[ls7plus]

OK, Leon and the other posters are convincing me of the error of my ways with the info posted on this board. I agree with Pete: there are a lot of lemmings being led by the herd directly off the cliff! The market for key '50's and '60's cards is to much too large an extent being investment driven, or subject to outright manipulation. The prices for anything but '52 Topps Mantles in "7" or "8" or better, Aaron rookies in "9" or better, etc., etc. appear unsustainable--too much, too fast, too soon. That market has all the earmarks of a speculative boom, which will inevitably be followed by a bust. As I said in an earlier post, don't get caught holding items presently sporting very large price tags which are really not all that difficult to obtain. They are readily available because THE SMART COLLECTORS ARE SELLING THEM AND REAPING THEIR PROFITS! These are the ones that will endure the largest price correction when the bloom is fully off the rose. This is a much better time TO BE SELLING THOSE KINDS OF ITEMS, REGARDLESS OF THE PLAYER'S IDENTITY AND STATUS, THAN TO BE BUYING THEM. It kind of reminds me of when I was buying nice, raw '85 Topps McGwires from '92-'98 for $10-$15, then selling them wholesale in August '98 at the National for $65-$85. "8's" retailed at $125 or so then, and "9's" were $500. Gem mint "10's" were being happily purchased for $5K! Prices, as most of you know, soon dropped to much lower levels (they are making a rather stunning comeback lately, however--"10's" have gone from the low $500 range to $800-$1,000 in the last year, while "9's" have risen from the high $20 to low $30 range to $55-$70 during the same time period).

True collectors are either viewing this as a wonderful opportunity to sell, or standing on the sidelines with their jaws having dropped to their navels. Meanwhile, truly rare and significant items not participating in the boom and which are relatively quiet represent a terrific buying opportunity. Remember, things don't stay the same--the only constant is change, and the focus of the hobby WILL shift, just as it has done a number of times over the last 25+ years (I remember a number of years ago when a board member expressed surprise that a 1926-29 Exhibit Postcard Back Lefty Grove rookie was no longer 35 bucks!).

Thanks to Leon and the other posters for keeping me in close touch with the machinations going on.

Best always,

Larry