Best investments by player and decade

[joshleon]

Originally Posted by Frank A

I hate to disagree with you because I love early cards too. But in five decades it will be the players of today that dominate. New cards are on fire. I know it will pass to a point, but all the newcomers are into todays players.

Disjointed ramblings below:

-No one likes manufactured scarcity in the long run. 20 years from now, these new cards won't seem special. (I would counter this argument with: "yeah, like Honus Wagner's t206?"). Anything whose release was intended as a "collectible" usually fails as such.

-As for 1980+ cards, the few big ones (Henderson rookie etc) are worth about the same as they were in the 90s (I guess Gem mint slabs have changed that but I'm talking raw and "nice").

-I agree with whoever said that with 50s/60s, it will depend on the year and grade. Anyone can go get a Musial card, but his 1960 topps doesn't hold a candle to Leaf or early Bowman. Same with Mantle. Can't afford the 52? Get a 53 Bowman in decent shape...but I'll pass on late 60s.

-Pre war will always be top dog. t206 commons hold a lot more intrigue than commons from the 60s. Any cards that were called "pictures" at time of release will always hold value and go up.

-Bottom line: you don't need to remember the player playing for the value to remain. Look at civil war memorabilia.

-FWIW, these threads are interesting not bc of the money angle, but bc they flesh out what, at essence, makes this hobby what it is. Money is merely the manifestation of the desire for x card. Discussing what makes cards interesting to people is interesting to me at least.

-I've always wanted a Delong Traynor bc there was a picture of it in my first baseball card book. Little things like that drive desire, and hence, price.