New Vintage Collector.. Help me get started

[Shortstopguy12]

Hello everyone,
I have had a few vintage cards in the past, but never been a vintage collector. I’m now 35, with 2 kids, a good job and have really started to love vintage. I love reading about it, and to put it in simple terms.. I love the history. I have started to sell off my entire modern collection to focus strictly on vintage. I love how our collecting habits can change, and I honestly feel like I have found a whole new hobby. Now, I need you help. Where should I start? I currently have around $3000. Should I buy 1 card, or should I buy several. I am interested in the iconic cards of HOFers, and have no interest in set building or anything like that. I want graded as well. I love all 4 major sports, so I’m curious where you think I should get started, or what the must haves would be at this point. Ill probably end up having $5000 to spend between now and Christmas. Thank you all for helping me start this journey.
- Clay

[Elberson]

Runaway now........lol

But really.......Buy gold or silver

Mays/Aaron/mantle are great players to start with or pick up HOF’ers rc cards

[wdwfan]

I'd start with mid-high grade HOFers and RCs. Those seem to be going up or gaining the most interest. Can't go wrong with HOFer RCs. I've also noticed HOFer second year cards are gaining steam. I'm guessing people are getting priced out of rookie year cards (or they just like/want rookie cup cards if said HOFer has those cards).

I love the idea of selling modern to focus on vintage. That's what I've started to do. In fact, I just sold my entire Trout collection this weekend. So got that money to start. Working on building up a nice sum in Paypal.

I enjoy set building, and I don't deal in graded. But that's what's so special about sports cards. You can collect what you want to collect. I prefer raw, even big guys like Mantle, Mays, Aaron, etc, and putting them into my sets into notebooks.

Most of all, good luck with whatever you decide.

[irv]

Like what has been talked about lately, card prices have been seeing some crazy realized prices lately.
I mainly collect 52 Topps when it comes to baseball cards and lately some of the auction wins I follow occasionally have had me shocked.

Not sure where it is going to go and if I should tell you to get in now or wait it out but depending on who you want, you might be surprised that the amount you are talking about spending might not go very far?

Good luck with your quest.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-...C/402316129498
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-...C/402316131910
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-...p2047675.l2557
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-...p2047675.l2557
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-...p2047675.l2557
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-...p2047675.l2557

[todeen]

You can get a handful of t206 hall of famers for $3000. I am a quantity over quality guy myself. I'd rather look at six $500 cards rather than one $3000 card.

You could also buy 1-3 complete post-war sets for that amount (depending on quality of the set). You could pull out the star cards and then sell off the commons. It would actually reduce the price of the star cards if you did it that way.

[cardsagain74]

More info on your preferences is needed (especially if you're interested in pre WW 2, post war, or both). And even what you'd like most within those eras.

Like if it's post-war, mid-grade rookie cards of guys like Seaver or Nolan Ryan? Or early cards of Aaron/Mays? A Mantle?

And like Dale said above, with how the market has moved lately, unfortunately you're beginning in a more difficult position. He and I have talked about how we never would've begun building our '52 Topps sets if we had to start today (and I only began collecting vintage late last year!)

That being said, obviously the market could still have more room to grow. As long as you find the right current market prices on blue-chip type vintage, there's a good chance you could be okay in the long run. And even if your timing ends up being unlucky, it sounds you'll still enjoy owning the cards more than enough to make it worthwhile to you

[todeen]

I think you'd be surprised at what you can purchase with $3000, if you're looking for a conversation piece. On Net54 you will routinely see big name cards pop up within your price range; you just have to be lucky enough to see it first. 33 Goudey Lou Gehrig PSA 1 have been hovering in the $1000 range. I picked up an ungraded one on the BST from a seller with good creds. You could get a very decent Cobb for that money. Be patient, know the card you want to buy, and then keep an eye open for it.

There was a thread a month ago of auto RC cards, and I thought those were definite conversation starters.

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