Rip

[D. Bergin]

Ok, taking the question seriously. Using Zion as an example, I would assume it would have to be a younger athlete who had shown a lot of potential, accomplished a bit, but wasn't quite considered in his prime when he passed away.

There's so many factors to go into it, it's very hard to quantify. Even something like the circumstances of his death, could come into play where value is concerned. (ie. Pat Tillman).

Zion's cards are already priced based on his massive potential. I think in his case his cards crater within a year (unless it's an autograph issue), and then slowly start regaining their value as nostalgia and myth-making build on his legacy and potential.

In basketball, the only two examples that quickly come to my mind are two Celtics. Reggie Lewis and Len Bias.

Reggie was a very good player, but not a higher level superstar. He was pretty much what he was going to be when he passed at age 27. His cards are priced as such. Not a lot of premium there, from what I can see. Maybe a little bit, based on his untimely passing.

I don't think Len Bias had any contemporary card issues, but based on the prices of some of his memorabilia, he has built quite a following despite never playing an NBA game. He was a high, #2 overall pick, and considered by many to be the top guy in what became a historically weak draft year (at least in the 1st round. 2nd round had lots of gems). He was supposed to be the Celtics.......and the NBA's next superstar. If he had 1 or 2 cards come out, I'd guess they'd be doing fairly well right now.

In my field of boxing, the first two that come to mind are Les Darcy and Salvador Sanchez. Sanchez passed at 23 but was already a dominant Champion, and considered an All-Timer today, even with the very short career. His stuff has always commanded a premium.

Les Darcy was an Australian fighter who died at 21 and flashed a lot of potential against several top American fighters who fought him in his home country. He came to the United Stated in 1916-17 or so, in order to build up his name, and got sick and died before he could ever fight again.

He's always had a fairly strong following, but not nearly that of somebody like Sanchez, who had the chance to prove himself a bit more, before his untimely death.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Hank Gathers, another BKB example.

[egri]

I haven't seen Tony Conigliaro mentioned yet. He tore it up for three years, then was beaned and was never the same. Then he had a heart attack at 37 and went into a nursing home before dying a few years later. His signed cards usually do very well.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by egri

I haven't seen Tony Conigliaro mentioned yet. He tore it up for three years, then was beaned and was never the same. Then he had a heart attack at 37 and went into a nursing home before dying a few years later. His signed cards usually do very well.

Two years after the beaning, he hit 36 HR and drove in 116.

[egri]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Two years after the beaning, he hit 36 HR and drove in 116.

Other than a brief stint with the Red Sox in 1975, he was out of the league by 26.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by egri

Other than a brief stint with the Red Sox in 1975, he was out of the league by 26.

Yes but not sure the beaning is really the explanation. His best season was subsequent to the beaning.

[Al C.risafulli]

Lots of good examples here, but from a purely hobby perspective, I just keep going back to Brien Taylor and Todd Van Poppel, whose card prices rose to then-astronomical levels based on their promise, but who never had their promise materialize, for a variety of reasons.

As a young kid, we chased rookie cards from Bob Horner and Willie Wilson for similar reasons, with similar results.

Also, John is as nice a man as there is in the hobby, and if I had a dollar for each time I worded something awkwardly, I could quit my day job.

-Al

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

Lots of good examples here, but from a purely hobby perspective, I just keep going back to Brien Taylor and Todd Van Poppel, whose card prices rose to then-astronomical levels based on their promise, but who never had their promise materialize, for a variety of reasons.

As a young kid, we chased rookie cards from Bob Horner and Willie Wilson for similar reasons, with similar results.

Also, John is as nice a man as there is in the hobby, and if I had a dollar for each time I worded something awkwardly, I could quit my day job.

-Al

In that same timeframe I recall Phil Plantier temporarily generating a lot of interest.

[BobC]

What about Brian Piccolo?

[wolf441]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

In that same timeframe I recall Phil Plantier temporarily generating a lot of interest.

The king of hype for me as a teenager in the late '80's was Greg Jeffries '88 RC with the Mets. His rookie card at the time was going for more than Yaz's rookie card. I remember arguing with a friend how illogical that was. Even if everything broke right for Jeffries, could he possibly have had a higher career ceiling than Yaz?

[BobC]

And speaking of lost potential, there's also Ernie Davis.

[luciobar1980]

Geez Louise guys. I don't think the OP wants anyone to die. He maybe could has stated it a little more eloquently, I'll admit that. But I think it is an interesting topic.. a young rising star as hyped as a Zion. What would happen to his prices, god forbid something happened to him. Pretty morbid but an interesting thought experiment.

[Forever Young]

Len bias would be a great comp. unfortunately, no cards to compare. His photos are pretty rare and costly though.