Vintage Undervalued Roookies

[sb1]

T204 Walter Johnson has yet to have a price breakout, probably since so few are offered. And I realize there are postcards issued prior to the Ramly set, just not of interest to all collectors.

[bbcard1]

With the surge in American cards, I have largely sat out of late (with the exception of a nice near 1952 Bowman set, which I admit is hardly sitting out). I have picked up four collector grade Sadaharu Oh Menko rookies (1959) in collector grade for $100 or less.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

With the surge in American cards, I have largely sat out of late (with the exception of a nice near 1952 Bowman set, which I admit is hardly sitting out). I have picked up four collector grade Sadaharu Oh Menko rookies (1959) in collector grade for $100 or less.

I am jealous, all I can find are the ones on ebay nearly all of which are priced high and from the same seller.

[packs]

The 51 Bowman Mantle. Might be a centerpiece card for a lot of people but the value lags so far behind the Topps that it's difficult to understand the pricing. Even when it comes to DiMaggio, whose most popular "rookie" is the 1939 Play Ball, when the 1936 Goudey does come up it always outsells it's later issued and more mainstream counterpart. Not sure why the same isn't true for the 51 Mantle, even if it's not Topps.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by packs

The 51 Bowman Mantle. Might be a centerpiece card for a lot of people but the value lags so far behind the Topps that it's difficult to understand the pricing. Even when it comes to DiMaggio, whose most popular "rookie" is the 1939 Play Ball, when the 1936 Goudey does come up it always outsells it's later issued and more mainstream counterpart. Not sure why the same isn't true for the 51 Mantle, even if it's not Topps.

There are more 51 Bowmans than 52 Topps despite the Topps being a DP. 52 Topps is Mantle's rarest regular issue card. I also think the difficulty of completing a 52 Topps set because of the high numbers is a major factor. 52 Topps is the t206 set of post war collecting. That contributes to the demand.

[Johnny630]

To me there has been a major swing from The collector base to the Investor Base of card owners.

It looks like this decade the same will repeat itself driving this hobby to further highs.

[packs]

Originally Posted by rats60

There are more 51 Bowmans than 52 Topps despite the Topps being a DP. 52 Topps is Mantle's rarest regular issue card. I also think the difficulty of completing a 52 Topps set because of the high numbers is a major factor. 52 Topps is the t206 set of post war collecting. That contributes to the demand.

But so what? We're talking about a true rookie card of a folk hero. There's no reason for it to lag like it does. PSA 1 Bowman will run you what, somewhere around 5K? A 52 missing a border sold for 11K in a recent Heritage auction.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by packs

But so what? We're talking about a true rookie card of a folk hero. There's no reason for it to lag like it does. PSA 1 Bowman will run you what, somewhere around 5K? A 52 missing a border sold for 11K in a recent Heritage auction.

All you can expect is for the 51 Bowman to be worth more than other post war rookie cards. It is never going to catch the 52 Topps. Supply is more and demand is less. They are starting to move up in price. It will be interesting to see what they do in this months Heritage auction.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

The 51 Bowman Mantle. Might be a centerpiece card for a lot of people but the value lags so far behind the Topps that it's difficult to understand the pricing. Even when it comes to DiMaggio, whose most popular "rookie" is the 1939 Play Ball, when the 1936 Goudey does come up it always outsells it's later issued and more mainstream counterpart. Not sure why the same isn't true for the 51 Mantle, even if it's not Topps.

We've all been conditioned to think the 311 is the most iconic card on earth. There's a self-fulfilling prophecy aspect to it.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

We've all been conditioned to think the 311 is the most iconic card on earth. There's a self-fulfilling prophecy aspect to it.

That is just the Yankees fans. Everyone knows the Wagner is the most iconic card. It has been for 90 years and I don't see it ever changing.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by rats60

That is just the Yankees fans. Everyone knows the Wagner is the most iconic card. It has been for 90 years and I don't see it ever changing.

Right, but (until recently?) the Mantle while pricey was far more accessible than the Wagner. I'll qualify my statement to say the most iconic accessible (sort of) card.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I am jealous, all I can find are the ones on ebay nearly all of which are priced high and from the same seller.

Unfortunately not a rookie, but this is in our current auction:

[joshuanip]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Unfortunately not a rookie, but this is in our current auction:

There is a raw one on here for a couple hundred. Check the bst

[Kutcher55]

So is the 39PB Ted still on the list after the old label SGC2 just went for 3900 on eBay?

I finished in 5th place in the bidding woohoo!

[pherbener]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

So is the 39PB Ted still on the list after the old label SGC2 just went for 3900 on eBay?

I finished in 5th place in the bidding woohoo!

It was a great looking card with some paper loss. Not a bad price given that!

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by joshuanip

There is a raw one on here for a couple hundred. Check the bst

Not anymore there's not. Jarrod is rapidly becoming my nemesis - apparently we like the same type of cards, but he's quicker on the draw. [shakes fist at sky] JARROD!!!

[Chris-Counts]

If the knuckleheads who decide who gets a plaque in Cooperstown ever get a freakin' clue, Minnie Minoso rookies will go up. But the whole rookie thing has never made much since to me.

[Exhibitman]

The Foxx RCs are good deals even now. Foxx finished his 20-year career with 534 home runs, 1,922 runs batted in, 1,751 runs scored, 2,646 hits, 458 doubles, 125 triples, 1,452 bases on balls and a .325 batting average. His 12 consecutive seasons with 30 or more home runs was a major league record until it was broken by Barry (cheater) Bonds in 2004. At the end of his career, his 534 home runs placed him second only to Ruth on the all-time list, and first among right-handed hitters. He retained these positions until Willie Mays passed Foxx for second place in 1966.

In the post-war era I think many of the regionals other than Mantle are underpriced right now. The 1954 Johnson's Aaron has already been mentioned.

Pre-rookies other than DiMaggio are often relatively cheap. Look at the many Zeenuts HOFers.

[bobbyw8469]

Some of those that people are naming are not really that cheap anymore. Bob Gibson and Frank Robinson USED to be extremely affordable. Not anymore. I think you have to look OUTSIDE of baseball now. Elway and Marino seem cheap. Some of those guys.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

With the surge in American cards, I have largely sat out of late (with the exception of a nice near 1952 Bowman set, which I admit is hardly sitting out). I have picked up four collector grade Sadaharu Oh Menko rookies (1959) in collector grade for $100 or less.

"Hmmm, that's a very interesting idea," I thought after reading this post.

Headed over to eBay and searched...

Cheapest one is now $430 + $15 shipping from Japan. It's like the whole world has become Dean's.

EDIT: Ha - Coke to Peter.