Better Investment? Light Heavyweight Bout!

[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.

[DeanH3]

I'll have to go with the demand side of the equation. The Ruth Exhibit is a great card worthy of its value. However, I have to think that there will be a higher demand for the green Cobb in the future.

[RCMcKenzie]

Another vote for the baseball card. Other than the pinhole, it's in nice shape. The TPG's are very strict about pinholes for some reason.