Changing of the Guard: The Commoditization of Sportscards

[WhenItWasAHobby]

First off, this latest phenomenon of skyrocketing high-grade rookie cards from the '50's and '60s makes leaves me highly skeptical. I can recall the superficial manipulation of silver prices in the late 1970's by the Hunt brothers and there was another event in the mid-90's where modern rookie cards were being horded and re-sold on the early days of the internet by a group of dealers that also ended badly. Obviously, some unknown person or persons are jacking up the prices of these cards and it's not the natural progression of hobbyists at-large.

I also have a great distrust for anything associated with PSA. These ridiculously high prices will only bring more scammers out of the woodwork and will only elevate the frequency of card altering, card restoration, phony holders and flips, questionable bump-ups among many of the well-documented PSA-related scandals.

So in the final analysis, it's the label and the holder that's the commodity - not the card and that's not a good thing.

[scotgreb]

I was following this Gibson . . . A mid-grade that sold for nearly 10x VCP.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351767229283...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by scotgreb

I was following this Gibson . . . A mid-grade that sold for nearly 10x VCP.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/351767229283...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

That's nuts! 2016 is the year that everyone lost their darn minds.

[bobbyw8469]

That is insane. Not even two months ago one sold for $250, centered as nicely as that one. For that kind of money, you could get an '8'!! Definitely makes all the 'conspiracy theorists' come out.

[Steve D]

In April (not even 3 months ago), four PSA 8 Gibson RCs sold on ebay (all BINs), for $2,000 or less!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-B...cAAOSwoudW-zav

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-5...MAAOSw5dNWkVFs

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOB-GIBSON-1959-TOPPS-ROOKIE-CARD-514-PSA-8-VERY-CLEAN-/391411182030?hash=item5b21eca9ce:gvcAAOSwhkRWdfU C

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-B...cAAOSw-W5UrUvS

Just before those four, PWCC sold a PSA 8 for $2,577:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-B...YAAOSwgApXAB2N

Just after the four BINs above, another PSA 8 sold for a BIN (best offer), of $2,595 or less:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-TOPPS-N...wAAOSw8aNXGtPT

The mindset of the buyers these days is utter stupidity!

Steve

[Stetson_1883]

Ive got a 6.5 Gibson rookie in my store below. Any takers? Lol

[revlis]

Thanks for the OP comments! While the numbers for high end vintage are skyrocketing, it seems to me (I have only been collecting for about a year now, so I have a limited view) that one way of looking at the rising prices is to contrast what is happening with the modern rookie autos. The prices that are being commanded there seem even more crazy to me by contrast. I can buy players such as victor robles or yoan moncada for $3,000 - 5,000 or much more and they haven't even played a day in the majors. By contrast I can buy a HOF player and lock it in as an investment. I'm not saying one is directly influencing the other but this just strikes me as interesting. Would be curious to hear others thoughts on whether or not this plays a role. Thanks

[Leon]

Maybe Gibson is the next Rose?

Originally Posted by Steve D

In April (not even 3 months ago), four PSA 8 Gibson RCs sold on ebay (all BINs), for $2,000 or less!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-B...cAAOSwoudW-zav

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-5...MAAOSw5dNWkVFs

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOB-GIBSON-1959-TOPPS-ROOKIE-CARD-514-PSA-8-VERY-CLEAN-/391411182030?hash=item5b21eca9ce:gvcAAOSwhkRWdfU C

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-B...cAAOSw-W5UrUvS

Just before those four, PWCC sold a PSA 8 for $2,577:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Topps-B...YAAOSwgApXAB2N

Just after the four BINs above, another PSA 8 sold for a BIN (best offer), of $2,595 or less:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-TOPPS-N...wAAOSw8aNXGtPT

The mindset of the buyers these days is utter stupidity!

Steve

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Leon

Maybe Gibson is the next Rose?

"Rose can't hold Gibson's jockstrap." -Sabermetrics

[nrm1977]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

That's nuts! 2016 is the year that everyone lost their darn minds.

Insanity! People have lost their minds...

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by nrm1977

Insanity! People have lost their minds...

depends on who is 'buying' the card and what the plan is..

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by scotgreb

I was following this Gibson . . . A mid-grade that sold for nearly 10x VCP.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351767229283...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Now that's truly ridiculous. I'd rather have (and do) his '68 in an "8," as it brings to life his 22-9, 1.12.ERA season. There are certainly far better ways to spend $2,000 bucks!

Larry

[ruth_rookie]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

I also have a great distrust for anything associated with PSA. These ridiculously high prices will only bring more scammers out of the woodwork and will only elevate the frequency of card altering, card restoration, phony holders and flips, questionable bump-ups among many of the well-documented PSA-related scandals.

So in the final analysis, it's the label and the holder that's the commodity - not the card and that's not a good thing.

Damn, Dan. Did you have a crystal ball? Well done, sir.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by ruth_rookie

Damn, Dan. Did you have a crystal ball? Well done, sir.

Thanks Jason. It was an easy call in light of PSA's dubious history.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

Thanks Jason. It was an easy call in light of PSA's dubious history.

Well despite all of the overwhelming evidence, it still isn't an easy call for those who are blinded or deeply invested.

And those two quotes at the bottom of your post are also pretty darned relevant right now. Especially the Mark Twain!