I'm not a Tcard guy, with exceptions, but I tend to agree with you on the 206. Personally my goal as an Ecard collector is a Master Set, a high grade set, a complete back run, and a complete color run. As you know in the Ecard world that's a handful.

This sums it up well for me- I'm a collector at heart but can't really justify spending big $ on pieces of cardboard unless I think they're good investments too. It would be different if this was 40 years ago and Cobbs were going for under $100- then we could all just be collectors. But it's hard to rationalize spending $1000s on something that's "just" a collection. It's much easier for me to rationalize spending thousands on investments that happen to be more interesting to look at than stock tickers.

In general, I am in the group that is broadly skeptical of any vintage baseball cards as long term investments because I am not convinced that future generations are going to care as much about Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson as we do.

However, I also look at it this way. I am 40 years old. I may live another 50 years (maybe more, maybe less). If I wait 20 years to buy a card because then it will be cheaper, I have lost 40% of the value of that card to me, i.e. 20 of the 50 years I could have owned and enjoyed it. (And of course, there is no guarantee that I actually do live that long, or that I am able to enjoy the cards then, or, of course, that the cards do, in fact, go down.) So my compromise is don't put money into cards, any cards, that you are counting on getting back, but don't feel bad about paying for something you enjoy now that might be cheaper a while down the road.

i have 189 copies i just buy one here and there,,if they look nice i buy ..simple

I need a long flight to read all of these posts…i will keep it simple. This hobby is here to stay, the proces may move some but will remain strong. These are highly collectible items, with variety to satisfy nearly all, and people enjoy it. The naysayers sound like Yogi…”it’s so crowded no one goes there anymore!”.

Americans love collectibles.

Over the past 100+ years of this country, what collectibles rival baseball cards in terms of popularity, staying power and value?

Coca-Cola items
Beanie Babies
Records
Coins
Stamps
Train sets
Art
Figurines
Holiday decor
Comic Books
Pokemon
Hats
Silverware
Cars
Signs
Motorcycles
Travel souveniers
Plates/Cups/Dishes
Antiques
Marbles
etc., etc., etc.

Where do baseball cards rank - are they perhaps the #1 collectible in the entire country over the last century ? I'm gonna guess yes!

No, he has 6 not including the reprint, but has at least 1 colgan's chips as well. I seen 2 listed, but have only seen 1 that has actually surfaced. The curtis ireland have no idea if any exist. I actually find it much more challenging trying to find his cards then many that are easy to get. Especially if you have endless funds. I actually had cards when I was younger from the 30s 50s through the 70s. My Mom gave them away. I collect more than just Verne,he's just part of.

Sad fact is many classic cars will be worthless other than museum pieces. The same thing is happening with them as with any other hobby which turns more into an investment. The big pockets drive the market out of reach for the common person to participate, and people lose interest because they can't have, but to dream of. If you actually compare the two they have a lot of similarities on how both have been turned into investments vs hobby.

Cool story, but that's the only way most people can have the cards many can't afford today from yesteryear. I can guarantee my Great grandfather, my grandfather, my dad and my son don't share the same interests. Until my dad there was little money, and lots of kids that worked as farm hands. Frivolous items didn't exist in their lives. My dad had a stick and rock to play Baseball with. He slept in a barn because they had a two room house for 8 kids and had no indoor plumbing. I can guarantee none of them went to a baseball game or had a card. If any where still here I would ask them.

Unfortunately I don't have any cars to play with. I wasn't afforded the luxury of getting them for a song and a dance 40 to 50 years ago. My dad passed away at 59 and my mom had to sell what he had to live, so I got nothing passed down.The car hobby has been lost to investments over hobby, and it started in the late 80s. The people that hold them want more than most can afford or many don't have the appeal of what people want today. This is happening with every aspect of life for most along with the hobbies that all become investments when big pockets take over.

My parents bought a house for the same money I can buy a top of the line TV for today. My cell phone bill is more than the cost they had for the entire month of living expenses. Cars will always be here same as cards, but less people can afford them. The market will always fade. I'll put it this way. If I could afford to build a show car like my dad was able to do it wouldn't be from the same era of vehicles, same with my son. We may all have the same interest, but wouldn't be the same type of cars. Cards will also follow this path for the most part. I doubt if you where just starting out today with today's prices your outlook would be the same. Its not a buy low sell high type of thing in today's market. Its buy high hope it goes higher. It will for the big fish, but that's about it. Some people are forgetting they started this trend that are posting here 40 50 60 years ago. To say new blood will keep this thing going is a hard sell in my opinion. A big reason is the amount you will get, to what they will have to pay to keep it as popular. Our own greed is a huge part of the problem. It turns a hobby into an investment.

Thanks for the feedback, Chad. I don't know why I always mistake your name as "Vern", and have to correct myself.

I have said on here before, that your style of card collecting is advanced and difficult. It's as time consuming as running down a 500 card set 1 by 1, but much less expensive. I defer to your knowledge on the Clemons' cards.

I try not to predict the future, especially for others. My predictions look like the movie "Logan's Run". You escape to paradise with a British model, but Hercule Poirot has already arrived before you, sitting there in rags with his pet cats.

Another issue for me is trying to locate 1 player with 3 different spellings of his first name. I even mistakenly used Vern on accident. Vern, Verne and Vernon are all used Verne is the correct spelling. Also some of his early years before he played for the Cardinals, in minor league ball at least one club spelled his last name Clemens. I also found some magic lantern slides and they had mistaken him as Hornsby. I've tossed this out before, but another person from my small town of 140 at best probably closer to 100 was Dick "Sherb" Noble who was one of the founders of Dairy Queen. The only other was a baseball player who is still living is Jerry Mehlisch. Jerry never made it to the majors do to injuries and polio. Jerry did play with two distinct players Jim Grant aka Mudcat. He was the first African American to win 20 games in the majors and also the first to win a world series game. The other guy was some clown named Roger Maris.

Admittedly, commons were $10-15 when I got my set, but beaters seem to be in the $40 range now.