Modern day Helmar cards--will they gain in value?

[Econteachert205]

That's a good question, do they have catalog distinction? Is there definitive print run and set info on them? If they were / are part of the cataloging system I would think player run collectors would want/need them. I like the art, not a huge fan of the distressed look.

[ls7plus]

No.

Larry

[EvilKing00]

I wouldnt buy them

[sirraffles]

I do what I do because I find it satisfying, sometimes amusing, and it allows me a modest income. There is no desire to become the next Upper Deck (no one needs that) but I am a bit ambitious in that I like to share what I am doing and what interests me. Hence the magazine, which talks about the old-time players and yes, my cards. You'll find, though, that the magazine mostly uses the cards to illustrate the stories. If it is a "sales job" it is pretty discrete and I tried hard not to allow them to be a distraction from the baseball history focus, but a compliment.

From time to time, not really very often, someone will ask what I think about the future values of Helmar cards. I don't put much thought into it because I'll be long dead and those values are best left to those that come after me, and after us. I do know that people don't purchase them in order to throw them out.

But to entertain your question, let's say for a moment that a watch collector comes across a box of well-made, interesting watches made 80 or 100 years ago. They were not made in a huge Sieko-type factory but, instead, they were made by some small craftsman/company under modest circumstances. Only a handful of each style were made. Would the collector be interested? I would think so, and I think that he would believe that they had some value.

Charles Mandel

[glchen]

No, they will not go up in value. For most cards to have value, they need to be issued during the player's playing days. If not, then the card needs to be part of a major set (e.g., Topps) or contained game used memorabilia or autos. Helmar cards fit none of these criteria.

[bbcard1]

Modern day Broders.

[ullmandds]

I think the values will deteriorate over time personally.

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by glchen

No, they will not go up in value. For most cards to have value, they need to be issued during the player's playing days. If not, then the card needs to be part of a major set (e.g., Topps) or contained game used memorabilia or autos. Helmar cards fit none of these criteria.

Not necessarily true in all instances. The Laughlin cards from the 1970's of the Negro League players have appreciated substantially in value over the years.

To C

[Peter_Spaeth]

I think these are very well done but in the end they are just fantasy cards and I am skeptical that they will appreciate in value.

[glchen]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Not necessarily true in all instances. The Laughlin cards from the 1970's of the Negro League players have appreciated substantially in value over the years.

To C

I think for many of the Laughlin cards, these were some of the first cards of Negro League players who never had any cards, outside some exceptionally rare RPPC's, issued during their playing days. So, I don't think you can compare Helmar to the Laughlin set.

The other issue with Helmar cards, and the creator can correct me if I'm wrong, is that I don't believe these have been properly licensed. For example, in order to issue Babe Ruth cards, you need to have a license from the estate of Ruth's family, which is one of the reasons that recent Panini cards do not have Ruth in their set because they could not obtain the licenses. Without the proper licenses, it is doubtful that the major TPG's would holder these cards, which would put a severe crimp in their future appreciation potential.

[dabigyankeeman]

Originally Posted by glchen

No, they will not go up in value. For most cards to have value, they need to be issued during the player's playing days. If not, then the card needs to be part of a major set (e.g., Topps) or contained game used memorabilia or autos. Helmar cards fit none of these criteria.

I feel the exact same way, you said it perfectly.

That said, I like the look of a lot of the Helmar cards and might buy some if they were cheaper, but they are too expensive to me for cards that are NOT from a guys playing days.

[calvindog]

I always viewed the cards as an incredibly interesting oddity -- and appreciated the fantastic effort put into making such cards as well as their high quality. To simply dismiss them today as having no chance of appreciation is, I think, a bit short-sighted. In time everything in this hobby pretty much increases in value and someday there may be a strong desire for such cool cards.