1933 Goudey Ruth vs 1952 Topps Mantle

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

What the Mantle card has going for it ( nothing to do with career stats between the players ) is Mantle was THE baseball figure for the babyboom generation, hence demand. He was the last tie to Yankee lore, the last great Yankee. All of those kids born in 1944 were 8 years old when Topps produced their 1952 set. Look at the population explosion that Topps had at their fingertips to work with from there on out. No wonder the Mantle has taken on a life of its own. The boomers had kids, and told their kids about Mantle because they collected his cards, and saw him play. Television and advertising put players and celebrities in our homes and made them more real. EVERYONE knew who Mickey Mantle was. Ruth never had the exposure that Mantle did. 1933 Goudey's were issued during The Depression. It is remarkable those cards survived at all.

You nailed it. Has nothing to do with scarcity, player stats, production runs, etc. Curious to see how Mantle's cards, or baseball cards in general, fare once baby boomers are pushing up daisies.

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by t206blogcom

You nailed it. Has nothing to do with scarcity, player stats, production runs, etc. Curious to see how Mantle's cards, or baseball cards in general, fare once baby boomers are pushing up daisies.

After they are gone, you have my group of 30-40 right now who grew up with that card as symbol of a beloved hobby. So maybe in like 40-50 years, it could dip. But then again my son is 4 and loves the card...

[GregC]

Originally Posted by t206blogcom

You nailed it. Has nothing to do with scarcity, player stats, production runs, etc. Curious to see how Mantle's cards, or baseball cards in general, fare once baby boomers are pushing up daisies.

I think the value of cards, and the #311 in particular are safe through at least my generation (born in 1980). We grew up collecting and I know plenty of guys my age that found their way back to the hobby.

There also seems to be a strong following of modern collectors. Whether or not they evolve into collectors of vintage down the road is another story. Most modern collectors I know prefer cards that blind you in certain light and have cut up pieces of dirty laundry on them. It's possible that the current modern guys move to vintage as they get older though.

I think elite vintage cards hold for at least another 30+ years.

[packs]

I might be in the minority or even totally alone, but in the next 20 or so years when there are collections being sold en masse by estate heirs I honestly feel like card values will take a serious hit.

I don't want to call it wishful thinking. But if everyone is the same age and checks out around the same time, supply will for the first time in a long time outpace demand.

[kailes2872]

Originally Posted by packs

I might be in the minority or even totally alone, but in the next 20 or so years when there are collections being sold en masse by estate heirs I honestly feel like card values will take a serious hit.

I don't want to call it wishful thinking. But if everyone is the same age and checks out around the same time, supply will for the first time in a long time outpace demand.

I hope so - buying opportunity!

[MattyC]

IMO, trying to project as far into the future as 20+ years becomes just too fuzzy to be useful.

[packs]

I was just thinking about the pre-eBay days when there were lots of cards but buyers were hard to find.