When commons are not commons - the end

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by Leon

Commons from scarce sets will hold their value, imo...

While I tend to agree, it is very hit or miss and certainly not always the case. Take T208's for example -- awesome set and crazy, super rare. Back in like 2010 there were a few people collecting the set and competing against each other for available cards. Those people have given up the chase (for whatever reason) and the value of T208s are today half of what they were in 2010.

For example, an SGC 2.5 Harry Davis sold in 2009 for $6,000. However, a PSA 4 sold in 2019 for $3,000.

A Jimmy Dygert SGC 3 sold in 2009 for $20,400 (a dumb result), yet an SGC 4 sold in 2011 for $4,700 and then again for $4,200 in 2016

A PSA 4 Topsy Hartsel sold in 2009 for $6,600, but then an SGC 3 only sold for $2,500 in 2021

[Leon]

I agree, Ryan. I remember when the first T208 came out in years. There were many bidders and it sold for that crazy number....20k....

But that brought out a set and some others and the prices went down. I think a few people completed their sets and then demand tanked as it was only type collectors, like myself, collecting them. And we only need 1 to fill the slot. That was a rare instance and not unlike other cards that have done that but it's not common.
I have been on both sides of that equation, more than once.

I paid 250 for that Krause, 3 yrs ago, so I am not too worried about it going down.

I picked up this T208 recently and feel it was priced right, not low and not high...

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

While I tend to agree, it is very hit or miss and certainly not always the case. Take T208's for example -- awesome set and crazy, super rare. Back in like 2010 there were a few people collecting the set and competing against each other for available cards. Those people have given up the chase (for whatever reason) and the value of T208s are today half of what they were in 2010.

For example, an SGC 2.5 Harry Davis sold in 2009 for $6,000. However, a PSA 4 sold in 2019 for $3,000.

A Jimmy Dygert SGC 3 sold in 2009 for $20,400 (a dumb result), yet an SGC 4 sold in 2011 for $4,700 and then again for $4,200 in 2016

A PSA 4 Topsy Hartsel sold in 2009 for $6,600, but then an SGC 3 only sold for $2,500 in 2021

[bounce]

Set collecting is still one of the best ways to enjoy the hobby, particularly with vintage.

I like it as it keeps you in the collecting game, but gives you the time to find the star cards that really make sense with your set.

It takes patience, but it's rewarding.

And ask yourself this question - are high eye appeal mid-grade 1950s/1960s "commons" more or less expensive than they were a year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago?

Is it a great investment strategy? Not in relation to collecting the stars as others have noted. So you may not get rich, but you also are pretty unlikely to get slaughtered. Slow and steady as you go.

[gonefishin]

A lot of great information from everyone since I started this thread. Would anyone like to share what they do with their duplicate commons? Do you simply store them away unsleeved? Do you put each in protective sleeves and toploaders and store them away? Do you begin a second or third set? Do you simply save them as in investment or sale them when you obtain a quality replacement?

I ask because as I have been working on completing master sets (48 - 69 Topps and Bowman) for several years. I don't sell very many of my vintage cards - I simply have been keeping them. Over time you end up with more cards than the base set consists of. And of course, you may end up with 4 or more commons of the same player.

There are a couple of considerations for sure: (1) No more of the original cards can be produced. (2) Vintage common cards become increasingly rare with time. (3) Vintage cards rarely go down in price - even commons. (4) Most players are deceased and cannot commit a private act that destroys their legacy, regardless of how insignificant their career was.

I know sometimes I am thrilled to find a "common" card in good shape, at a good price, that I have been searching for.

I'm at the point where I don't consider any card prior to 1960 a "common" any longer. My definition of a common, mine not anyone else's, is a card that was not a SP, not a Star or Semi-Star, and is pretty easy to find. If I continue to define a common in that manner, in my world "commons" seem to be on the endangered species list.

[donmuth]

Originally Posted by gonefishin

A lot of great information from everyone since I started this thread. Would anyone like to share what they do with their duplicate commons? Do you simply store them away unsleeved? Do you put each in protective sleeves and toploaders and store them away? Do you begin a second or third set? Do you simply save them as in investment or sale them when you obtain a quality replacement?

I ask because as I have been working on completing master sets (48 - 69 Topps and Bowman) for several years. I don't sell very many of my vintage cards - I simply have been keeping them. Over time you end up with more cards than the base set consists of. And of course, you may end up with 4 or more commons of the same player.

There are a couple of considerations for sure: (1) No more of the original cards can be produced. (2) Vintage common cards become increasingly rare with time. (3) Vintage cards rarely go down in price - even commons. (4) Most players are deceased and cannot commit a private act that destroys their legacy, regardless of how insignificant their career was.

I know sometimes I am thrilled to find a "common" card in good shape, at a good price, that I have been searching for.

I'm at the point where I don't consider any card prior to 1960 a "common" any longer. My definition of a common, mine not anyone else's, is a card that was not a SP, not a Star or Semi-Star, and is pretty easy to find. If I continue to define a common in that manner, in my world "commons" seem to be on the endangered species list.

There are some good vintage online trading groups (e.g. Vintage Card Traders) where you can turn your duplicate commons into ones you need to complete your set(s). I would highly recommend considering getting involved in one or more trading groups and putting your dupes to work for you while also helping out other collectors who are probably looking for some cards that you have extras of.

[Yoda]

A T206 common becomes uncommon when it has a rare back.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by donmuth

There are some good vintage online trading groups (e.g. Vintage Card Traders) where you can turn your duplicate commons into ones you need to complete your set(s). I would highly recommend considering getting involved in one or more trading groups and putting your dupes to work for you while also helping out other collectors who are probably looking for some cards that you have extras of.

That can be done on our own BST too...without the distractions of FB..
.

[fkm_bky]

A common is also not a common (to me personally) if I have a tie to a player or a back run b/c of a pose or commonality. Example, I share a birthday w/ Buck Herzog. I'm working on the back run, so the "common-ness" of his card evaporates for me. Now, to Ryan's point, I'm not buying his cards as an investment, although they'll likely at least hold their value to a certain extent going forward.

Bill

[Jay Wolt]

Cobb, Ruth, Matty's & Wagners are great
But to me the cornerstone of the hobby is commons.
As an example, there's 100 Turkey Red's in the set 25 are Hall Of Famers, the rest is commons & minor stars.
I'll take the commons all day long. Much bigger bang for the buck