Quote:
Originally Posted by ullmandds
I like some previously mentioned suggestions...planks good...personally don't think mantle topps rookie is a great investment as there are lots of them. I'd buy iconic cards in the best condition you could afford...t206 plank...rare back hoofer...t207 Lowry red cross...goudey lajoie...any Cobb rookie postcards ESP distaste fielding...Ruth rookie...etc.
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+1 here. IMHO, the '52 Mantle is quite overpriced relative to the number available in mid-grade and lower. The Plank will always be a high demand card that is quite rare relative to the number of collectors who desire it and a key to one of the greatest sets of all time (and I don't even collect it, yet!). Better catch up to one of the M101 Ruths quickly, though. I remember when I just lost out in an auction for one in ExMt in the early to mid '90's (I believe it went in the six thousand range, and I didn't get out of the fives), and I seem to recall that one of the more prominent dealers (Memory Lane?) was offering a TPG card in ExMt for $100,000.
Personally, I like Cobb's various 1907 rookie postcards (and admittedly am biased, as I have both the Dietsche Fielding and Batting position examples) as being very undervalued in comparison to their availability and significance. Plus, postcards (and Exhibits) seem to be emerging with their much more general acceptance as baseball cards and the fact that PSA and SGC especially offer nice, attractive TPG holders for them.
As long as there is baseball, a continuing flow of media info re the history of the game in the form of books and television, there will always be demand for players such as Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, Mathewson and their peers. I do think that restoration is a coming thing which is in the process of growing in acceptance. That may well reduce the value of very high-grade examples of the upper echelon HOF'ers which are only tough to obtain in the sense that they are condition rarities. IMHO, stay with key cards that are very scarce to quite rare in any grade, with good eye appeal.
Best of luck if you take the $$$ plunge, and happy collecting in any event,
Larry