Future of the Hobby/ Responses needed

[BigJJ]

I believe the question presented is the future of cards, and not memorabilia as well.

I believe the future of cards, is old cards, and not new cards.

Cards were the internet.

They were a way for kids to see images of their favorite players, and to know the players' statistics and awards, at any moment desired. Today this is accomplished by the internet. In my opinion, cards are an outdated 'technology'.

I actually think stamps and coins are comparable in this regard.

It appears that the peak of - new - baseball card collecting - from packs - and by young kids (not adults gambling) - was 1950-1995. These are the primary collectors today, purchasing what was wanted in youth and/or after.

The current generation is not card crazy the way we were. Those who have younger children may agree. None of my son's little friends or friends' children collect cards as we did. Cards aren't needed for a picture, or stats - and the kids have videos of the players on-hand, and the latest stats. The stats on cards are outdated shortly after printing.

Once this young generation ages, I do not think it is likely they will have as much of a connection to cards, as they did not use them in youth.

Cards connect us to another time, and not only to baseball being played, but really to the candy store of 1955, 1965, 1975, or 1985. They connect us to our grandfathers, to our dads. Cards transcend cards, cards transcend baseball to us. They connect us to another time, to our families, to our youth. This is where much of the value, financial and non-financial comes from.

In my opinion, the value of older cards, that are an example of period-needed technology, pre-1970, will always be a store of value though I am not certain the values will rise, even as population increases, but they will be a store of some value. Cards created after they were 'needed', I think have a tougher future.

With regard to memorabilia, I think pre war and also post war game used equipment sells for peanuts. How a top early game used Ty Cobb bat can be 50-100k, or a game used Ty Cobb jersey is 500,000k, or a Mickey Mantle game used bat is 15k, or a Jackie Robinson jersey is 300k, is crazy to me. They should be 5 times the price. Compare the prices with post-1900 art, or cars, these pieces should be much more.

Autographs, more are signed every day, both of the alive and the dead, tough market going forward. What happens when there are more Babe Ruth signatures than minutes he was alive?

Game used is interesting though. Even if they put Jeter in a new jersey every night, they -likely- won't have him in a new jersey every inning. But even if they did, there is a limit. And with game used there is a connection - to the actual player - playing the game - which everyone can relate to - all generations - forever.

[sforaker]

I agree with Jon. Pre-1970 or 1980 cards will be a store of value, with cards of the iconic Hall of Famers having the best chance for appreciation (though appreciation among this subset is still uncertain given that newer generations will not have grown up collecting cards). I also agree with Jon that vintage game used material of iconic Hall of Famers, particularly that with strong provenance, is undervalued and has the best opportunity for future appreciation. These items are pieces of history, that bring you as close to the game as possible, are of very limited supply and with likely high continued demand (including among those that love baseball but may not have collected cards). Some items are also one of a kind. I collect both cards and game used but have become much more interested in game used given the uniqueness and historical nature of some of this material.