Tony LaRussa 1978 TCMA Minor League Card

[Jim65]

Some of the 1970's minor league team sets are very rare, in some instances, only a few hundred were made. Very few collectors means these sets almost never sell for book price.

[tonyo]

After reading Mike's post, I was feeling a little low since I sold my set 5 years ago on a 7 day ebay auction and got $30 for it.

Checked recently sold auctions on ebay and see that it went for $41 dollars with a psa graded Baines about 2 weeks ago.

Tony

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Jim65

Some of the 1970's minor league team sets are very rare, in some instances, only a few hundred were made. Very few collectors means these sets almost never sell for book price.

I'm not even sure there is a "book" value for minor league cards these days, is there? From Dec. 1988 to Dec. 1990 there was the "Minor League Monthly Price Guide." Beckett listed most minor league team sets for a while, then cut back to almost nothing. I haven't seen a Beckett in a long time and am not sure if they even list any minor league team sets anymore. SCD listed them for a while. The last time I saw a new annual SCD (2008 issue), they didn't list minor league cards issued after 1969. I think "book" would be whatever the big dealers (STB Sports, Lake Country Minor League, and Gulf Coast Minors (I'm not sure he's in business anymore)) list for.

However, eBay always has better deals. I got the Knoxville set in the late '90s for $77 - well below book at that time. Like you said, even though the production rate is low, the demand is also low. eBay points this out.

Bottom line for the LaRussa card in the OP's link, $50 is way too much for the single LaRussa card.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

I'm not even sure there is a "book" value for minor league cards these days, is there? From Dec. 1988 to Dec. 1990 there was the "Minor League Monthly Price Guide." Beckett listed most minor league team sets for a while, then cut back to almost nothing. I haven't seen a Beckett in a long time and am not sure if they even list any minor league team sets anymore. SCD listed them for a while. The last time I saw a new annual SCD (2008 issue), they didn't list minor league cards issued after 1969. I think "book" would be whatever the big dealers (STB Sports, Lake Country Minor League, and Gulf Coast Minors (I'm not sure he's in business anymore)) list for.

However, eBay always has better deals. I got the Knoxville set in the late '90s for $77 - well below book at that time. Like you said, even though the production rate is low, the demand is also low. eBay points this out.

Bottom line for the LaRussa card in the OP's link, $50 is way too much for the single LaRussa card.

The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards lists prices for team sets not individual cards. I don't trust the prices 100% but as a guideline its ok.

BTW, my 2010 book lists the 1978 Knoxville set at $100

[tonyo]

This thread brought back some fond memories of Bill Meyer Stadium in Knoxville.

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/knox/meyer.htm


The only time I ever saw that place packed was when the San Diego Chicken came to town. (He was hilarious by the way) that was in my high school years so probably 80, 81, 82 ish.

Around those years my friends and I would show up around the 7th inning, walk in free and catch the last part of the game.

Of course in my college years spent quite a few evenings there at nickel beer night - do I remember that correctly? 5 cents for a beer? It must've been dollar beer.....

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Jim65

The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards lists prices for team sets not individual cards. I don't trust the prices 100% but as a guideline its ok.

Jim, thanks for the info - I think. I found SCD pages online with the minor league prices. Most of the set values that I checked have dropped since I last saw them. Kind of what I expected, but did not really want to know.