Spend a little now.....make a ton later!

[Snapolit1]

Not disregarding your premise completely, but Sotherbys is full of lots of stuff every month that no one collects anymore -- let's say antique pillboxes -- and that doesn't keep them from being coveted, pricey collectibles. I think you could easily make an argument that the fact that card collecting holds little if any sway over the younger generation at this point will only make rare cards that much more sought after 25 years from now. All conjectural of course.

[glchen]

When I was growing up in the 80s, no one was really collecting coins either, yet that market seems to have held up just fine. I'm not saying that some segments of the hobby won't collapse, but I think in those areas where there is true scarcity and an area where a lot of folks would want that card, then that area will hold up just fine. However, if you have a low pop PSA 10 common, where there are hundreds of PSA 9's, I think that area holds risk. Or if you have a manufactured short print of a player like Mike Trout where there are 5 different short print refractors in that same set, and multiple other sets do the same thing, and year and year, they come out with more of these "short prints," I think there will come a time when collectors wise up that these really aren't true short prints.

[drcy]

A lot of it is a matter of fashion. Some sets just become popular at certain times, some formerly obscure and some mainstream.

Also, think out of the box, as it were. If you're saying "what baseball card is a good investment," you're already limiting your choices and picking from an already popular area. Be wary of today's hot areas and fads. The best investments are quality and rare items no one is paying attention to right now.

I always say the best investment is what you buy today and sell tomorrow for a profit.

My last two cents of investing advice is remember that you're return is based on what you pay. Many people pick a card (So and so's rookie cards) they think will increase, but overpay for it. If you overpay, you can lose money on a card that increases in book value. If you buy at a bargain, you can make a return on a card that doesn't. A card isn't an investment. It's the amount of money that you put into the card that is the investment. It may be the same card from the same issue in the same grade (etc), but one person buying it for $100 and another for $150 are different investments. Or as Benjamin Franklin said, a penny saved is a penny return on your investment.

[Jeff1970Red]

IMO the MLB is in it's resurgence. The future is bright. Out with steroid era and in with Trout, Harper, Bryant, Correa...et al. With the wild card, the race to the playoffs and the playoffs themselves have been amazing the last few years. The list of World Series contenders is long. MLB needs to push the history of the game on the audience, show the pictures, tell the stories. Every ball park/team should be celebrating the past. Take the vintage cards/memorabilia out of the vaults and show them, there are millions of future collectors out there. They should be able to see the cards/uniforms/bats/original photos etc. of Jackie Robinson or whoever we are celebrating that day and be able to buy them or be educated on where to buy them. Every game should be a card show. Let the dealers post up at the park, especially the minor leagues. People are followers...look at us and the green Cobbs, ridiculous. It wouldn't take much. I am a vendor for the Dodgers and have been going to the park for 30+ years...only when I became a vendor (last 3 years) did I get to see the stadium from the inside out, amazing. Get the kids to the park on off days to see the history, the hallways, the trophies, the pictures, the work out gyms, the dugouts. Have the players available. Supply and demand - create the demand.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Jeff1970Red

IMO the MLB is in it's resurgence. The future is bright. Out with steroid era and in with Trout, Harper, Bryant, Correa...et al. With the wild card, the race to the playoffs and the playoffs themselves have been amazing the last few years. The list of World Series contenders is long. MLB needs to push the history of the game on the audience, show the pictures, tell the stories. Every ball park/team should be celebrating the past. Take the vintage cards/memorabilia out of the vaults and show them, there are millions of future collectors out there. They should be able to see the cards/uniforms/bats/original photos etc. of Jackie Robinson or whoever we are celebrating that day and be able to buy them or be educated on where to buy them. Every game should be a card show. Let the dealers post up at the park, especially the minor leagues. People are followers...look at us and the green Cobbs, ridiculous. It wouldn't take much. I am a vendor for the Dodgers and have been going to the park for 30+ years...only when I became a vendor (last 3 years) did I get to see the stadium from the inside out, amazing. Get the kids to the park on off days to see the history, the hallways, the trophies, the pictures, the work out gyms, the dugouts. Have the players available. Supply and demand - create the demand.

All good suggestions. I know many board members and myself help out our youngest collectors quite a bit when we can. Here's to paying it forward.....

[BeanTown]

Leon, do you know the demographics of the board? What's the youngest member and who lives half way around the world ?!?!

[vintagerookies51]

This might be biased considering I love the set, but I honestly think lower-caliber HOFs in the E107 set could be very valuable one day. While cards like the Wagner and Mathewson are already reaching six figures, I believe decently graded cards of Eddie Plank, Cy Young, or Joe McGinnitty could get there one day. Not because they are the most attractive cards �� but simply their scarcity

[Leon]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Leon, do you know the demographics of the board? What's the youngest member and who lives half way around the world ?!?!

RaidonCollects (hi Owen) is one of my fave members and a good hobby friend. I met him and his grandfather at this last National. Owen lives in England and is 12 or 13. I think our overall average age is probably around 40 (down around 4 yrs over the last 10 yrs). I am sure there are a few other teenagers too. I know we have some Blowout Cards forum folks and some of them might be younger too.