Sell my 52T Mays?

[jchcollins]

Aaron could prove us all wrong, but historically anyway - I usually think that player deaths are extremely overrated in terms of their effect on card values. Sure there may be a temporary spike, but in most markets a year or so later it was hard to tell exactly what had happened to the cards only because the player died. Mickey Mantle cards were already valuable when he died. They remained that way, but not necessarily because he died. Does that make sense?

[deken]

It’s funny you posted this as I am having the exact same dilemma as you are. The only difference is that mine isn’t graded. Trying to decide whether to send it in to get it graded. However, I know if it grades 6 or better I will sell it, and not sure I am ready to part with it yet.

[drcy]

My philosophy is if you can get substantial profit, take it. But that's my philosophy.

I think Mays is a bit undervalued and forgotten at this moment. When he dies, he will likely get a great deal of attention as one of the 1-3 greatest baseball players of all time. His Negro League ties will aid in this attention.

[jchcollins]

Cracking up remembering the time a kid brought a '52 Topps Mays to junior high school and was showing it off. This was like 1990, maybe. I think it belonged to some relative? It wasn't in great shape but it was real - I knew enough about cards even then to realize. At the time probably a $500 card. That kid traded me a lot of things over the years, but he wouldn't trade that, LOL.

[dio]

No one can tell you when the top is. Just if you sold,try not to look back. Just enjoy your cash depreciation when fed prints more money

[ccre]

I'm curious how many of you have shifted from collecting cards to investing in cards at this point. Essentially moving from collecting what you like to collecting what you think will be a big investment.

[1880nonsports]

but I have faced that problem MANY times albeit not at that lofty a level. Unless it can't be replaced - lock up a good profit and buy a NICE card in it's place.

[dio]

Originally Posted by 1880nonsports

but I have faced that problem MANY times albeit not at that lofty a level. Unless it can't be replaced - lock up a good profit and buy a NICE card in it's place.

It can be replaced. But knowing you sold it for xxx amount. Later when it rises to xxxx . Even you have the money you will not buy it back because in your mind you remember you sold it for xxx

[dio]

I regretted sold 2x 86 Jordan 8.5 for 850. 1200 for 51 Bowman mantle 3 and others when I need to buy a house back in 10. I should have just ride it through without selling. Lesson learned. After that I have been buying back and never really sold a single card. Maybe down the line in future I might have to. But I'm not selling something I love and will continue to appreciate unless I have to.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by ccre

I'm curious how many of you have shifted from collecting cards to investing in cards at this point. Essentially moving from collecting what you like to collecting what you think will be a big investment.

I invest in companies and my business, I collect cards. Yes, my collection is worth quite a bit but its for my pleasure that I collect. My son and daughter can decide what to do with my collection after I'm gone.

I also don't think I would be a very good card investor/flipper since my collecting journey is personal I can't separate the two.

[Mike D.]

Another angle - what would you do with the profits? You say you don’t need the money, but money you don’t need can be powerful.

Buy other cards you’d really enjoy? Go on a dream vacation? Retire 6 months earlier? Donate to a charity near and dear to your heart?

If those things would give you more joy than owning the card...sell. If not, hang onto the card and don’t worry about what it’s worth!

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by ccre

I'm curious how many of you have shifted from collecting cards to investing in cards at this point. Essentially moving from collecting what you like to collecting what you think will be a big investment.

I'd quit collecting before I focused on the financial aspect first. I will admit to being as intrigued by the dollar value of my collection as the next guy, but I think any more that's just being basically responsible given the price tags that are starting to accompany certain vintage cards.

But no, first and foremost - a card has to appeal to my sense of history and nostalgia and give me my "fix" in that department. Here lately that seems to be late 60's and early 70's sets. There was a time I would have snubbed such things and was interested only in 1950's cards. I sometimes have no idea what motivates me, but I can tell you for sure it's not money. (Unless you count figuring out how to get more money to spend on cards...)

[Jewish-collector]

Everything's relative. When a collector says their collection is worth "a lot" or "quite a bit" or "very valuable", that can mean $2,500 or $25,000 or $250,000 or $2.5 million or $25 million, etc,... It's nice to see cards skyrocket in price, but it's a double edged sword because it pushes others out of the hobby. I think it's only going to get worse as the balance tips even further to the business side of the hobby.

In terms of Brian selling his Mays or not, there's no right or wrong answer. You have to do what makes you happy in this hobby/business.

[Jason19th]

I am having the same dilemma with my 52 Jackie. I have an A that I paid 900 for. It’s looks great and I am seeing all of these much worse looking 1’s going for 4,000. I really comes down to 1. Do you need the money 2. I there something you want more you could buy and 3. Is the profit so much that you cannot justify keeping. When I think about profit I like to think about if it’s an amount of money that I would notice six months from now or would it just go into the wash

[egri]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Aaron could prove us all wrong, but historically anyway - I usually think that player deaths are extremely overrated in terms of their effect on card values. Sure there may be a temporary spike, but in most markets a year or so later it was hard to tell exactly what had happened to the cards only because the player died. Mickey Mantle cards were already valuable when he died. They remained that way, but not necessarily because he died. Does that make sense?

I disagree; when a player of Mays’s caliber dies, there is an extensive amount of positive media coverage that exposes people who otherwise wouldn’t be as aware of that player’s accomplishments. When Tom Seaver died, after reading some of the press coverage, I nearly went and picked up a couple cards of his (I couldn’t find a signed 1987 Topps at a reasonable price). I wouldn’t have looked into his cards if it hadn’t been for the attention he got, and he had been in declining health for a while, so it wasn’t really a shock.

[AGuinness]

One of the great parts about a hobby, any hobby that is, is the decisions that need to be made and how people prioritize parts of that hobby. What to collect, how to display it, when/if to sell, etc. are all valuable experiences to go through in their own right, not to mention the process of reevaluating things and shifting your collecting goal or focus.
I have my PC cards and I have also flipped, in part to help fund my PC. Unfortunately, I flipped my Mays 52T in an SGC holder a couple years before this boom, but it was the decision I made at the time. But again, I think these decisions and the process to make them are valuable in their own right.
Whatever you do, take some time to really think about it and make the call when you feel like you're ready. If you're not ready, just hold on to it until you are.
And one thing to consider if you do look to downgrade and try to keep some profits - after selling fees and taxes, the downgrade might be larger than you would want, so do those calculations first.
Oh - and congrats on having a great card and having the opportunity to make a good decision on it, whatever it may be!

[Tao_Moko]

This is and has been an under valued card for a long time. He is the last of the most iconic players still living. A well centered 6 will have a home in the market no matter the boom happening now. However, I have to agree that selling and buying a nice looking lower grade might be a reasonable compromise.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by egri

I disagree; when a player of Mays’s caliber dies, there is an extensive amount of positive media coverage that exposes people who otherwise wouldn’t be as aware of that player’s accomplishments. When Tom Seaver died, after reading some of the press coverage, I nearly went and picked up a couple cards of his (I couldn’t find a signed 1987 Topps at a reasonable price). I wouldn’t have looked into his cards if it hadn’t been for the attention he got, and he had been in declining health for a while, so it wasn’t really a shock.

Again, temporary spikes - yes. Did Mantle's card prices double when he died? Did anything like that happen for Ted Williams? No. I'm simply saying that the perceived effect of the death is less in my estimation than some people make it out to be. Most of the time significant increases in card values are attributable to other things.

[skelly423]

I sold mine in early 2020 and have regretted it ever since. It's got nothing to do with the money I left on the table by selling before the boom. It's the sadness of knowing what a great card I had, and that I can never replace it. Anything less than what I had feels like a cheap knockoff. Even with the market losing its mind lately, when you're talking about your favorite card, leave money out of the equation.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Again, temporary spikes - yes. Did Mantle's card prices double when he died? Did anything like that happen for Ted Williams? No. I'm simply saying that the perceived effect of the death is less in my estimation than some people make it out to be. Most of the time significant increases in card values are attributable to other things.

Didnt even happen for Berra. Who among his jokes, was the captain of the yankee ship, and very under rated

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Didnt even happen for Berra.

True. Berra has always puzzled me in that the baseball establishment seems to value him more like a clown prince than a 3 time MVP with 10 World Series rings...