What is happening with baseball card prices?

[Brianruns10]

Header says it. I collect 52 and 56 Topps. And observing the prices, some players are going gangbusters. For example, Robinson and Mays in the 52 set. I bought a PSA 6 Mays, dead centered in 2014 for $2600, and just in the last week, a PSA 5, badly centered, sold for a whopping $12,600.

Part of me thinks maybe I should cash out. But I'm not in this for money, and I love my collection. But I'm trying to be real about it. Is this a bubble? Or are we seeing a correction on cards like the Mays and Robinson that have been historically undervalued when compared to the Mantle?

Do I hang on to the card, or take the money and reinvest?

[Cmvorce]

I’ve thought a lot about selling my best cards for what should be an insane profit based on what I bought them for over the years but when it comes down to it I just can’t sell.

If you’re like me, the cards you sell you’ll just end up needing to buy again.

It is tempting though - thinking that I could maybe sell a selection of early 50s topps and buy a card or two I never thought I’d be able to own with the proceeds, but what good does that really do when I’d just have to turn around and buy a new 52 Mays or 55 Clemente to fill in the hole.

I guess it just depends what you’re in it for. There are profits to be had, but I’d still rather have the cards.

[Cmvorce]

I guess the one caveat is the fear of being priced out of something. If I don’t pull the trigger soon on a 33 Goudey Ruth I may never be able to afford one. So maybe it makes financial sense to sell a 55 Clemente and Koufax to get one. But even then I think I’d be more upset about parting with the 55s than I’d be happy about getting the Ruth. I don’t want to break up the band!

[dio]

There's a lot more investor, new modern collector going into vintage. If you look at how much modern gain last year. This is nothing. They just throwing money they already made in a they think undervalued market.

[mortimer brewster]

It all depends on your personal financial situation. If you don't really need the money just hang on and enjoy your cards.

[bks14sr]

This crazy parabolic increase is being caused by FOMO and easy pay day dreamers. People asking 2-3X actual cards values (VG Mantles at 75k and EX Mays at 25 plus) just seem like desperate attempts to capitalize. Holding off on my big purchases for the time being.

[cesarcap]

Maybe this isn't the best analogy but I sold my highly graded 8/9s Fleer 86-88 Jordans (Michael James) and immediately bought for same price 6 and 7's and a raw sticker, which are on fire too.

In another deal got a 3 after I sold another 5--and 3 raw stickers. So I'm downgrading but it's not like I'm ever going to be #1 on the registry...and I'm a mid-grade collector at heart. I'm happy when I complete a set.

[mrmopar]

I am in the same boat as you. I never had the intention of selling.
It has always been in the back of my mind, but I was really hoping that my sons would take an interest. I would have lost my mind to inherit a collection a fraction as cool as i feel mine is.

It's hard not to consider getting the most out of the key cards that are exploding though. I will probably let this opportunity pass me by, as i really don't want to sell them plus I hate the hassles that come with it.

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

Header says it. I collect 52 and 56 Topps. And observing the prices, some players are going gangbusters. For example, Robinson and Mays in the 52 set. I bought a PSA 6 Mays, dead centered in 2014 for $2600, and just in the last week, a PSA 5, badly centered, sold for a whopping $12,600.

Part of me thinks maybe I should cash out. But I'm not in this for money, and I love my collection. But I'm trying to be real about it. Is this a bubble? Or are we seeing a correction on cards like the Mays and Robinson that have been historically undervalued when compared to the Mantle?

Do I hang on to the card, or take the money and reinvest?

[Gorditadogg]

It's not just baseball cards either. I paid 300 for an Allen Iverson rookie to give to my son for Christmas (2 months ago!) The card just sold yesterday for 3900.

There are a lot of new collectors that just want to buy stuff and they don't care how much it costs.

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[JollyElm]

EDITED OUT

You might want to read your post again.

[Gorditadogg]

Oops, fixed.

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[bks14sr]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

Oops, fixed.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Haha, was about to say “hey now, easy there”

[JollyElm]

Two cards on my watch list are just befuddling me today. One, a 1973 Kellogg's PSA 10 Stargell is at just under $90 with a little time left. Of the last five sales, three 10's went for under $20, and the other two sold for $25 and $24.99. Getting 10's in this set is pretty frickin' easy, as it seems to almost be the default setting at PSA. I believe they don't come up for sale too often because there is no profit in them. Weird.

The second one is what I call a "Discounterpart" - a lesser valued card in the set that also contains the player's rookie card. It's a PSA 9 OC 1972 'Dr. J' All Star card, and it's at $209 with a couple of hours left!! Before Covid, I picked up a better centered PSA 9 OC version for around $35 all told.

Yowza!!!

[ASF123]

I saw that Greg Morris had a 1976 Topps Jim Rice up over $50 the other day. That’s...something.

[JollyElm]

Holy mother of crap!!!!!!! The 1972 Erving I just referenced went for (with tax and shipping) over $500. Yoinks!!!!