Posted By:
Hal LewisWhile some folks may not like it...
there IS a perfectly logical explanation for
why "rookie" or "first" cards of players are
more valuable than cards issued later in the
player's career.
It all stems from the fact that NOBODY knew
who "George Ruth" was in 1915... so nobody
"hoarded" up his cards in large boxes. You
could have traded 100 Ruth cards for ONE card
of whoever the star was in those days.
As Ruth started breaking records and becoming
famous, however, people started craving and
saving his cards. Thus, the percentage of cards
from his later years that still exist is MUCH
higher than from 1915.
How many people in 1954 were out running down
Henry Aaron cards? You could have given them
away for peanuts... or traded 100 of them for
ONE Yogi Berra card.
How about Lou Gehrig in 1925? Think anyone was
breaking in line to get a shot at grabbing one
of his cards from the Exhibit Card machine? No.
Heck, you were probably LAUGHED at if you drew
Gehrig out of the machine instead of Sisler or
Speaker.
1933 Goudey card of Dizzy Dean? You can have it.
The guy's a bum and will never win.
It's all about supply and demand. There is a big
demand for those early cards... and a small supply.