What is happening with baseball card prices?

[Brianruns10]

I almost exclusively collect raw cards, but I'm seriously wondering if I should get these fellas of mine graded...

[irv]

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

I almost exclusively collect raw cards, but I'm seriously wondering if I should get these fellas of mine graded...

Those are certainly worthy, and like many say and agree with, if you want to maximize your profits, then grading is the only answer.

Beautiful cards, Brian. Would love to own that Joe Black!

[Exhibitman]

Yes, provided you are OK with not seeing them again until Thanksgiving. I've not bothered to have anything graded in more than a year. No need unless I plan to sell it.

[mferronibc]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Yes, provided you are OK with not seeing them again until Thanksgiving. I've not bothered to have anything graded in more than a year. No need unless I plan to sell it.

Just joining the conversation but Adam I agree with this 100%. I have a few cards I have picked up recently that I am dying to know what they would grade at (kind of to evaluate my sense of spotting values in raw). They are personal collection only and have no intention to sell them. We’re talking pretty small potatoes like a few hundred bucks each if they get the grade range I think. As excited as I am to pull the trigger I know waiting another year or so will make the grading process - wait time and possibly even cost likely a lot better than in this “flip minded” current bottleneck!

[jchcollins]

Our cards being worth something is always kind of a nice fallback, a hobby which you can get something out of if you really need to - and not something like owning a boat where you just essentially pour money through a hole in the water as your "asset" only depreciates more and more over time.

What I hate about these boom and bust markets though, is how it makes us feel about our cards on a daily basis. Sure, I'm glad they are worth "something", but all this FOMO (whether we admit it or not...) creeping in causes us to question our decisions, and forces a financial view upon things when in some cases it wasn't necessarily there before. I don't blame people for taking an interest in what certain cards are worth, especially if whatever is stashed away in their closet or safety deposit box may suddenly be now exponentially more valuable. It's just human nature. Especially if it would help someone retire sooner, or something like that. But it forces that devilish catch-22 of having to consider some of the financial aspects, when for many hobbyists for a long time - it wasn't necessarily about that.

So, for me at least - all this valuation bubble stuff is very much a mixed bag of tricks.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Our cards being worth something is always kind of a nice fallback, a hobby which you can get something out of if you really need to

Well said, exactly how I feel. Boom/Bust, I don't care, it's not why I love this hobby. If I ever need to sell, (I have before to fund other hobbys) it's just nice to know I can get what I put into it...and if that busts out I will simply by more at reduced prices. Win/Win

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Well said, exactly how I feel. Boom/Bust, I don't care, it's not why I love this hobby. If I ever need to sell, (I have before to fund other hobbys) it's just nice to know I can get what I put into it...and if that busts out I will simply by more at reduced prices. Win/Win

Thanks. I will admit though it's funny to realize that a card you thought was worth about $200 is now selling for $550 though. I found that out on something last week. No plans to sell though, so I'm trying to treat it like a big moot point.