Nolan Ryan question
 

Why are 69,70,71 Ryan card so valuable ? Ok 69 is the year after rookie . 72 seems to be in the middle .

He was almost always in a lower-printed high number series.

Personally I think the 71' o-pee-chee is the best card he's ever had and should be worth more as centered good condition examples are difficult.

Funny I was just looking at a few different o pee chee cards . I like the 71 Reggie Jackson o pee chee, but they all seem pretty rough . From the boards to the centering .

Swarmee , how much lower of a print does it take to justify
The prices? Like the o pee chee ,it's rare but how much more rare? I can't even believe the amount of reprints/counterfeit examples I see of these Ryan's .

Certainly, part of the reason is that '69-'71 were his Mets cards.

The 1971 set with the black borders, is extremely difficult to find in higher grades.

As far as them being shorter prints due to being in high-number series, I don't believe that would be much of a factor since Topps started releasing all series at the same time in 1968.

I can't tell you the numbers of cards printed, but the cards are numbered:
1969 #533 / 664. Probably released in August/September only.
1970 #712 / 720. Probably released in September only.
1971 #513 / 752. Probably released in July/Aug/Sept.

None of them are listed in the standard catalog as SPs, but there is obviously higher demand for Nolan Ryan cards than most high-number commons.

I believed this was tested in 1973, and fully done in 1974. Not earlier...

1969 - first solo card
1970 - high number (short print)
1971 - cards are expensive across the board in high grade due to the black borders


Steve

That is correct.

71 in mid grade is still demands a good price . Does anyone think these cards have investment potential?

I got my 71 back in 2003 on Ebay, along with about half the set evenly spaced, albeit in lower grade form, but I don't think I paid more than $15 for each for both my 71 and 72 Ryans. They're a little funky, but no major creases, paper loss or markings, so I'm happy with that.

I know I'm going to have to bite the bullet on the 69 and 70 at some point though.

Ryan is one of my favorites. I assembled a run of 1969-80 recently, using cards I had and new cards too. Some random thoughts on the issues' relative difficulties:

1969: Semi high number and a great looking 2nd year card of an Amazin' Met from the miracle year.

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...20Ryan%201.JPG

1970: High number with tough color borders

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...ps%20Ryan.jpeg

1971: Black bordered nightmare in higher grades

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...971%20Ryan.jpg

1972: semi high number, first Angels card

1973: tough to find centered and sharp. I think 1973 has the worst card stock of the decade.

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...973%20Ryan.jpg

1975: centering and color borders

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...20SGC%2084.jpg

1977, 1979: usually o/c

1974-1976-1978 are no more difficult than any cards of their respective years.

Adam,
That 1970 Ryan is a beauty! I might have to start my own run. Ryan was one of my favorites too.

Re: Ryan prices
 

I think Ryan cards command such high prices because he has such a large fan base, especially in his home state of Texas and many other southern states. Add to that the fact that most Ryan collectors (and I know more than a few of them) are so fanatical about his cards that the competition especially on the early cards and in higher grades is always fierce. I've gotten very few bargains during my time collecting older Ryan cards.

In short I think it has a lot to do with the collector base for the player or a set that determine the prices. Yes, investors and sometime shill bidders may send the prices higher, but if there is only a small collector base those investors would have very few people to sell to at those high prices and eventually prices would drop.

Donato

PS. Very nice Ryan cards, Adam. The 1971 is my favorite.

I think its because it's in a boring, unpopular set, but Nolan's 1974 card (to me) if his quintessential card. Angels uniform; letting 'er rip. Very reasonably priced in nice shape.

Adam sick cards as always! I just picked up a 1970 Ryan I'll show pics later .

Is anyone here an expert on the 1991 Pacific Silver and Gold Nolan Ryan cards? I'm familiar with the silver cards, however, I am curious if the 25th Gold Ann card was really limited to only 1000 total cards? Also, if anyone knows the value? I've found the silver cards online and a few of the Gold cards... just not the Gold 25th Anniversary Card.