OT - Dennis Eckersley vs Walter Payton

[Rhotchkiss]

Two Hall of Fame, PSA 10, 1976 rookies - Dennis Eckersley (baseball) and Walter Payton (football). Estimate on the Eckersley is $80k, double the estimate on the Payton ($40k).

Personally, I wouldn’t spend 10% of either estimate - I just don’t see the merits of paying so much for a mass-produced and extremely common 1976 card, just bc it sits in a 10 flip. But if I had to buy one, I go with Payton all day every day.

Thoughts on why Dennis Eckersley is estimated to be worth “Sweetness” (indisputably one of the best all time)?

[jayshum]

I think the main reason is there are a lot more people collecting baseball cards than football cards so prices for baseball are just higher in general due to higher demand.

[GeoPoto]

The pop report says 9 Eckersley and 55 Payton. Supply might have something to do with it.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

The pop report says 9 Eckersley and 55 Payton. Supply might have something to do with it.

I can't believe I'm using the term "pop report". Ugh. But that was my first thought and it appears to be confirmed.

[OhioLawyerF5]

If Walter Payton displayed his armpits prominantly, his card might be worth more.

But seriously, in addition to the pop report, there are also many more passionate PSA registry collectors in baseball. The registry is by far the main reason 10s of these cards go for these astronomical prices compared to 9s.

[calvindog]

Registry, period. Low pop, higher price to get that card for a popular Registry set. 161 Registry sets for the 1976 Topps baseball set compared to 69 for the 1976 Topps football set.

[LEHR]

People should always collect what and how they want but I find these numbers ridiculous. Cut out the PSA Registry and IMO these cards won't bring half the amount they would today. I love high end cards, but the Registry is a drug for some people and I used to be caught up in that madness myself. The last 10's I bought were 1972 Topps hockey commons for less than $40 each. At that price point I'll still spring for the 10 even if 99% of the time they don't look any different than the 9's I have because I know the resale value will be there. On big dollar cards like the Eck and Payton, give me a nice 8 of each and I'll save 97% of that PSA 10 money for something else.

But like I said, collect what you want. Just as I look at people buying these high-end 10's as crazy, I'm sure there are people looking at me as crazy for buying slabbed cards at all.