt.

[btkpath]

Originally Posted by dtp717

How on earth does a PSA 3 "15 Jimmy Austin go for over $500?

My concern is that several bidders did not actually realize that it was a 1915 AND NOT a 1914. It was stuck in the middle of a stack of 1914 cards.

[Brian Van Horn]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

Nah........

There are a couple more set builders in the market, it only takes 2. When you got a couple guys who need a lot of cards, not to mention all the other non-set builders like HOF guys, you can see prices do his as we did a couple years ago.

A big shock to me was the Pratt, kinda rough for the grade and to get $9600 is very strong compared to the last couple that sold, although they were not as nice as this one.

There will always be that market from type, HOF and guys looking for upgrades on these cards, they are too mainstream, popular and beautiful not to. Throw in some set builders and there you go...my theory.

FWIW, 1915s have been escalating for a few months now.

This is why I am holding on to my Pratt.

[Bosox Blair]

Hi Greg,

I don't dispute that you are seeing a trend, but the Joe Wood example is not really supportive of your theory. The CJ Wood pose (both '14 and '15) has always been immensely popular, selling routinely for more than many HOF players. If anything, that card has come down quite significantly from where it used to be. You can find quite a few examples of that '14 card selling for $1000-$1800 in a 3 or 4 in the last several years.

Cheers,
Blair

[GregMitch34]

You're partly right but that last 3 recorded sales for the card averaged a healthy 953-- but last night's was 1440. An it was noting special (fairly off-center). I guess that's my point.

[Brian Van Horn]

$2040 for a 1914 Cracker Jack of Sallee (that shows him as a righty/same error in 1915 set)?

http://loveofthegameauctions.com/auctionresults.aspx

Not bad. Here's mine:

[sniffy5]

Each forum member is right on this post. The popularity of the Cracker Jacks, especially the 1914's, is likely never to wane. The name 'Cracker Jack' ensures that, as does the unique beauty of the cards, the relatively low number of cards comprising the set (with no back variations to deal with), and also the challenging nature of completing it, which can be done with perseverance.

Recent auctions, eBay and otherwise, certainly show that the 1914 set is hotter than ever. ( Note that a Psa 4 Becker sold for about $1200 this past November in a memory lane auction.) The recent surge in prices is simply a reflection of a surge in set collectors.

[Jlighter]

I think some of it can be attributed to the centennial.

[the 'stache]

While I think all of you are right, I'm going to hope the recent jump in prices is partialy a result of more people coming into the hobby. Wouldn't that be nice?

[GregMitch34]

Thanks for all the replies, trend continued last night with low-grade cards at eBay. Other theories?

[GregMitch34]

Latest example: Ray Caldwell (who??) PSA 2 last night....$1000....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1914-Cracker...item35d752ba2a

[Leon]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

Latest example: Ray Caldwell (who??) PSA 2 last night....$1000....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1914-Cracker...item35d752ba2a

Wow, that is a lot of money for that card!!

[GregMitch34]

I suppose the key question is: If there are just a handful of collectors chasing, do prices collapse after they get their fill? Or does perception of higher value, and VCP numbers, keep them elevated?

Also: What's interesting is that the spike, if not quite across the board, is pretty wide. I had thought that just because a super high price is paid for a few relatively scarce cards, or because two collectors battled over the same common ones they each did not have, that there would be plenty of other cards that did not go up in value at all, because why should they? But nearly all CJ14s have gone up at least a little, and many, by a lot. Hell, I've helped that along myself.

[peterb69]

Originally Posted by Jlighter

I think some of it can be attributed to the centennial.

I agree that this is also a factor. This and the recent book I'm sure raised interest in this set. It did for me (until I saw what $$ it would take to build a set).

[Leon]

I think they will eventually cool off a little but not like some other caramel sets from 7-10 yrs ago have..while we are here, I have had these as my types for quite a while...I got the Purdue in a 3 holder and have $20 into him and the Jennings is raw in GD+ and I paid $45 for him. I paid $400 for the Knabe raw (now in a 40 holder) in a poor deal I did. (ya' can't win them all)

[sniffy5]

That Knabe card of yours is no longer a poor deal. Trust me on that one!! Very nice for the grade. And quite a coveted card.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sniffy5

That Knabe card of yours is no longer a poor deal. Trust me on that one!! Very nice for the grade. And quite a coveted card.

wow.....I just checked a LOTG auction and one got $1900+ in a 3.5 holder and this one is a very old grade and could maybe bump to that. I guess my buy and hold strategy paid off on this one. Thanks for the heads up....I really didn't follow it.....

[sniffy5]

Good stuff Leon. Quoting the Buffalo Springfield song...as far as the 1914's go, "There's something happening here.." They are on the move.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sniffy5

Good stuff Leon. Quoting the Buffalo Springfield song...as far as the 1914's go, "There's something happening here.." They are on the move.

I have watched and listened to this Youtube video 50x....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY



.

[calvindog]

I never understood why this set -- the 1914 Cracker Jack set -- was not hotter with collectors. Of course, I can't understand why the 33 Goudey set is so soft, so what the hell do I know.

1914 Cracker Jack E145-1 by calvindog65, on Flickr

[GregMitch34]

Just got this today, a semi-toughie. BTW, I am doing a combined PSA/SGC pop report and will post tomorrow. I had requested it and no one did so I did it myself....


http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1402189901

[sniffy5]

Crazy tough Greg! Not semi-tough. Awesome acquisition. I am jealous.
And nice video post Leon. Always sort of felt Stephen Stills went under-rated. I don't under-rate him one bit. Maybe the best singing voice in rock history. Not to mention the indisputable anthems that he wrote. Anyway, no one is under-rating the 1914's anymore, it would seem...

[btkpath]

Hey Jeff,

Beautiful Cobb!!!

Any time you need to find it a new home, I would love to help relocate it.

[wolterse]

I have been a collector of vintage baseball cards for about 8 years. For the past 5-6 years, I picked up the best of what I could afford and accumulated a nice collection. Yet I always felt unsatisfied because there was no end game. It was just buy the card du jour and then on to another that "felt right" at that moment in time. I lost interest in this approach and decided that I would auction off all my cards and pursue a single set.

I wanted the set to be tough, iconic, achievable with perseverance and not named t206.

I had a few 1914 cracker jacks in my collection already but never got the urge to go after them all. Then a combination of the centennial, reading the zappala book and the intrigue behind the set led me to want to complete it. I started the journey this January and have not looked back!

I have built most of my collection to date through private transactions. Thank you tom pr!nce, Ed dewoe!fe, mike hea!er and several others for your support.

That said I have participated in many auctions. I have won or been a bidder on several of the cards mentioned in this thread. Like many have said, it only takes a few new collectors to elevate prices. I believe I am one of at least three to four newbies starting this set with the goal of completing it.

I did not win the slim sallee but if you look at the combined pop reports with sgc and psa you will find that that is a scarce card. There are only 24 available and less than half that in nice shape. I did bid on this card but did not win it. Someone wanted that card very badly as I was up late competing for it.

I did win the Pratt and Caldwell. Both are very scarce cards in the set. Admittedly the Pratt is a forgiving 2.5 but consider what I paid competitive in this market because the last two 2s sold for $10k and $16k a few years ago. I believe that was a good deal for a 2.5. The Caldwell has a total pop of 21 (2 more than Pratt!) and I believe it was a bit under graded. I will seek a bump. Nonetheless, it is very scarce and thus the peak in price.

Cheers

[btkpath]

I am certainly glad the 1914 CJ's are getting the attention they deserve. Then again, I have a vested interest!!

[wolterse]

[QUOTE=GregMitch34;1285014]Just got this today, a semi-toughie. BTW, I am doing a combined PSA/SGC pop report and will post tomorrow. I had requested it and no one did so I did it myself....

Greg, I did this recently and am building post right now

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

not when you realize that the Caldwell card is one of the hardest to find to complete the set with a PSA pop of only 12

[sniffy5]

I think another facet to consider with all of this 1914 CJ value talk is that additional 1914 set collectors means that more 1914 cards, very scarce ones in particular, are now becoming part of permanent collections. Waiting around for a Cheney, Frank Smith, Owens, Wingo, etc...may be a longer wait than usual going forward. (And if you want one in Psa 4 or 5, that may take several years.) This is an aspect that probably will ensure that prices/values on certain cards will remain high.