Better Investment? Light Heavyweight Bout!

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. However, there are several reasons I vote Cobb.

First, the Cobb card is from the most famous and collected set - T206 i.e. the monster. Secondly, the Cobb card is more aesthetically pleasing. It has bright and brilliant colors, while the Ruth is a dull black and white card. Third, the Cobb card fits into standard holders, while the Ruth is oversized and awkward. Finally, the Cobb card is an actual baseball card from tobacco packs and pouches. The Ruth is simply a postcard. To each his own, but I don’t consider postcards baseball cards. I collect baseball cards, not postcards that just happen to have a baseball player on it.

I see your points...and at one point I agreed with many of them...but not anymore!

How can I be a ty cobb/babe ruth collector and ignore the 1907 dietsche...the m101-3...early 20's exhibits...I'd be dramatically limiting the cards I could collect...and some of the best, imo!

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I see your points...and at one point I agreed with many of them...but not anymore!

How can I be a ty cobb/babe ruth collector and ignore the 1907 dietsche...the m101-3...early 20's exhibits...I'd be dramatically limiting the cards I could collect...and some of the best, imo!

Like I said, “to each his own.” I’m just one man with limited resources, and have to draw the line somewhere with what I collect. I personally don’t consider postcards baseball cards and choose not to collect them. I very well may be in the minority here. To me, all those examples you listed are just glorified postcards that depict baseball players, and are not “baseball cards” even despite the word postcard having the word card in it.

[Bored5000]

I am in the minority and went with the Ruth Exhibit card. The Cobb card is obviously more iconic, but the Exhibit is a scarce early Ruth. Generations from now, Ruth will still be the biggest name in the sport.

[Tao_Moko]

I would choose the Ruth due to comparative rarity. Great pose, early issue and I personally like diversification in my collection.

[Exhibitman]

The question is vague as to time. What is my expected sale time-frame? Over the very long haul I think the Cobb (or any T206, 1933 Goudey, 1949 Leaf, 1952 Topps, or other mainstream marquee set) will beat a non-rookie Exhibit in total returns. Over the shorter term the question is relative price increases already baked into the current prices. The Exhibit Ruth has both more room to run up than the Cobb. The other issue favoring the Ruth is that it is not the mainstream card: pressure from other mainstream Ruth cards that are shooting up (e.g., the M, E and R cards) tends to push collectors to going after Exhibits, W cards, etc. The Cobb is already the mainstream card.

A better comparison would be the potential returns on the Ruth Exhibit versus the Cobb Exhibit. The Cobb has always been about 1/3 of the Ruth price but it is now closer to 1/8 of the Ruth price (a PSA6 sold for $1,860 last summer in Heritage; a few weeks later a 6 Ruth went for $22,200), so it has more room to improve relative to the Ruth. I would not be surprised to see Cobb double or triple over the next year assuming the market doesn't crap the bed. I don't think the equivalent grade Ruth has the same potential. Hence I am sitting on my Cobb Exhibits; though I am not a collector I think there's good money to be made a year from now.

[FrankWakefield]

Golly... too many times I have vented about investments. An education, brick and mortar home, IRA's, mutual funds, stocks, and I usually end with buying 5 to 10 acres, then planting and tending to sapling hardwood trees for a couple of years until they're developed sufficiently to survive on their own... then wait 30 years (that's a great, long term investment). For investment purposes, ball cards are not a good choice.

That said (again vented), consider your query from the vantage point that has you acquiring cards for a collection for a couple of dozen years. You want both a Ruth Exhibit and a green white border Cobb. Buy the Cobb first. Both are likely to cost more in 5 years, and in 10 years. But the cost of acquisition of the Cobb will increase more significantly than that Ruth Exhibit. That would be the reason for going for Cobb card.

[pokerplyr80]

I voted for the Cobb, primarily because I'm not a fan if postcard sized cards. I doubt you will go wrong either way though

I do own a green cobb in an SGC 3, but do not own any exhibits.