1914 Cracker Jack - Under or Over Valued Commons?
 

There is a huge difference in price reflected in SMR PSA 1's and up vs. ebay prices ( for example ). SMR lists PSA 1 commons at about $35.00, but sellers on ebay are running $100.00 for PSA 1's. I have seen some of the same in the b/s/t section here, PSA 1's around $100.00. Who's correct?

Are the 1914 Cracker Jack's that hard to come by? Are they condition sensative which commands the higher price?

I typically buy '52 Topps, so this is a new venture for me.

What are your thoughts?

Just buy the ones you need from SMR.

Oh wait, SMR doesn't sell cards, so they really have little idea of the actual buy/sell prices. Whilst dealers on Ebay and this venue probably have a better idea of the actual transactions occurring.

Years ago, when people used to compare my pricing with Beckett's I quickly told them they should buy it from Beckett. These people report prices for better or worse, on a trailing information stream that may be a few months to a year or more behind the actual trades. Better comps are Ebay and (free plug) Card Target is rapidly compiling accurate historical prices.

Lou, nothing personal meant in my reply, just a generic reply to lots of folks seeking accurate pricing points.

The SMR prices of Cracker Jacks are completely out of touch with reality. Obviously, some SMR price valuations are better than others. But SMR seems to be on another planet when it comes to Cracker Jacks, IMO.

I mostly look at the 1915 prices because that is more in line with my collecting budget. I have been wanting to pick up a lower grade Christy Mathewson and/or Grover Alexander for a while now. SMR shows the Matty at $215 in PSA1 and $390 in PSA2. Meanwhile, Alexander is shown at $65 in PSA1 and $110 in PSA2. :rolleyes:

Even more ridiclous, SMR shows the 1915 Shoeless Joe at $1,150 in PSA1 and $1,950 in PSA2. Where are all these $1,150, or even $1,950, Joe Jackson Cracker Jacks being sold?

Biggest joke = 14CJ Del Pratt. SMR on a 2 = $1,000. They're selling for $10k +.

:rolleyes: It don't look like a 2, but I can't resist.

The 1914s were only available in boxes of cracker jack and were printed on thin paper-like stock while the 1915s were available via mail (and also cracker jack boxes) and were printed on thicker stock.

Pick up a low-grade example of a 1914 and a 1915 to fully appreciate the difference, you'll be happy you did!

Good luck,
Rob
:)

No offense taken.