What's Hot and What's Not - 2013 & 2014

[Edwolf1963]

My opinion and whatever added doesn't even add up to the cup of coffee noted earlier, but fun to speculate nonetheless.

**I think the 1914 CJ centennial will keep them hot, even hotter. Notice more and more people getting into them in recent years (including me!). To that note, I think the 1915 CJ's as well will see increases in collectors entering into the fray and price as well.

**I think the lower grade T206 rarer backs for common players will level off or even dip some in 2014. (Drum, Broad Leaf excluded) Couldn't believe the run up on those - which is great for the interest/hobby, I just question the sustainability.

**High end, early career issue 50's HOF's like Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Mantle, etc. I think will continue to rise. The '57 Brooks Robby Rookie in an 8 has more than doubled in price in the last 5-6 years! Same with early career Mays in 7 and higher. I think those trends will continue.

**I have the E93 set complete and long for the day of rebound in interest and prices, but cannot see it in 2014. Nice looking cards, soft demand. I think the E98 set will have modest gains in popularity/prices .. perhaps sparked by the Black Swamp Find and those higher end cards circulating in the market? Other E series, I don't see it - but admittedly don't pay much attention to the other issues.

**I can't see the Brunners Bread cards reversing their downward trend in 2014 (and I don't see why, nice looking cards!) Higher grade HOFs being the obvious exception here.

**The Babe Ruth frenzie, as noted many times, I agree - will continue. I see more growth for the Jackie Robinson cards as well, especially in higher grade.

[Republicaninmass]

Signed cards 52 and earlier- Hot 2x-3x what the were a few years ago and the market can still grow. There just are not too many of these things floating around.

[ullmandds]

Funny how some peoples skyward predictions mirror what they collect!

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Funny how some peoples skyward predictions mirror what they collect!

I was thinking the same thing.

I agree with an earlier poster that the demand for 1914/1915 Cracker Jacks will increase due to the 100-year anniversary (is the company promoting this next year?).

Will 2014 be the year that the T206 bubble bursts when collectors finally realize how abundantly available and commonly altered they are?

[nolemmings]

Funny how some peoples skyward predictions mirror what they collect!

Maybe some but not me. I collect m101-4/5s and they are mostly ice cold--tepid on their best day (except for Ruth). I hope it stays that way for the next several years.

[ullmandds]

Not sure if I agree that "anniversaries" of popular sets cause prices to increase?

Did this happen with t206?

I suppose more awareness could bring more collectors into the fray hence driving up prices...dunno?

[Sean]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Not sure if I agree that "anniversaries" of popular sets cause prices to increase?

Did this happen with t206?

Not really. T206 prices had been very strong well before 2009.

[EvilKing00]

Others have said but i have to add again Babe ruth was crazy hot and i think will continue to be hot.

[sreader3]

Prices of T206 subjects with scarcer backs climbed in 2013 and will continue to do so as more and more collectors pursue the 5K+ card superset, back runs of particular subjects, and back subsets. T206s with common backs rose modestly in 2013, with high grade hall of famers, southern leaguers and tougher commons (e.g. Dahlen) appreciating most. Everything else I own was flat to down.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

I was thinking the same thing.

I agree with an earlier poster that the demand for 1914/1915 Cracker Jacks will increase due to the 100-year anniversary (is the company promoting this next year?).

Will 2014 be the year that the T206 bubble bursts when collectors finally realize how abundantly available and commonly altered they are?

We T206 collectors have always known that they are abundant. That was part of their appeal for me. I knew that with enough time and money I could finish the set, excluding Wagner of course.

Actually, I was also quite naive 12 years ago. I actually thought that one day I could own a Doyle, NY Nat'l.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Funny how some peoples skyward predictions mirror what they collect!

Yes, most of us are just engaged in wishful thinking.

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Funny how some peoples skyward predictions mirror what they collect!

You know how it is, Pete...but for my prediction, not so much.

I only track a few sets, so I'll comment on them. Since collecting T201's, the selling price has been nothing but a roller coaster. One card that typically goes for $200, will sell a few months later for $140 and so on. I don't mind this inconsistency because I can be patient and not rush the set. I predict this trend continues for 2014.

As for the T206's, I believe they will stay HOT in general, but we'll see tough variations get even more attention. Scraps and "freaks" will do well, but only the extreme "freaks" will see a notable rise in price (upside down backs, two player front miscut, etc.,).

Hopefully I'm not too far off

Happy Holidays!

[Edwolf1963]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Funny how some peoples skyward predictions mirror what they collect!

May just be wishful thinking. No skyward prediction on my E93's, flat as Indiana - although one can always hope for better days.

I don't think the centennial aspect works for all, the T206's did seem to have more of a run/focus over that time though - and have continued since. CJ's seem to have that growth in focus/demand, centennial may just be coincidence or help drive more attention in some respects?

All falls under simple supply/demand economics to me - card/series can be as rare as anything on the market, but if nobody collects or cares, what value does it really have?

[tbob]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Funny how some peoples skyward predictions mirror what they collect!

Pete- Maybe that's because collectors going after a particular set they are collecting pay extremely close attention to the prices of those cards. I know that I track the selling price of every E94 and E98 in every ebay sale and auction purchase. I also am working on an extra subset of T207 Red Cycle backs so I know what they are going for and what they were previously going for last year and the year before. I have also been working on the T210 Old Mill set and as I put it together card by card I am frustrated by the selling prices (especially in series 6 and 7) going through the roof.
tbob