The worst trade:

1984 Parsippany National: My R316 Gehrig - Lou Gehrig autographed for a Chicago Baseball Currency Note. Even trade.

Today: Gehrig $15K-$20K BB Note $1K.

Gosh Jerry, for me that would be breaking even.

Ha! That's a good one Jay.

Some may not know but it wasn't until the later part of the 1980s that the hobby interest started in earnest with autograph collecting. Autographs were free at the early Nationals. Lines were not that long, but Lou Avon was always on one. At some shows the charge for player's autographs were $2.00. Duke Snider signed for free and didn't have that much action. When Mantle was featured his rate zoomed up to $10. But his customers waiting line was short and often there was no line and he was left idle.

Yeah, I remember when dealers used to call it 'defacing' the cards to get them signed.

The results in this auction will be another test of the current strength of the hobby. There have been unprecedented dollars spent in the February Heritage auction, REA, Memory Lane, and Weiss. There is another big Heritage auction ending shortly. A big last few days for LOTG should eliminate all questions about how strong the hobby is today.

I really don't know what the strength of the hobby is. Sure there are some amazing items shattering records. Like Cobb postcards. But what's going on with the nice, not museum worthy stuff? Not so clear to me. Take nice 48 Leafs as an example. Are prices flying upwards? How about nice Goudeys that aren't named Ruth and Gehrig and aren't PSA 8s. Are they appreciating decently? Not so clear to me. Maybe we are looking at a few of our neighbors driving Benz's and Teslas and hypothesizing that the car industry is kicking ass.

I agree with this list completely. But what about the Novelty Cutlery Cobb? Was that one issued later than these? I thought it was a 1907-1909 issue as well.

And while we're commenting on the aesthetics of these cards, am I the only one who finds the Dietsche Cobb Fielding to be incredibly goofy? And I have an SGC 3.5, but every time I look at it I wonder, "how did Ty feel about wearing a uniform that looks all white?"

Novelty Cutlery is a great-looking card but was issued several years after the others.

This is exactly correct. It is clear some names and issues are very strong but I am not sure I would therefore make a blanket statement that the hobby is strong. I really don't feel it is because there are far more cards or issues that seem very flat with prices largely unchanged. A strong market is when all or most things across the board are up and I am just not seeing that right now.

Doesn't PWCC have some tool or program that supposedly tracks a broad cross-section of cards?