The Further Decline of Brick & Mortar...

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by Tanman7baseball

I remember a primarily vintage shop near Orange County, CA back about 10 years ago. It closed down (don't remember when) but it only carried extremely high-end cards and memorabilia. Literally I can only remember things being in the thousands... Since I was only 12 years old I obviously couldn't afford anything. I'm assuming it closed down because it just turned into a museum instead of a card shop. Sadly, I feel most shops are like this.

I have been thinking about our hobby a lot lately. I am in my early 20s and rarely do I find a vintage collector that is my age. Now this makes me think...what is the average age for a vintage baseball card collector? 45-55 years old or so?

I collect cards, because I love baseball. I have yet to sell anything I own, but I know there will come a time when I will. My question is, what is going to happen to the card market when the average 45-55 year old "kicks the bucket"? Will card prices plunge? I know about 2 other people who enjoy collecting vintage baseball cards that are my age. I am finishing up college here at Oklahoma State University and have talked to hundreds of people about the baseball card world. No interest. The last 6 months I have tried to help a man start up a local card shop. Within that 6 month span I did not meet one person my age who collected baseball cards (modern or vintage).

My ultimate question is who will I sell to in 40 or 50 years?

There have been many threads on this subject. In my opinion, there are many collectors in that age group partially because it's more likely an age group that could afford to spend what it takes. I'm 32 years old and would have been collecting much much longer if I could have. I used to go to card shows with my brothers and drool all over the showcases... Cards were so beautiful in their late 80s-raw glory

Most well-to-do adults collect stuff. Maybe not BB cards, but something... BB cards are americana and will always be collected IMO. So in 40-50 years, you will probably be selling to guys in the 45-55 age group, just like how it is now.


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[Tanman7baseball]

Originally Posted by Matthew H

There have been many threads on this subject. In my opinion, there are many collectors in that age group partially because it's more likely an age group that could afford to spend what it takes. I'm 32 years old and would have been collecting much much longer if I could have. I used to go to card shows with my brothers and drool all over the showcases... Cards were so beautiful in their late 80s-raw glory

Most well-to-do adults collect stuff. Maybe not BB cards, but something... BB cards are americana and will always be collected IMO. So in 40-50 years, you will probably be selling to guys in the 45-55 age group, just like how it is now.


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Good point. I know to collect these cards you need money. My age = not that much money yet. I will point out though that the collectors like yourself who drool over these cards when they were young, do not exist in nearly the amount they used to. Rarely do I see kids drooling over vintage cards at card shows. I was usually the only one back 10 years ago when I'd go to semi-annual Hollywood Park Casino card show. I'm just saying people in the 45-55 year old age group used to dream about having these cards as a kid so now that they can afford them they are buying them. Less kids drooling today means less older men buying tomorrow.

All in all, I'm not saying that the hobby will die but in my opinion the population of dedicated vintage collectors will decline dramatically. But for card prices they will surely rise... I hope.

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by Tanman7baseball

Good point. I know to collect these cards you need money. My age = not that much money yet. I will point out though that the collectors like yourself who drool over these cards when they were young, do not exist in nearly the amount they used to. Rarely do I see kids drooling over vintage cards at card shows. I was usually the only one back 10 years ago when I'd go to semi-annual Hollywood Park Casino card show. I'm just saying people in the 45-55 year old age group used to dream about having these cards as a kid so now that they can afford them they are buying them. Less kids drooling today means less older men buying tomorrow.

All in all, I'm not saying that the hobby will die but in my opinion the population of dedicated vintage collectors will decline dramatically. But for card prices they will surely rise... I hope.

They're not drooling on the vintage because of all the shiny foil bat chip 1/1s and jersey swatches. But which ones do they covet the most? Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, etc. Eventually they are going to grow up and want career contemporary cards of these players. My opinion.

[Tanman7baseball]

Originally Posted by Matthew H

They're not drooling on the vintage because of all the shiny foil bat chip 1/1s and jersey swatches. But which ones do they covet the most? Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, etc. Eventually they are going to grow up and want career contemporary cards of these players. My opinion.

Touché. Once again, good point! For some reason I forgot the reason why I even knew anything about Pre-war players and it was because of SP Legendary Cuts. Bought so many boxes that I finally learned to recognize and tell you the significance of most Hall of Famers. But I will add the only reason I was privileged enough to buy these cards was because my grandpa funded my addiction...

But yes, point taken. The only reason I bought the new stuff when I was young was because it was the only way I could get a Mickey Mantle for under $20.

[ls7plus]

Most well-to-do adults collect stuff. Maybe not BB cards, but something... BB cards are americana and will always be collected IMO. So in 40-50 years, you will probably be selling to guys in the 45-55 age group, just like how it is now.


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IMHO, this is exactly how it will work out--after all, look how many people collect Cobb, the Babe, Matty, Honus (if they can). None of these people were alive when these guys actually played. Baseball is Americana, and MLB does a terrific job of promoting their tradition. Plus, look at how many books are being written about the game, focused on times long since gone? If there wasn't a market for them, they would never be published.

By the way, the same fear has been prevalent in the coin market for decades, with people concerned that new, young blood was not entering their hobby, or that values had peaked. Meanwhile, really rare, significant have just been going up and up! People like to collect things related to their passions and/or youth, and that isn't going to change.

May your collecting days be filled with satisfaction,

Larry