Best $10,000 investment card

[brunswickreeves]

The OP states a recent inheritance of $10K and seeking a card to invest in, so assuming 401K is maxed for full employer match, and has no high interest credit cards to pay off, if were me purchasing a new card, I would do so from this order of availability:

1) Honus Wagner portrait card (rising tide floats all boats-every time his T206 sells, it raises the visibility of this iconic image as the banner of pre-war cards)

2) 1932 US Caramel Babe Ruth (a very scarce issue from his ‘Called Shot WS Game 3 Year’ and depicts/memorializes him in a NY hat, whereas his Goudeys are sporting generic hats-he also transcends baseball)

3) 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson (has a lot of upside compared to his 48/49 Leaf and is a beautiful card to look at with iconic memorialized Dodgers and B hat-he also has his own MLB day dedicated to his legacy, so will forever remain top of mind for his heroism in being the 1st to break the color barrier)

[71buc]

There are some great suggestions in this thread. Nonetheless I’d spend that money on a game used Ernie Banks or Stan Musial bat. They can be had in that price range and I believe they will continue to increase in value. Those two are currently under appreciated when it comes to game used bats. Aaron and Clemente gamers have taken off and nice ones will now cost you 30K+. They could have been had for 7-10K a few years ago. Banks and Musial are the faces of their respective franchises and will likely be the next ones to increase in value. There are currently 47 Banks bats and 75 Musials on the PSA pop report. Obviously more rare than cards. They also represent a more personal connection to the player. I may be in the minority but bats are so much more fun and interesting than cards. I have nice Clemente and Aaron rookie cards. However, when people look at my collection they are more drawn to my game used bats than they are the cards. I’ve never seen anyone get chills holding my rookie Clemente. I have seen that when people have held and swung my Clemente bat.

[Empty77]

Originally Posted by 71buc

... I may be in the minority but bats are so much more fun and interesting than cards. I have nice Clemente and Aaron rookie cards. However, when people look at my collection they are more drawn to my game used bats than they are the cards. I’ve never seen anyone get chills holding my rookie Clemente. I have seen that when people have held and swung my Clemente bat.

You let people swing them?

Will you be my friend? please!...

[71buc]

Half the fun of owning such bats is sharing them. I do require that cotton gloves are worn but yes I do allow people to handle them.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

The OP states a recent inheritance of $10K and seeking a card to invest in, so assuming 401K is maxed for full employer match, and has no high interest credit cards to pay off, if were me purchasing a new card, I would do so from this order of availability:

1) Honus Wagner portrait card (rising tide floats all boats-every time his T206 sells, it raises the visibility of this iconic image as the banner of pre-war cards)

2) 1932 US Caramel Babe Ruth (a very scarce issue from his ‘Called Shot WS Game 3 Year’ and depicts/memorializes him in a NY hat, whereas his Goudeys are sporting generic hats-he also transcends baseball)

3) 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson (has a lot of upside compared to his 48/49 Leaf and is a beautiful card to look at with iconic memorialized Dodgers and B hat-he also has his own MLB day dedicated to his legacy, so will forever remain top of mind for his heroism in being the 1st to break the color barrier)

Haven't M116 Wagners dropped rather precipitously of late?

[brunswickreeves]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Haven't M116 Wagners dropped rather precipitously of late?

If so I’m a buyer (seriously). Maybe they’re down in totality, but via HA, an SGC 3 sold for $13.2K on 10/26/24 up from $12.6K on 11/19/22; and in SGC 5: $24K on 5/18/24 up from $16.2K on 9/30/22 (excluding perhaps an outlier COVID hyped buy up on 5/13/23 at $31.2K.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

If so I’m a buyer (seriously). Maybe they’re down in totality, but via HA, an SGC 3 sold for $13.2K on 10/26/24 up from $12.6K on 11/19/22; and in SGC 5: $24K on 5/18/24 up from $16.2K on 9/30/22 (excluding perhaps an outlier COVID hyped buy up on 5/13/23 at $31.2K.

There were some mega sales by ML and as I recall the next sales after that dropped significantly. I think there is a thread on the M116 Wagner I started some months ago.

[brunswickreeves]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

There were some mega sales by ML and as I recall the next sales after that dropped significantly. I think there is a thread on the M116 Wagner I started some months ago.

Thanks, can you post that link here to check out/contribute to? Thanks & kind regards.

[Peter_Spaeth]

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=340264

[brunswickreeves]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=340264

Ah yes, that has been a great Wagner thread…my first contribution was Pop analysis via post #15…

[SleepyWill]

51 Bowman Mays
54 Topps Aaron
48 Jackie

[Sluggerrr]

I'm going to break the rules and say that I would buy two cards. OP said they want a nice 55 Koufax. I think a PSA/SGC 4 can be had for $1,500. I'd pair that with a Jackie Robinson. 48 Leaf, 49 Bowman or a 52 Topps. No preference. They're all lovely.

[OriolesHOF]

1947 Jackie Robinson Bond Bread Portrait is one I believe has lots of room to run.

[Jsquared123]

Originally Posted by Sluggerrr

I'm going to break the rules and say that I would buy two cards. OP said they want a nice 55 Koufax. I think a PSA/SGC 4 can be had for $1,500. I'd pair that with a Jackie Robinson. 48 Leaf, 49 Bowman or a 52 Topps. No preference. They're all lovely.

I would also go the multiple card route. A few of my picks would be:

1952 Topps Mathews
1953 Topps Mantle (passed on a clean, well centered PSA 3 about 9-10 years ago for $900, ouch)
1968 Topps Nolan Ryan, even a signed copy. I think Nolan is someone that has and will continue to transcend generations making it a strong move going forward.