Post War Must Haves........

[rats60]

The 1949 Leaf Jackie Robinson is now #2 behind the 52 T Mantle. The Pete Rose RC is definitely on that list and the Seaver RC and Schmidt RC should be too. They are all tougher high numbers. I will never understand the premium given to common rookie cards like Aaron and Ryan that are much easier to find than the others you mentioned and the 3 above. Maybe it is that I am a collector and this hobby is becoming dominated by investors. You have the Chrome LeBron RC PSA 10 with a 2k pop now selling for 5 figures while rare cards of greats sell for much less.

[DJCollector1]

Originally Posted by rats60

The Pete Rose RC is definitely on that list and the Seaver RC and Schmidt RC should be too. They are all tougher high numbers. I will never understand the premium given to common rookie cards like Aaron and Ryan that are much easier to find than the others you mentioned and the 3 above. Maybe it is that I am a collector and this hobby is becoming dominated by investors. You have the Chrome LeBron RC PSA 10 with a 2k pop now selling for 5 figures

Yes rats...........I agree with the Rose rookie, and Seaver as well.
I think the Schmidt rookie is definitely another, but I don't know that everyone would agree its quite at the "must have" point.

The Seaver rookie in particular seems tough to find in high grade centered/overall appeal. (I'm thinking PSA 7-ish and higher)

I tracked it a year or two back, and finding a high eye appeal example is pretty tough from what I remember.

And I agree with you on the LeBron James cards. If someone were to give me a stack of them, I would sell them and use those funds to pick up some other older baseball must-haves.

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by DJCollector1

The Seaver rookie in particular seems tough to find in high grade centered/overall appeal. (I'm thinking PSA 7-ish and higher)

I tracked it a year or two back, and finding a high eye appeal example is pretty tough from what I remember.

The '67 T Seaver has gotten a lot more expensive in low-mid grade than the Ryan....the scarcity is coming into play as a lot more people seem to be interested in completing the '67 set lately (so the "gotta just have the card" concept has driven that card way up in low/mid grade and taken most of them off the market). Anything around grade 5 or lower is now selling for almost double the Nolan Ryan rookie in the same grade.

Thing is though, high grade '67 Seavers are very cheap by comparison. At the moment, PSA 8 Ryan rookies sell for almost double PSA 8 Seaver rookies (the opposite of the lower grades). High grade Seavers are actually easier to get as a % of total pop for both cards. So despite the current demand for the Seaver in general, there isn't a big premium for a really nice one.

Anyway, looks like the Seaver might be replacing the Ryan as the most sought after pitcher card of the '60s, and is quickly catching up with the Rose rookie as the most desirable card of the decade. Which I would like to see, given that I think he was the best player of all of them.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

The '67 T Seaver has gotten a lot more expensive in low-mid grade than the Ryan....the scarcity is coming into play as a lot more people seem to be interested in completing the '67 set lately (so the "gotta just have the card" concept has driven that card way up in low/mid grade and taken most of them off the market). Anything around grade 5 or lower is now selling for almost double the Nolan Ryan rookie in the same grade.

Thing is though, high grade '67 Seavers are very cheap by comparison. At the moment, PSA 8 Ryan rookies sell for almost double PSA 8 Seaver rookies (the opposite of the lower grades). High grade Seavers are actually easier to get as a % of total pop for both cards. So despite the current demand for the Seaver in general, there isn't a big premium for a really nice one.

Anyway, looks like the Seaver might be replacing the Ryan as the most sought after pitcher card of the '60s, and is quickly catching up with the Rose rookie as the most desirable card of the decade. Which I would like to see, given that I think he was the best player of all of them.

The Seaver has always been a more expensive card than the Ryan owing to the fact it's a high number SP. But I would agree it's shot up again just recently too. The relationship to value with the Ryan has an interesting dynamic because Ryan's RC shot up when he was still an active player. I used to think Seaver was more a tough card than a desirable one simply because of it being a high number, but I would agree he was at least as good if not a better player than Ryan or Rose. I should have listened to my instincts and sprung for a midgrade one back 5 years or so ago when they were affordable. Oy!

[Wanaselja]

I know it’s not the only, or perfect, metric but all time WAR:

22. Seaver - 109.9 (20 yrs)
60. Ryan - 81.3 (27 yrs)
64. Rose - 79.7 (24 yrs)

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Wanaselja

I know it’s not the only, or perfect, metric but all time WAR:

22. Seaver - 109.9 (20 yrs)
60. Ryan - 81.3 (27 yrs)
64. Rose - 79.7 (24 yrs)

I'm not sure about comparing Seaver to Rose, but in his prime he was easily a better pitcher than Nolan Ryan. I think that's lost on a lot of people. You will get crucified for insinuating that kind of thing on many baseball message boards on social media.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

I'm not sure about comparing Seaver to Rose, but in his prime he was easily a better pitcher than Nolan Ryan. I think that's lost on a lot of people. You will get crucified for insinuating that kind of thing on many baseball message boards on social media.

John, you're right on the money, there. It's not even that close---Tom Terrific's prime is definitely superior to Mr. Ryan. I love Ryan, and admire his longevity, and all those no-hitters, one-hitters, strikeouts, etc. Be that as it may, Seaver's prime trumps Ryan's. --- Brian Powell

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by Wanaselja

I know it’s not the only, or perfect, metric but all time WAR:

22. Seaver - 109.9 (20 yrs)
60. Ryan - 81.3 (27 yrs)
64. Rose - 79.7 (24 yrs)

Carew - 81.3, and in just 2/3 as many plate appearances as Rose.

Seaver vs Ryan and Carew vs Rose aren't even close. And Johnny Bench's WAR numbers match his reputation and are top of the line too per PA, especially as a catcher. I'm surprised his cards have never commanded much price or attention.

But Rose and Ryan did shiny things compared to the others.

[DJCollector1]

Many good responses here in the thread.
Some I knew (in the back of my mind) and others I never really contemplated.


One more card that seems popular with collectors in this timeframe.......


-1953 Bowman Peewee Reese -


I was just looking on the bay, and there is a PSA 9 of this one, for a mere price of $27,500 O.B.O.

While I admit it would be nice to have this one, I think I would utilize 27k on a few more iconic cards honestly.

Good stuff.

[investinrookies]

Originally Posted by rats60

The 1949 Leaf Jackie Robinson is now #2 behind the 52 T Mantle.

Without a doubt this, lower pop than all the others, and the card is iconic. Id rather have it over any of the other post war rookies period.

[Bigdaddy]

I wouldn't call them 'must haves', but I will say 'iconic' post war cards. Aside from the big ones you mentioned, I'd include the following:

1953 Topps Mickey Mantle
1957 Dodgers' Sluggers
1962 AL Home Run Leaders
1962 Manager's Dream
1964 Pete Rose
1969 Mickey Mantle
1971 Thurman Munson
1976 Johnny Bench
1977 Mark Fidrych
1984 Donruss Don Mattingly
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr

[bnorth]

1952 Topps Eddie Mathews rookie should be on the list.

[Exhibitman]

1953 Paige was one I was going to suggest. I do not like 1953 Topps but I had to have one of them. I'd also go with:

1952 Topps Gus Zernial



1953 Bowman Mantle
1953 Bowman Musial
1961 Topps Maris
1971 Topps Munson
1972 Topps Clemente

And of course, the 1972 Topps Billy Martin

[vintagewhitesox]

I would say a 1948 Leaf Paige
Gretzky rookie
Jordan Rookie

[irv]

Originally Posted by bnorth

1952 Topps Eddie Mathews rookie should be on the list.

A man who speaks my language!

Aside from Mathews being my first/#1 choice, I'd say a 52 Topps Campanella as well.

Out of my wants and needs for other high number 52's and 3 lows in Pafko, Berra and Martin, I would also love to have these:

53 Paige
53 Mantle
56 Mantle
54 Aaron
55 Clemente

And while collecting mostly hockey cards lately, I would also like:

66 Bobby Orr Rc
79 Gretzky RC
58 Bobby Hull RC

[RayBShotz]

I'm partial to 69T so I might put the 69T Bench and the 69T Reggie on this list.
RayB