A new breed of whale

We have been avid collectors of rare, high grade condition baseball cards and memorabilia (not balls, bats, uniforms or autographs) for 35 years. The focus of our efforts has enabled us to undertake transactions with many a plethora of collectors who spent large amounts of money on their hobby. We have witnessed more than a dozen whales ($1 million a year for two+ years) come ago.

It is evident that a new "whale" has entered our little ocean. He or she has an eye for greatness and a pocket filled with cash.

The dramatic rise in the best Negro League items, evidenced by the Merkin Collection (Hake) and selected other auctions suggests that our new whale is not going to be stopped by high prices. We have bid against him in six auctions, and we have only one two of fourteen lots.

We are attempting to learn more about the new big fish in town.


Your comments are always welcomed.


Bruce
bdorskind@dorskindgroup.com
America's Toughest Want List

[bcbgcbrcb]

Bruce:

Your record is better than mine, 0-for-7 last night and 0-for-14 since the start of these rediculous prices several months ago. I certainly can't compete although I was close as the underbidder on 3 of the items last night (Crawfords photo, Willie Foster photo & X-Mas Card, not too far behind on the Punch - Mendez either), as we all know, close only counts in horseshoes. I doubt that bidding another increment or two higher would have changed anything except to drive up the final sale prices.

Also, not sure if it was a bad scan or what, but the exposure on the Chicago American Giants postcard that went for $15K seemed to be really off. Did anyone else notice this?

[glchen]

Is it known that this is a new collector that has entered the market and not an old whale (a la, someone like Olbermann or Don Spence) expanding his collection to new areas?

[egbeachley]

I would see this as an opportunity to sell high and then when the whale inevitably leaves, and prices go down, repurchase similar items for less.

[cozmokramer]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Bruce:

Your record is better than mine, 0-for-7 last night and 0-for-14 since the start of these rediculous prices several months ago. I certainly can't compete although I was close as the underbidder on 3 of the items last night (Crawfords photo, Willie Foster photo & X-Mas Card, not too far behind on the Punch - Mendez either), as we all know, close only counts in horseshoes. I doubt that bidding another increment or two higher would have changed anything except to drive up the final sale prices.

Also, not sure if it was a bad scan or what, but the exposure on the Chicago American Giants postcard that went for $15K seemed to be really off. Did anyone else notice this?

Phil - did you say that close only counts in horseshoes? I believe that it close would count with hand grenades as well...

[bcbgcbrcb]

You're right, I knew there was another comparison that I left out.

[mannybb24]

I think what Al is trying to say is that the Charleston was factory cut that way and not actually trimmed.
I have seen many Billikens and Al has seen many more, and they do come in various shapes and sizes.

Damn Al, how come our conversations are never this in depth as your posts are here, you're a freakin genius! LOL

Unfortunately I was also shut out of Hakes this go around but a little birdie told me there is so much more to the Merkin Collection, Hakes could stretch this process out for the next several years.
So I would not whine about not getting anything now--just think, you'll have even more money to spend in their next auction.

Congrats again to Al and to anyone else that came away with something from Hakes.

[usernamealreadytaken]

Why does the pirate have his hand in his pants?

[Matt]

I think we had this thread already a month ago.

Originally Posted by Yankeefan51

It is evident that a new "whale" has entered our little ocean. He or she has an eye for greatness and a pocket filled with cash.

Why do you presume there is only 1? Could be 3 or 4 new players.

[wonkaticket]

Why is it that when cards go for more than certain folks assume they will go for, it’s chalked up to “whales” or some other silly title as the cause for a price increase?

Can’t it simply be that the market is bearing an increase in a category and the prices are reflecting just that an increase?

I used to be able to get all sorts of things for way below what I pay today for certain things sometimes that’s just the nature of the beast. While I think a few folks can have an effect on prices in a market they can’t be totally responsible for all market swings.

I also think a lot of folk speculate about this stuff because many of these items have passed them by and they are looking for an excuse or something to make them feel better about losing. Bottom line I stopped caring about certain items long ago because they have simply passed me by.

I don’t put a lot of thought or think that if a few folks fell out of any mix I’m snagging T206 Wagner’s in VG for a 100k again. If there are a few guys keeping me from having my Wagner at an affordable price to me please let me know who they are….

You know in Philly as the ol’ Italians say hey accidents happen all the time… (Sorry spent the weekend watching the Godfather trilogy again).

Cheers,

John

P.S. Bruce your list keeps asking for this card quite a few have gone off FYI.

http://www.goodwinandco.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=18542

[barrysloate]

There certainly could be more than one collector going after the Negro League stuff. Look, it's a marketplace, and there are people willing to spend a lot of money to get the best material. It's always been like that and always will be. If you want the best stuff you have to be prepared to pay up for it.

[triwak]

I just hate the timing aspect of this. Was sorta hoping to "complete" my HOF set in the next year or two, and I'm only lacking 4-5 Negro Leaguers. They appear to be out of reach for the time being. Aw well, patience...

[Preece1]

I don't see any new "whales", I just think the "deals" that could be had on the negro league material are gone now that 1) more people have become interested in the amazing negro league players, and 2) people are finally starting to realize how rare this material is compared to like major league material. Take the Mendez Puch card in the Hakes auction; a great hall of famer where there are only two copies of his rookie card in existence, one with a backing and the one without that was just auctioned off. Given this level of rarity, was < $30K out of market? Another example is the Crawford Josh Gibson photo from 1928. This item beats by 3 years any other photo of Josh Gibson and it also went for under $30K. Are these items, and like bids out of market given the relative scarcity?

[bcbgcbrcb]

IMHO, the biggest bargain on the other hand in Hake's was the 1943 Roy Campanella Mexican League RPPC, I would have expected that one to go for 3-4 X the ending price of just over $1K.