Card prices skyrocketing

[MVSNYC]

Gotcha. Fair enough. So, in your scenario, down the line, you're saying HOF/high-profile vintage players, will still be in demand (within T206, CJ, Goudey, 52 Topps, etc), but commons not so much?

[Hankphenom]

As a significant economic enterprise, sports card and memorabilia buying and selling is a young endeavor, roughly 40 years old. In that time, prices may have briefly stalled a time or two, but in general have risen steadily throughout. I don't think two generations of this experience is enough to claim some kind of permanent situation, though, and as others have pointed out, in particular there are compelling macroeconomic reasons to explain the recent surge, including simple momentum. Much of what we collect will have continuing appeal, along with all kinds of other antiques and collectibles, but a mere generation or two pushing prices higher and higher over a few decades doesn't give me the confidence that at some point that momentum won't slow, stop, or even reverse. Everything always seems to be the way it has always been, until it isn't anymore.

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

As a significant economic enterprise, sports card and memorabilia buying and selling is a young endeavor, roughly 40 years old. In that time, prices may have briefly stalled a time or two, but in general have risen steadily throughout. I don't think two generations of this experience is enough to claim some kind of permanent situation, though, and as others have pointed out, in particular there are compelling macroeconomic reasons to explain the recent surge, including simple momentum. Much of what we collect will have continuing appeal, along with all kinds of other antiques and collectibles, but a mere generation or two pushing prices higher and higher over a few decades doesn't give me the confidence that at some point that momentum won't slow, stop, or even reverse. Everything always seems to be the way it has always been, until it isn't anymore.

Great post

[68Hawk]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Gotcha. Fair enough. So, in your scenario, down the line, you're saying HOF/high-profile vintage players, will still be in demand (within T206, CJ, Goudey, 52 Topps, etc), but commons not so much?

Yup.

[rjackson44]

Ive been buying bread issues and t210s orange borders ,just saying

[Directly]

A trend to watch for the next generations maybe the Pokémon Phenomena. The young and older collectors and traders alike are going crazy over these cards. Brand new Charizard chase cards are selling for hundreds of dollars plus. (Charizard doesn't have a bad year or ACL's) Many of these folks are now buying new retail sports card boxes to flip or use to trade for Pokémon cards, boxes, and visa versa, thus fueling the prices for both. Point being this is bringing many Pokémon collectors into the sports cards market! ( For years to come this will help support sport card prices across the board?)

[WA_HOF_rookie]

I got back into collecting in March 2020. Not because I thought there was a great investment opportunity, but because I all of a sudden decided I needed Mattingly rookies I couldn't afford as a kid. Trapped at home I took comfort in the nostalgia of cards.

After securing every card I had when I was a kid (primarily rookies from Dale Murphy - Roger Clemens), I turned to vintage. I went in heavy and overpaid most likely (at least in Aug/Sep), but am glad I did. I was able to get a handful of really special cards (Gehrig, DiMaggio, Robinson), but watched the Cobbs of the world gradually pick up enough speed that now there's no chance. I always say I'm going to buy something and sell it to buy something else, but can't stand the thought of selling.

I troll the BST threads/auction houses, but for now I'm back to building a Mattingly Master set. It's the fun of the chase with a budget that my wife won't leave me over.

For the bubble to pop, people like me need to stop buying so many cards. That isn't going to happen (for me at least).

[campyfan39]

I think (ironically enough) we are also a factor in causing the prices to rise. Let me explain.
Those of us who have been active for decades in the hobby are feeling like we are about to get priced out so we are pulling the trigger on big ones we have always wanted and even paying a little more than we wanted to. We do this because of the fear it will be out of our price range before long.
I know I am guilty of doing that in the last 15 or so months.
It is a fascinating conundrum.

[WA_HOF_rookie]

Originally Posted by campyfan39

I think (ironically enough) we are also a factor in causing the prices to rise. Let me explain.

Those of us who have been active for decades in the hobby are feeling like we are about to get priced out so we are pulling the trigger on big ones we have always wanted and even paying a little more than we wanted to. We do this because of the fear it will be out of our price range before long.

I know I am guilty of doing that in the last 15 or so months.

It is a fascinating conundrum.

It's 1000% this.

People like me (back in the market after 35 years away) want those same cards that you all spent decades gathering, and can't wait on a good deal because there aren't any to be had. I use VCP to try and buy in the right range, but I'm not sure VCP can keep up with this market, so I overpay. The cycle continues.

I originally set my sights on grades 4-7 last summer, and am now in the Au/1/2 zone. I can't buy raw because I'm not familiar enough with the 100 ways I could get scammed.

I'm not looking for an investment vehicle, I'm trying to build a collection before the ship sails completely.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by campyfan39

I think (ironically enough) we are also a factor in causing the prices to rise. Let me explain.
Those of us who have been active for decades in the hobby are feeling like we are about to get priced out so we are pulling the trigger on big ones we have always wanted and even paying a little more than we wanted to. We do this because of the fear it will be out of our price range before long.
I know I am guilty of doing that in the last 15 or so months.
It is a fascinating conundrum.

I know that EVERY big money card I've ever bought, I've paid RECORD Prices for, LOL Happy Collecting

[JimC]

Guilty

Originally Posted by campyfan39

I think (ironically enough) we are also a factor in causing the prices to rise. Let me explain.
Those of us who have been active for decades in the hobby are feeling like we are about to get priced out so we are pulling the trigger on big ones we have always wanted and even paying a little more than we wanted to. We do this because of the fear it will be out of our price range before long.
I know I am guilty of doing that in the last 15 or so months.
It is a fascinating conundrum.

[jboosted92]

Originally Posted by Directly

A trend to watch for the next generations maybe the Pokémon Phenomena. The young and older collectors and traders alike are going crazy over these cards. Brand new Charizard chase cards are selling for hundreds of dollars plus. (Charizard doesn't have a bad year or ACL's) Many of these folks are now buying new retail sports card boxes to flip or use to trade for Pokémon cards, boxes, and visa versa, thus fueling the prices for both. Point being this is bringing many Pokémon collectors into the sports cards market! ( For years to come this will help support sport card prices across the board?)

i literally went blind reading this paragraph

[jayshum]

Prices may still be going up, but this seems a little overly optimistic:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-T3-2-T...0AAOSwVrtgMqOL

[Touch'EmAll]

Got a chuckle over the "shit or get off the pot moment".

Just crazy the current market. Am struggling with sell/don't sell now myself. Prices seem too good to be true, but then I don't really need the money now, will hold little longer until springtime.

Ususally the market heats up in April/May - spring, baseball starting, NBA close to playoffs. Probably hold, see what spring REA auction has and then results. Could be a good gauge of scarce vintage prices.

Noticed a 1949 Bowman Paige PSA 8 listed on ebay, asking $75.k, oh my. PWCC recently sold on a bit off center for $25.k Don't laugh, this could be well over $50.k in a year if market doesn't collapse.

[Frank A]

Originally Posted by jboosted92

i literally went blind reading this paragraph

lmfao

[Yoda]

A short personal story about card price appreciation: I consigned to a well-known AH a PSA RC of Rickie Henderson for a recent auction. I was told it should fetch about $1,000, which what I sort of figured given recent sales of the card at the time. It sold for $1,100, and I was a happy boy.
Fast forward 3 months to the present and Rickie is all over Ebay at between $3,000 -3800. And we all know there are a bazillion Rickeys out there. Good Grief.
I have a couple in for grading at PSA which will probably make their way back to me when the Mars Rover completes its mission and Rickies are worth $25.