Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisAnson,
Do not mis-understand my comment. You initiated this thread and Adam Moraine
responded with some valid comments. In my collecting experience these past 30
years, I've seen a lot of factors which have impacted the value of BB cards.
In the late '70s when the economy was suffering (oil crises and high interest
rates), this hobby was just starting to develop as a serious collectible. At
the same time a lot of the Coin & Stamp dealers were coming into the BB card
market. And in 1980, the Phila. Inquirer's front page featured 3 - 1952 Topps
Mantles selling for $10,000. This, in a nutshell, is how things got "jump-
started" in this hobby. And, by 1982, these same Mantles were selling at only
$500 apiece!
Before this, yes there were shows, and Beckett & Eckes had published their
first Price Guide; but the BB card hobby was not a real nationwide phenomena.
About 1985, the economy started improving (jobs were up, interest rates were
down). This hobby, and many other collectibles, started flourishing because
of the lower interest rates as investors were switching to better returns for
their money. By the end of the '80s this hobby was well established as a very
serious investment.
Then in the early '90s the economy was weakening (and the 1994 BB strike) did
"soften up" the values of sportscards. It took a while as the economy started
improving and of course the growing popularity of auctions and the Grading
Service increased. But, make no mistake, if the economy goes sour (another
terrorist attack or whatever) these BB card values will fall. Hey, let's face
it, the cardboard that depicts our favorite BB players, or sets, really has
no intrinsic value.
I shudder to think if I paid $5000 for an SGC 90 Cobb in 2005 and then falls
to $50 in 2010. In the mid '70s that is about what you would pay to get this
same Cobb.
So, we have to consider Adam's first reponse to you as something to be taken
seriously, instead of an excuse to make personal attacks at him (or others).
As for my "Fairly-Ugly" BB cards commentary, hey I have many of such cards in
in my collection.....you have to just lighten-up. I'm not trying to disparage
anyone on this Forum or their collection. So get that straight.