Hobby Myths!

[packs]

It is a myth that what you paid for a card determines what your sale price is.

[Frankish]

Originally Posted by packs

It is a myth that what you paid for a card determines what your sale price is.

I don't know if it's a myth or just requires a lot of patience, but it is funny how it only seems to cut one way. I don't see a lot of people selling their Cy Young cards for what they paid in the mid-70s....

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by packs

It is a myth that what you paid for a card determines what your sale price is.

What someone paid for a card is not relevant to the price their asking now.


It's comical to me when a seller says something like this, I'm into this for this I need to get that. Is it true? Is it not true? Trying a guilt trip ? That story is not relevant in a business decision.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Frankish

I don't know if it's a myth or just requires a lot of patience, but it is funny how it only seems to cut one way. I don't see a lot of people selling their Cy Young cards for what they paid in the mid-70s....

It cuts both ways depending on your grasp of reality as the seller. If something falls out of favor you will have to accept less for it.

[Kutcher55]

There is a psychological thing about not wanting to take a loss when you move on from a card. Selling bigger cards in my collection is almost like a mini divorce. I recently sold a '52 Topps Mays and there was a time I would never have considered parting with it, but I began to feel like the card was not as good as the grade it had been given and once I decided to sell it I ended up taking less than maybe I could have, in addition to missing the peak back in Feb/March, but I still did well on the card. Anyway, much like real divorce you can have various regrets but hopefully you're for the most part glad to move on, even if it ends up costing a shitload of dough, as my first and hopefully last real divorce did. If the '52 Topps Mays starts appreciating again I will probably have my regrets. It's only natural.

Ironically, back in the Junk Wax era, I bought a '52 Bowman Mays which ended up having a wrinkle that I didn't see and I ended up selling it and taking a loss and it precipitated my departure from the hobby at the time (as was the fact that I was 18 and in college and outgrew it as it turns out temporarily). Losing $ is tough to take for most folks but they should probably keep that issue to themselves when trying to sell a card. It's not the buyer's problem.

[SAllen2556]

Myth: 1936 Diamond Star cards with blue ink are rarer than the green ink cards, and so if you find one in good condition it is therefore worth more than its green-backed counterpart from 1934. Price guides will confirm this.

NO. The rarest diamond star cards in good condition are the 1934 cards with green backs (1-23). It is nearly impossible to find a true 1934 Diamond Star card in excellent condition or better. If you have a psa 5 or better from 1934, I’ll buy it. Blue-backed 1936 DS in excellent condition are plentiful, and should be cheaper than the ’34 versions, but they're not.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by Snowman

It's definitely possible. My wife couldn't care less which cards I buy or how much I spend on them. She'll even sign for the deliveries and puts them in the safe for me. I left a 33 Goudey Babe Ruth on the counter the other day. She picked it up and said, "this one looks old. Is he good?"



I'm not sure if you are joking or not, but I would take the over on there being at least 20,000 new collectors who joined the hobby over the past 2 years who have spend at least five figures on cards. And it wouldn't shock me at all if the true number was much higher. Unless you're talking specifically about pre-war collectors only, then the numbers would be a lot lower obviously. But there are a ton of new collectors on the modern side. Hell, I'd wager good money that there are at least 1,000 new collectors who have spent 5 figures on cards since the pandemic who aren't even old enough to drive a car yet.

New INVESTORS and FLIPPERS... yes, actual "collectors", no, I don't believe it for a second.

[parkplace33]

I have one more.

1967 Topps high numbers are really difficult.

[ullmandds]

PSA is the best TPG'er.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by packs

It cuts both ways depending on your grasp of reality as the seller. If something falls out of favor you will have to accept less for it.

It would have to fall WAY out of favor to drop to mid 70's prices...

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

New INVESTORS and FLIPPERS... yes, actual "collectors", no, I don't believe it for a second.

They ARE collectors...

[Fred]

Originally Posted by Aaron Seefeldt

- That autographed vintage cards are authentic if/when slabbed by PSA

What are you saying?

You can probably substitute PSA with a well known sports signature authenticator whose initials include an S and a J, as well as a few other TPGs and so-called autograph experts.

[effe]

"Set break" actually means what the name implies.

[Bigdaddy]

When used in a sales listing, the term 'complete set' means that the set is actually complete.

[FourStrikes]

Originally Posted by Leon

I agree. When someone quotes vcp I tell them to buy it there.
.

100% truth! waaaay back in the 1980's when I was simply an a**hole teen (fast forward to NOW - I'm no longer a teen but still have a**hole tendencies), my personal retort to a potential seller who said..."but it books for..." my answer was always "...then just sell it to the f***ing book!..."

.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

The ink in 1933 Goudeys "Bleeds Through" the card.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

When used in a sales listing, the term 'complete set' means that the set is actually complete.

Set Breakers on ebay
Are they or are they not?

[lentel]

Originally Posted by sycks22

Harold Baines is in the Hall of Fame. Wait.....

lol

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by sycks22

Harold Baines is in the Hall of Fame. Wait.....

As a quick shorthand I like 7 year peak WAR as a comparative tool because it discounts the cumulation effects of a long career and also removes the penalty for a player who probably stayed around a few years past his expiration date.

Babe Ruth: 85.3 7yr-peak WAR

Barry Bonds: 72.7 7yr-peak WAR

Mike Trout: 65.1 7yr-peak WAR

Mickey Mantle: 64.7 7yr-peak WAR

Don Mattingly: 35.7 7yr-peak WAR

Rusty Staub: 33.3 7yr-peak WAR

Rabbit Maranville : 30.5 7yr-peak WAR

Harold Baines: 21.7 7yr-peak WAR

[Rhotchkiss]

PSA’s motto: “Never get cheated”

Of course, unless, you are duped into buying PSA authenticated HOF reprints of 1914 cracker Jacks and/or t206s

[GasHouseGang]

I guess you could sum up the myth as:
"Buying a graded card insures the card is authentic"

[egri]

Originally Posted by sycks22

Harold Baines is in the Hall of Fame. Wait.....

When I first saw the news that him and Lee Smith had been voted in, I had to double check the website URL to make sure I wasn’t on The Onion.

[Carter08]

Prices are softening seems to be a myth.

[egbeachley]

You are less likely to buy an altered card if it is graded by PSA instead of raw.

[Michael B]

It's a limited edition so it must be valuable.

[SteveS]

No major card company would ever release an error card on purpose in order to drum up interest in their set.

[Yastrzemski Sports]

One of Billy Ripken's teammates wrote on his bat knob.

[Pack The Ripper]

Originally Posted by Eric72

The 1952 Topps Mantle is his (ahem) ROOKIE CARD!!!!!!!

TRIGGERED!!!!! I need a cigarette!

~~~(___________(____()

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Fred

What are you saying?

You can probably substitute PSA with a well known sports signature authenticator whose initials include an S and a J, as well as a few other TPGs and so-called autograph experts.

There are obvious forgeries in TPG holders. People need to look at the card not just the holder.

[rats60]

The 1952 Topps Mantle is a "grail" card, not just a normal double print that you can buy in almost any auction

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by rats60

The 1952 Topps Mantle is a "grail" card, not just a normal double print that you can buy in almost any auction

"Yes, the 1952 Topps, the rookie card and greatest card ever made."

[frankbmd]

1987 Bo Jackson RCs

[T206Cards]

1952 Was the first year Topps made baseball cards...

[Bridwell]

A player's "Rookie Card" is his 1st card in a major national set.

Buying a professionally graded card guarantees you and protects you that the card has not been altered or trimmed.

If you have a problem with an item won from a major auction house, you can complain and will get a refund.

You always come out ahead by investing in the major stars, like Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig.

Grading company counts of T206's with rare backs are accurate population figures.

Dealers who have been in the hobby for a long time are trustworthy because of their experience.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

PSA’s motto: “Never get cheated”

Of course, unless, you are duped into buying PSA authenticated HOF reprints of 1914 cracker Jacks and/or t206s

Don’t forget Tattoo Orbits. PSA for years has let many dozen Dover reprint Orbits get graded.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by egri

When I first saw the news that him and Lee Smith has been voted in, I had to double check the website URL to make sure I wasn’t on The Onion.

Bruce Sutter, Jack Morris, Alan Trammell and Larry Walker say hello.

[darwinbulldog]

Lies, damned lies, and Novelty Cutlery postcard dates.

[JollyElm]

Looking only at the BIN prices that (unsold) cards are listed for on eBay tells you what your cards are actually worth.

[SteveS]

When it comes to the T206 Wagner, if you happen to come across one that allegedly came from a strip or sheet and someone allegedly did a poor job of cutting it and you trim it just to make it look nicer and present it to a TPG who in their first-ever slab give it a high grade despite knowing that it was trimmed and a couple of famous people in the sports world buy it despite allegedly knowing that it has issues and everybody involved presents it to the public as the find of the century and after the fraud is discovered the card goes up in value and the TPG ends up as the most trusted entity in the hobby, that kind of thing could never happen.

[Eric72]

This yellow/blue/green starburst
ultra sparkle terra-fractor
road jersey parallel
backwards cap variation
super duper extra ludicrous short print
rookie patch auto
numbered to 3.142857

is a good INVESTMENT

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by rats60

The 1952 Topps Mantle is a "grail" card, not just a normal double print that you can buy in almost any auction

Thems is fightin' words!

[Piquettethecat]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

In Canada, it's this:

O-Pee-Chee cards were cut with WIRES!

This 100%. Cut with dull blades it turns out.

[Piquettethecat]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Bruce Sutter, Jack Morris, Alan Trammell and Larry Walker say hello.

Come on Old Timer. Trammell is one of the best shortstops of all-time, and Walker's all-around numbers are ridiculous. The others, well, let's say I agree.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Eric72

This yellow/blue/green starburst
ultra sparkle terra-fractor
road jersey parallel
backwards cap variation
super duper extra ludicrous short print
rookie patch auto
numbered to 3.142857

is a good INVESTMENT

Eric do not confuse was with The number to pie but if you are going to then right it out in its entirety

[Yoda]

Would be near mint if not for missing piece of card. Fabulous opportunity!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Would be near mint if not for missing piece of card. Fabulous opportunity!

That's not a myth, PSA calls that a qualifier instead of accurately grading a card.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Piquettethecat

Come on Old Timer. Trammell is one of the best shortstops of all-time, and Walker's all-around numbers are ridiculous. The others, well, let's say I agree.

Trammell (70.7 WAR; 44.8 peak 7 year WAR, good for 4th all-time among SS); Harold Baines (38.7 WAR; 21.7 peak 7 year WAR, 74th among right fielders).

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Eric do not confuse was with The number to pie but if you are going to then right it out in its entirety

It’s 3 and one-seventh.
Pi is a slightly different number

[egri]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Eric do not confuse was with The number to pie but if you are going to then right it out in its entirety

Originally Posted by Eric72

It’s 3 and one-seventh.
Pi is a slightly different number

There was a mathematician, Ludolph van Ceulen, who spent most of his life calculating Pi to 35 digits. When he died, he had it engraved on his tombstone.

[egri]

All this talk of pie is making me hungry.