Sandy Koufax 1955 Topps 123 PSA 8
 

All,

I am an investor of baseball trading cards and I would like to buy the card but I would like opinions. The seller on eBay ( jjpcards (758 )) has a BUY IT NOW price of $10,500 or MAKE OFFER. According to the PSA previous auctions sales:

4/20/2018 $12,000.00 8 80552 Heritage Auctions 2018 April 19-20 Spring Sports Card Catalog Auction Ended Apr 20th Auction 24978029

2/17/2018 $9,206.25 8 143 Goldin Auctions Winter Auction 2018 Ending February 17 Auction 06048569

1/13/2018 $9,002.40 8 48 Memory Lane, Inc. Historical Rarities Winter Auction Auction 17122108
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Also, why does the auction house Memory Lane, Inc. have such low auction prices?

1/1/2018 $2,288.90 8 558 Memory Lane, Inc. Hot Summer Classic Rarities Auction 31423409

1/1/2018 $2,388.55 8 307 Memory Lane, Inc. Premier Collectibles Auction I Auction 31423409

1/1/2018 $2,518.03 8 529 Memory Lane, Inc. High Grade Card Auction and a Few Surprises Auction 09050829

Scott

I was looking at Clemente rookies from those same Memory Lane auctions and was wondering the same thing.

The dates in the PSA Auction database are wrong. Those auctions are from 2005 timeframe.

Troy

The VCP, Vintage Card Prices, average is $9466. The last few sales are listed below.

James

4/20/18 Heritage Auction | Image 12 $12,000.00
2/17/18 Goldin Auction | Image 12 $9,206.25
1/13/18 Memory Lane Auction | Image 9 $9,002.40
12/9/17 Goldin Image 12 $9,820.00
12/5/17 eBay Image probstein123 2***1 29 $7,411.00
11/17/17 Heritage Image 11 $9,000.00

Troy,

How do you know that they are wrong? They match the VCP prices.

James,

I rechecked the actual Memory Lane auctions (the last three that I listed) and the extremely low auction prices are correct. Why so low?

I think a few people were trying to manipulate the market. Now nobody wants to catch a falling knife.

The last Memory Lane sale on your list ended 9/16/2007. https://memorylaneinc.com/site/bids/...ce?itemid=7293

The one above that ended 3/31/2006. https://memorylaneinc.com/site/bids/...ce?itemid=1568

The one above that ended 9/14/2008. https://memorylaneinc.com/site/bids/...e?itemid=11180


Look at the date on the three you listed. All show 1/1/2018 yet the names of the auctions are different.

Good catch.

James,

I am disappointed in PSA and their dates. Would you suggest using VCP? Is there anybody else you would suggest that contains a "universe" of all auction baseball trading cards pricing?

James,

I just checked PSA again versus your list and all was a match except for the three Memory Lanes Auction house. Instead of denoting the actual dates PSA just used 1/1/2018, because they might not have had the actual dates,and like many systems they will just use 1/1/2018. Also, I should have figured that out as you states by the dates/very low prices. Thanks for your help.

I found all of the past sales by searching on the Memory Lane site.

I think I will offer $9,400. Your thoughts?

FYI, a nice SGC 8 just sold in mile high auction last night for $5800... SGC does often go for less than PSA but not by a wide margin. I would try and get the seller closer to $8k.... I have bought a few Koufax rookies over the years (in PSA 6 and 7) and it does seem his rookie card market is a bit soft right now unless the card is immaculate. Good luck with your purchase!

BLongley,

I will take your advise.

The summer of 16. Many of those cards are now hanging in limbo, imo, as most don't know what to think now as far as their true value goes.
I forget some of the numbers but I believe an 8 or 9, maybe even a 10 was well over $200k once.

Many said it wasn't likely ever really sold but one on here stated since they listed it at that price, that was the benchmark going forward. :rolleyes:

The market manipulation that happened on that card didn't seem to stick like it did the Clemente rookie.

You mentioned that you are an investor in ball cards. As an investor I wouldn't buy a Koufax rookie at the $9400 you mentioned or even at $8000 BLongley mentioned. The prices have been slowly dropping since they ran up a couple years ago. By this time next year the prices will probably be at or near $8000.
james

JFK,

Yes as I strictly hold cards with a goal of selling 10-15 years down the road. I have been collecting for about 2 years BUT Koufax has got me confounded as it is a tough read. Thanks for the advise.

The following is the card:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-TOPPS-...19.m1438.l2649

Hedge Fund

I wouldn’t be to quick on said card. It has a lot of print in the yellow up high in the middle of the card and on his face. It’s also a old grade, Slabbed in a newer holder. Just my opinion, following your gut. For investment purposes, at this moment, I’d hold cash for a better time to buy. I think there will be a steeper correction in the values of these cards.

Aren't auctions prices with those two usually lower because of the buyer premium?

Johnny,

Yes, as I agree and I am glad that you confirmed my concern.

Thanks for the feedback.

Anytime bud :)

And to think Bill Goodwin was telling us a Koufax 8 would be a 200K card.

He has relisted this AM at $9250 - I agree the print marks are a bit much. Print Marks are fairly typical on the Koufax so the sweet spots are the clean ones


AT 7-8K less - I dont regret buying this one
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/150864751@N07/28098698277/in/album-72157664627452038/" title="123 Koufax 84"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1788/28098698277_cd165504de_c.jpg" width="800" height="504" alt="123 Koufax 84"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>




<script async="" src="https://widgets.flickr.com/embedr/embedr-4110feef4aefd18270192d8aeba3ff41.js"></script><script async="" src="https://embedr.flickr.com/assets/embedr-loader.js"></script><script async="" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Toledo,

What was the exact price you bought this at? and when?

Also, what do you think of this current auction?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Topps-...gAAOSwkkNbKAHy

This was from REA Auction October 2017 - I paid exactly $2402 which included BP and Shipping Charges.

That is a great card. Anyone investing might consider buying cards and not holders....long term, I think that is how this market keeps maturing. The best looking cards will be the best long term investments. Eventually, hopefully, holders will be less important than the cards. (and this thread was moved from the BST section)

I would be very surprised to see the Koufax market strengthening in 10-15 years as you stated was your goal.

That's not in the list of names I would imagine younger collectors embracing as a key card as they come up. I don't put Koufax in Clemente or Mantle stability at all.

Personal opinion.

1955 Koufax
 

I strongly disagree!


PWCC got $9250 last night, shows Sandy is solid.

This hobby is loaded with Jewish collectors and Jewish collectors usually have $$$.

With that said Koufax WILL always be in demand, like Clemente is for hispanic collectors.

Toledo's SGC 7 is a much better card than that ebay 8! By far...

Koufax will stay in demand because he is the best pitcher of the postwar era, just like Clemente is the best rightfielder of the postwar era. Being Jewish or Hispanic has very little to do with their popularity.

His religion has a role in Koufax’s popularity. No doubt about that. I collect him because he is Jewish. Same as Hank Greenberg, Al Rosen and Shawn Green.

Cobb, Ruth, Jackie, Clemente and Mantle are the only 5 vintage baseball cards I’d ever consider buying for investments.

I’ve found those are the last ones people ever want to sell from the PC and the first new collectors/investors are looking for.

I don't think that was his point; the point seemed to be that that collecting base will not increase drastically over time leading to gains in the card value. Therefore, that's not a reason to invest in it.

Wagner has to be in there. Probably Gehrig too.

??
 

I'm Jewish and I collect Clemente - not Koufax??

Its self loathing

:D

You can always start.:)

Couldn’t hurt.

Koufax will stay strong imo......who knows if he goes up or down in value long term. My guess is up a little.

And I chose to invest in Cy as a 1 of 1 highest graded..There will always be a Cy Young award..(as shown before)..