“Blue Chip” Cards

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by LincolnVT

What do you consider to be the “blue chip” cards in the hobby? Let’s see some examples.

Can you define blue chip cards?

[bnorth]

The T206 Red Cobb is the Blue Chip card. Fairly easy to obtain and something you will make money owning.

This is mine.

[LincolnVT]

I was hoping that this thread would discuss the definition…wondering what people consider to be the hobbies “blue chip” cards.

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Can you define blue chip cards?

[LEHR]

I define "blue chip" cards as high-grade HOF'ers that are highly coveted by most collectors and are very liquid. Think PSA/SGC 8+ cards of Mantle, Ruth, Cobb, Aaron, Robinson, Clemente, Mays, Rose, etc..

While very desirable to most I personally find most of what falls into my definition of "blue chip" cards to be boring at best. Oh, you have a PSA 8 Mantle?! Great, so do 13,000+ other people. This is why I rarely buy cards anymore.

But this is just my perspective and ultimately people should collect what makes them happy.

[parkplace33]

"Blue-chip stocks are large companies with strong brands, financially sound businesses and consistent earnings and cash flows. They also often pay sizable dividends. Blue-chip companies are typically leaders within their given market sectors and have successfully navigated economic downturns in the past."

From this definition, I would say the best player in the best grade. Some of those players were mentioned above.

[frankbmd]

Chipping will have a deleterious effect on grading and it really doesn't matter what color the chip is.

[Leon]

Blue chip - Visually appealing lower grade Cobb or Ruth..

[Johnny630]

Some have Blue Chips, I have Blue Cards

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

"Blue-chip stocks are large companies with strong brands, financially sound businesses and consistent earnings and cash flows. They also often pay sizable dividends. Blue-chip companies are typically leaders within their given market sectors and have successfully navigated economic downturns in the past."

From this definition, I would say the best player in the best grade. Some of those players were mentioned above.

One difference I see is that when trouble comes, our government has shown a willingness to bail out blue chip companies; when the value of your 12.5 mil '52 Mantle starts freefalling, you're on your own.

[G1911]

The big players and big cards which have been popular for a very long time.

They can also be identified by looking at the cards the majority of collectors get very upset over when they see anything not serving the purpose of pumping that card up. Those are the ones lots have bought into as their safe picks

[MVSNYC]

Originally Posted by LEHR

I define "blue chip" cards as high-grade HOF'ers that are highly coveted by most collectors and are very liquid. Think PSA/SGC 8+ cards of Mantle, Ruth, Cobb, Aaron, Robinson, Clemente, Mays, Rose, etc..

While very desirable to most I personally find most of what falls into my definition of "blue chip" cards to be boring at best. Oh, you have a PSA 8 Mantle?! Great, so do 13,000+ other people. This is why I rarely buy cards anymore.

But this is just my perspective and ultimately people should collect what makes them happy.

I think you're on track with the players you've listed, but regarding "high-grade", I think that just speaks to condition (thus value)...but it's the player and set that qualifies it as blue chip (i.e. A PSA 2 1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb is blue chip, even though not high grade).

I'll also add Jackson, Wajo, Matty, Young, Gehrig, Joe D, Ted Williams...etc.

[LincolnVT]

Great conversation all. I guess I would agree with a lot that has been said. I feel like the “blue chip” cards in the hobby are those of well known highly collected players that appear in recognizable issues. While these cards may or may not be the most valuable, they have a trend of holding or increasing in value. I do feel that a “blue chip” card can be a card in lower grade. To me, it is more about the player and issue than the condition.

[babraham]

Speaking of blue chip...
this was a heck of a deal:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374315716552

1914 CJ Jackson PSA 5 for just a hair over $100k?
The last PSA 5 that went at auction went for $240k in January from Heritage. Seller prob should have looked at auction houses rather than ebay with Probstein.

Heritage has a PSA 1.5 right now that might be close to that $100k number.

[Rhotchkiss]

Yup, the big time CJs did terrible last night- Jackson, Matty, and Cobb. One would think it was the seller/forum, which may certainly have played a role; ebay is not the ideal place to sell those items at auction. But the super-sharp discount to recent sales is too significant for that to be the only reason. The CJs in Heritage will help inform whether last night’s prices are the result of the economy/state of the hobby, the selling forum, or both. I suspect it’s some of both.

Bright side is you know those items weren’t shilled…

[Madi$on18joshua]

That same card sold from Goldin in 2021 for $116k!!! My guess is the seller was absolutely SHOCKED with the final closing price!