What cards did you get for a steal, although you didn't realize it at the time?

[One 'ol Cat]

So in the early80's, I was involved with a mail order auction. Probably something I saw in the classifieds of the Sporting News. I won like four cards for maybe $25 altogether. I felt like, if I won four cards in one auction, I must be such a Rube.
All well and good. One of the cards I won, for like $12, was a 1915 Harry Heilmann ZeeNut. (coupon cut off, naturally). I guess it kind of worked out.

[raulus]

You mean aside from all of them? Certainly anything picked up pre-pandi seems like the world’s biggest steal right now.

Might be easier to name the stuff that doesn’t seem like a screaming deal. Basically for me the only stuff on that list is from the junk wax era. Otherwise, everything I picked up pre-pandi has gone up by 300% or more in the last couple of years. So while it seemed like I was paying a lot at the time, little did I know that I was getting a screaming deal by today’s standards.

[NiceDocter]

Picked up 10 1954 Johnstons Cookies in vg including Mathews…. others commons…. but later realized that the Bobby Thompson ( included as a common) was a rare short print in that set!! Nice surprise…

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

Picked up 10 1954 Johnstons Cookies in vg including Mathews…. others commons…. but later realized that the Bobby Thompson ( included as a common) was a rare short print in that set!! Nice surprise…

I got a T206 lot in early 2001 for about $600 for 40 cards, which is obviously a steal now, but back then I got the lot and saw that the George Davis card had an upside down back, showing parts of four Piedmont ads. I had no idea of the value, so I went on the Full Count message board and asked about the price.

The first response I got was that it had no extra value, but the person thought it was interesting so they would pay a little extra for it. I believe they said $75. The next person said don't sell to them, I'll give you $300. Then someone offered $400, followed by two people who said they would top any offers. I did not sell the card and still have it

[Republicaninmass]

A bought a lot of 1952 hi numbers on ebay, the seller threw in a poor eddie mathews rc!

[jimq16415]

I also collect postcards, caught this on ebay with a buy it now 2 minutes after it was listed for under $300. I was happy to have ANY ty cobb for under 300. I think i could sell it and make a profit.


Later again on ebay a 1952 topps Mantle KSA 2 for 3400. I thought as long as PSA authenticated it, I would be ok. I jumped in the bidding at the end and was afraid I paid too much.

[nat]

Originally Posted by z28jd

followed by two people who said they would top any offers

This sounds like a good way to infinity dollars.

[Seven]

A few stories behind each of these cards:

The Aaron RC was purchased off of Becketts Marketplace, back in the Late 2000's. I don't recall the exact price but it was something in the ballpark of $130. I wanted to own the RC of Henry Aaron, I saved my money and was able to purchase it. The Killebrew and Banks RC's were won on Ebay, both for under $100, during the same time period. I couldn't understand how these guys, who were members of the 500 Home Run Club, both so cheap. All of which are in rougher condition, but it matters little to me.

The Koufax, was purchased during COVID. The seller told me that it displays great but measures a touch short of what normal 1955 Topps go for. I have zero plan to grade it, got it for a steal, I'm happy with having it in my collection.

The Minnie, was a throw in from a member on the forum. They were selling 1952 Topps, all lower series. We went back and fourth through a chain of emails, I actually purchased from him twice. Minnie was discussed, but we could never really settle on a price. After I received my second shipment of cards, I noticed the Minnie was in there, and immediately contacted the person, thinking he made a mistake. He told me that because we talked about it so much, he decided just to throw in Minnie for free. This was shortly before his election to the Hall of Fame, so obviously hindsight is 20/20.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by nat

This sounds like a good way to infinity dollars.

When I didn't respond directly to anyone, I believe (trying to remember from 22 years ago) that I was contacted by them with $600 and $800 offers. Those two offers definitely happened, I'm just not 100% sure it was the two people who said they would top anything.

Instead of selling, I started searching for them and found three others about two years later in a collection. Unlike the first offer I got, I paid a good price to someone who wasn't quite sure what they had.

The Davis is in the top right:

[todeen]

In 2019, a St Louis auction house advertised on Net54 for a huge card auction he was running with Ruths, Gehrigs, etc. I won two lots, both Wheaties, for $145 + buyers premium + shipping. I thought it was a great deal then. I got Gehrig, Foxx, Rip Collins, Pepper Martin ×2.

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[ullmandds]

Early pandemic purchase...winter/spring 2020...ebay...best offer...5 blue bird babe ruth's supposedly from original find. I have no reason to not believe this. At this point these were selling for maybe 2-3K each in mid grade condition. These looked nice. I was very nervous as I wasn't accustomed to dropping 14K on an impulse.

They graded 5,5,5,5.5,6.

I sold 2 and basically recouped my investment. Sold 2 more and I kept the nicest one for myself.

[Rhotchkiss]

Pete, as you know, I now own one of those Blue Birds- what a gorgeous piece. I am glad you found them!

[HexsHeroes]

I would have to lean towards 1964 Topps Giant inscribed/signed by Roberto Clemente. Picked it up from Kevin Keating years ago so feel pretty good that signature is good. Never imagined the value would balloon to the present day levels.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Pete, as you know, I now own one of those Blue Birds- what a gorgeous piece. I am glad you found them!

me too!!!!! and thanks for helping me return to solvency!!!

[55koufax]

My answer is simple. In 2009, I tried to convince my card "partner" to equally invest in a 1986 Fleer PSA 10 Jordan RC. Steve Hart had listed one on BBCX for $5,100. My buddy felt it was a bit beyond his reach. At the time, the entire amount was beyond mine as well. I then pivoted to a Jordan 9 by myself. Back then, 4SC had their annual 20% discount sale going on ANYTHING in their inventory without a cap. If memory serves me well, it was listed for approx $2,000. I picked it up for $1,600. Even below VCP at the time. It turned out to be a great buy, and I know at its peak, it topped out at $67K. A ridiculous run up. Today it is pushing $20K. Basically 12X in 13 years.

[Jcosta19]

Every card I have ever bought, at least if you ask my wife. Because that's what I tell her. Ha

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[mrreality68]

I picked this card up 4 months ago and went for a lot less than I and many other collectors thought.
Either we are all wrong and the market value is what I paid (and I paid it with a smile because it bought I would pay a lot more)
Or others say it and mistakes it for the 1921 Exhibit Ruth and thought this was a low grade low eye appeal of it when it was really the more rare but similiar looking (1921 has no border 1923 has border)

Regardless I was very happy to add it to my collection

[sycks22]

Although it's a hockey card I picked up a Gretzky PSA 6 Topps rookie for $200 for my PC around 2018. I popped it out and threw it in my safe and didn't think much of it. When the market went crazy around 2021 I looked and 6's were going for $2k so I figured "Why not send it back to PSA and get $1800?" I sent it back in and came back the same 6 and sold it a week later. Crazy that such a common card would go up 1000% in a couple years.

[Cmvorce]

I bought both of these on eBay around 2017/2018. The Jackie was a PSA 2 and the Mays a PSA 1. My offers of $480 for Mays and $750 for Jackie were both accepted. I paid for them with funds I got from rolling my change and selling DVDs to a used record store.