Under The Radar Basketball Cards (investment)

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I like them but not seeing the "investment" angle. Rare early vintage cards, or rookie cards, might have investment potential. A common set of stickers? Not IMO.

Thanks for the reply Peter. That’s really the point: to find reasonably priced cards that are off the radar of some, i.e. not big rookies or vintage stars, both of which are priced out. Looking for items that are obtainable with room to grow.

[Exhibitman]

I think early cards and memorabilia of superstars from that long gap between actual card sets is a good buy right now. I've been salting away unusual regional cards, team issue cards, and related items for years. Thing is, they are so hard to find that you cannot amass a really large group. Also what makes them fun. This is a 1960 Boston TI:



Photos are a good area too, though they have been on fire lately. I just consigned some Russell-Chamberlain early photos that i've been holding for years. This one I hung on to, it is a favorite. 1961:

[Copa7]

These old photos are great. I just acquired some 1920's cabinet cards of early pro and amateur basketball teams.
Checked with National Basketball Hall of Fame and they didn't even have these pioneer Hall of Fame players.

[Exhibitman]

I've also started looking at schedules and team issued mailers, like these 1950s Knicks schedule cards:

1951:




1952:

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I think early cards and memorabilia of superstars from that long gap between actual card sets is a good buy right now. I've been salting away unusual regional cards, team issue cards, and related items for years. Thing is, they are so hard to find that you cannot amass a really large group. Also what makes them fun. This is a 1960 Boston TI:



Photos are a good area too, though they have been on fire lately. I just consigned some Russell-Chamberlain early photos that i've been holding for years. This one I hung on to, it is a favorite. 1961:

Adam, great points: regional issues and early photo's seem like an opportunity as some are still fairly priced. Thanks for sharing, love that Russell! Wasn't that used on the 1968 Topps Test Series? ... actually just checked, no this is a different image... wow its fantastic though!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Dead-Ball-Hitter

Thanks for the reply Peter. That’s really the point: to find reasonably priced cards that are off the radar of some, i.e. not big rookies or vintage stars, both of which are priced out. Looking for items that are obtainable with room to grow.

I understand the point; mine is that IMO a common set of stickers with no rookies does not have a lot of room to grow. But who knows.

[shagrotn77]

I remember those stickers being brutal right out of the pack. Very poor cuts.

[chalupacollects]

Maybe higher grade examples of mid career stars and HOFers....

[Gorditadogg]

I like the stickers, even though they aren't scarce, it sounds like high-grade and centered cards could become more desirable, and there are not a lot of cards anyway of the old NBA stars. And I also like the idea of picking out oddball vintage items, especially in the years without Topps or Fleer issues.

My strategy has always been to buy some of everything and see what happens. I doubt it's the best way to accumulate value but hey, it is the most inclusive.

[Republicaninmass]

Stickers..one per pack. Supposed to be stuck to stuff. Makes sense they'd be desirable in the future

[hauntedcomputer]

To me future "investment" (an iffy word to use in connection with a hobby) will depend on which way newer ultramodern collectors go after getting burned badly on overpriced, overproduced slabs.

Will they go a tier down into 90s inserts, or into the 80s? I would guess Star cards really have good potential in that scenario, but with far too many speculative factors involved (Will PSA ever grade them? Will they ever get mainstream attention? Will AI grading ever be able to accurately detect fake Jordans?). Compared to the 80s stickers, the pops of Star cards are relatively stable and known and rare. Most importantly, those are what I call "gap year" cards that cover some of the greatest. 87 set further hurt by lack of rookies that drive set values and collector appeal.

Or will modern collectors recognize the tremendously rare-in-comparison cards of 48, 57 and 61, players they may know little about? Or will they see 70s basketball as undervalued like I do, but I think their value growth has been pushed forward too much over the past couple of years and basically most cards will be waiting for the next generational boom in 20-30 years.

Probably some of each, but my guess is most will leave the hobby like they did in the 90s crash. So my strategy is to only buy what I like and only spend what I can afford to lose completely. If the market vanishes, I still have what I like and don't have to guess.

Good luck!

[Dandor]

Originally Posted by Dead-Ball-Hitter

Thanks for the reply Peter. That’s really the point: to find reasonably priced cards that are off the radar of some, i.e. not big rookies or vintage stars, both of which are priced out. Looking for items that are obtainable with room to grow.

For me these stickers are blah and I don't think they have any growth potential. I actually think some of the HOF rookies are much better buys from the 1969 Topps set until the 1981 Topps set. I also hate modern cards, but some of the insert sets from 2013 to 2016 Panini are really rare and undervalued as well. Here are some suggestions on cards that could be off the radar.

1. HOF on card autos - I know some players sign a lot, but a lot don't. Some of the current Panini on card autos are gorgeous!
2. 1996 Topps 50th Anniversary - Rarer than Topps Chrome and priced much lower. Plus these cards won't hulk. You can get HOF rookies like Allen, Kobe, Iverson, Nash for really decent prices.
3. I am starting to put together some 1990's insert sets and refractors for HOF players. I am putting together the 1992 Beam Team set right now. A lot of junk wax collectors are still coming into the hobby and these are the cards of their past.

At this point the market is what it is and finding undervalued cards is pretty much impossible. Everything has been pumped at one point.

[Jewish-collector]

A good investment will be autographs of the really big names before they're gone, because as my friend once said about deceased players, "He doesn't sign any longer"

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by Dandor

For me these stickers are blah and I don't think they have any growth potential. I actually think some of the HOF rookies are much better buys from the 1969 Topps set until the 1981 Topps set. I also hate modern cards, but some of the insert sets from 2013 to 2016 Panini are really rare and undervalued as well. Here are some suggestions on cards that could be off the radar.
[LIST=1][*]HOF on card autos - I know some players sign a lot, but a lot don't. Some of the current Panini on card autos are gorgeous![*]1996 Topps 50th Anniversary - Rarer than Topps Chrome and priced much lower. Plus these cards won't hulk. You can get HOF rookies like Allen, Kobe, Iverson, Nash for really decent prices.

I also think the 1996-97 cards have room to grow: 4 modern players in the Top75 of all time!