REA bids - health of the hobby

[bobfreedman]

I have been told that I reported inaccurate numbers, so therefore, I am retracting my last post and I apologize for my inaccuracies

[MVSNYC]

Yeah, sounded a little high to me.

[Republicaninmass]

Makes wags seen like a steal, and it hasn't moved in a while

[ullmandds]

its insanity a mantle rookie sells for more than a wags!

[MetsBaseball1973]

They are both iconic cards, loved by many collectors, but a PSA 10 Mantle 1952 Topps will blow away the price of all but perhaps the best Wagner in the world in 2016 and beyond. Heck, a 50/50 centered PSA 9 of the Mantle might do the trick.

A PSA 10 Mick may even surpass the best Wagner, if offered in the same auction side by side.

Collectors in their 30's with money are jumping into the hobby now, and they are all about Mantle.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by MetsBaseball1973

They are both iconic cards, loved by many collectors, but a PSA 10 Mantle 1952 Topps will blow away the price of all but perhaps the best Wagner in the world in 2016 and beyond. Heck, a 50/50 centered PSA 9 of the Mantle might do the trick.

A PSA 10 Mick may even surpass the best Wagner, if offered in the same auction side by side.

Collectors in their 30's with money are jumping into the hobby now, and they are all about Mantle.

but why????? they didnt see him play...and chances are their dad didnt either!!!!

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

but why????? they didnt see him play...and chances are their dad didnt either!!!!

Im in this age group and there is just something about Mantle. I never saw him play, obviously. But the 52 Mantle was always the card everyone dreamed of owning some day. The Wagner was never realistic, and still isn't. I can't compete with the big guys buying 6 figure cards. I do enjoy the hunt for nice looking examples of all of his cards and plan to get a nicer 52 that's within the budget soon.

My Dad was a fan when Mantle played but I don't think he saw him play in person.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

but why????? they didnt see him play...and chances are their dad didnt either!!!!

A few years back a book was penned titled "The Last Boy Mickey Mantle and the end of America's childhood" (I have not read the book). I think there is quite a bit of truth in that title. Think about it. Mantle was the postwar Super Star and played in the biggest city for a perennial championship team. As another member wrote, "there was just something about Mantle". Since 1952, things have drastically changed, perhaps even how we view our sports heroes. We have all grown up. Mantle is deceased and yet he still holds sway in the hobby.

I don't recall seeing Mantle play, definitely not live perhaps on tv. When I returned to the hobby in 1980, Mantle cards were the holy grail. Wagner was a lottery ticket. At the time, reports were that there were less than 10 Wagner cards in existence, that card was a pipe dream. Frankly, any pre 1950 card was Siberia, the card craze of the 80's was just starting to rev up with Fleer and Donruss getting back into the card game in 81. At my first card show at the VFW in Dale City, VA, I came across some T206's and found them interesting, a novelty of sorts and I purchased a card (still have) Hanifan, NJ. Mantle cards were far more attainable but I was not interested in vintage cards. Vintage cards were not readily available, new material was available at just about every store. At the time, in my area, card shows were few and card stores were even fewer. Had I known then what I know now I would have went the other way the pack was headed (new material) and concentrated on 50's and pre-war cards!

Fans have always liked the power hitters. Back then there were 10 players who had hit 50 or more home runs in a season (now there are 43). There were 14 (11 living) players who had hit more than 500 career home runs (now there are 27). Ruth, Foxx, Mays and Mantle made both lists.

In 1993, I drove 9 hours to Louisville, KY to obtain Mantle's autograph in person at a card show. What possesses a man in his thirties to drive 9 hours one way to obtain the signature of a player whose last game was in 1968? The Mantle aura.

[Pilot172000]

They may be about the Mantle, but they couldn't tell you the difference between Phil Rizzuto and Addie Joss. I simply don't adhere to the younger Generation wants newer cards theory. There is a certain mythology about certain Pre-War sets that makes them almost magical.

[begsu1013]

Originally Posted by Pilot172000

They may be about the Mantle, but they couldn't tell you the difference between Phil Rizzuto and Addie Joss. I simply don't adhere to the younger Generation wants newer cards theory. There is a certain mythology about certain Pre-War sets that makes them almost magical.

i am in this group as well.

and can tell you the difference between rizzuto and joss.

"and rizzuto is not a word. he's a ball player. you're cheating"



edit: my dad saw mantle play. did your dad's see wagner play?

[rats60]

A PSA 8 Mantle sells for 500k. The PSA 8 Wagner sold years ago for 2.8 million even though it was known to be trimmed. Who knows what it would sell for today or a true PSA 8,9,10.

A PSA 5 Mantle sell for 5 figures. A PSA 5 Wagner sold for 2.1 million.

Mantles in high grade are bringing big numbers because of condition. An 86 Fleer Johnny Moore PSA 10 sells for about what a low grade Mantle does. When saying card a is worth more than card b, conditions must be equal.

[Pilot172000]

Originally Posted by rats60

A PSA 8 Mantle sells for 500k. The PSA 8 Wagner sold years ago for 2.8 million even though it was known to be trimmed. Who knows what it would sell for today or a true PSA 8,9,10.

A PSA 5 Mantle sell for 5 figures. A PSA 5 Wagner sold for 2.1 million.

Mantles in high grade are bringing big numbers because of condition. An 86 Fleer Johnny Moore PSA 10 sells for about what a low grade Mantle does. When saying card a is worth more than card b, conditions must be equal.

I believe if there ever will be a card that matches the Wagner, it would be the Mantle Rookie. The thing is that if I want, I can afford a Rookie Mantle in much lower condition. No such Wagner exist. Then again this may be what drives the Mantle rookies. Availability must be at that Goldilocks point. Rare enough to be valuable, but available enough to be sought after.