This 52 Mantle card really gets around

[samosa4u]

Yep. These are the b*stards who screwed the hobby up. Now thanks to them, 99% of people can't even afford these types of cards anymore. Oh, and by the way, do these super-rich guys even CARE about sports? I mean, if I was filthy rich, and I loved baseball, then I would at least KEEP this Mantle and ENJOY it for a few years, right?

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Yep. These are the b*stards who screwed the hobby up. Now thanks to them, 99% of people can't even afford these types of cards anymore. Oh, and by the way, do these super-rich guys even CARE about sports? I mean, if I was filthy rich, and I loved baseball, then I would at least KEEP this Mantle and ENJOY it for a few years, right?

If it wasn't for the crazy prices paid for cards, I don't think we'd still have an organized hobby. The crazy prices are what drove the hobby in the 80s and 90s and one of the reasons many of us joined the hobby (initially anyway). Not sure why there is such hate for people based solely on their economic means. I'm sure some are investing in baseball cards, but some I'm sure are also chasing the gorgeous cards they admired as kids. I sat down for breakfast with one of the wealthiest collectors I know, and we discussed our shared passions. Sure, he's buying the PSA 10s and I'm buying the PSA 1s. But, I'm not sure the grounds for being angry.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

If it wasn't for the crazy prices paid for cards, I don't think we'd still have an organized hobby. He crazy prices are what drove the hobby in the 80s and 90s and one of the reasons many of us joined the hobby (initially anyway). Not sure why there is such hate for people based solely on their economic means. I'm sure some are investing in baseball cards, but some I'm sure are also chasing the gorgeous cards they admired as kids. I sat down for breakfast with one of the wealthiest collectors I know, and we discussed our shared passions. Sure, he's buying the PSA 10s and I'm buying the PSA 1s. But, it sure the grounds for being angry.

Well put. So ridiculous.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

If it wasn't for the crazy prices paid for cards, I don't think we'd still have an organized hobby. The crazy prices are what drove the hobby in the 80s and 90s and one of the reasons many of us joined the hobby (initially anyway). Not sure why there is such hate for people based solely on their economic means. I'm sure some are investing in baseball cards, but some I'm sure are also chasing the gorgeous cards they admired as kids. I sat down for breakfast with one of the wealthiest collectors I know, and we discussed our shared passions. Sure, he's buying the PSA 10s and I'm buying the PSA 1s. But, I'm not sure the grounds for being angry.

I'm not sure the escalating prices are what makes things great. There are many pure collectors who would love to see a more relaxed hobby without the super-competitiveness we have now. I'm certainly not angry at the people who spend big money on cards, but I would be very happy with a smaller and less expensive hobby.

And I don't believe all the publicity the industry gets is such a great thing either. Just offering a different viewpoint. To each his own.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Yep. These are the b*stards who screwed the hobby up. Now thanks to them, 99% of people can't even afford these types of cards anymore. Oh, and by the way, do these super-rich guys even CARE about sports? I mean, if I was filthy rich, and I loved baseball, then I would at least KEEP this Mantle and ENJOY it for a few years, right?

The hobby is just maturing. The first $10,000,000 coin sold in 2012 and the ranks of 8-figure collectible cars are increasing rather quickly. Part of the maturation process is that some collectors will in fact be priced out of the market for the choicest material. To avoid being one of those, you have to be at or ahead of the cutting edge with regard to those cards that are going to blossom big time. The time for most of us to buy Cobb's toughest rookie post cards, for example, was 5+ years ago, when what I personally consider the silly debate about whether a postcard could be a baseball card was still going on. The time for buying the 1914 Baltimore News Ruth minor league schedule card was way back in 1989 (or before), when it came out of the chute at a penny-roll like $6,000. Cut through the slag and look for rare, significant, undervalued cards in the best condition you can find or afford. They are indeed out there. Then you'll stand a decent chance of being ahead of the cutting edge.

Being on the trailing edge, which is after one of those cards is "discovered" to fall into that category, is immensely more expensive.

May you always enjoy your collecting in any event,

Larry