“Blue Chip” Cards

[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…

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by 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…

+1 agreed shocked by the eBay prices last night. Someone got really lucky on those cards.
We will know better in 16 days with Heritage
The suspense

[sb1]

The number of heavy hitters that peruse ebay looking for cards like these is negligible.

I would be willing to bet you most of these pop up for auction again on another venue.

Originally Posted by 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…

[Johnny630]

I believe with the new US Stock Market Bull Run beginning many of these blue chips are gonna sell higher and higher in this year's fall and next spring's major auctions to come, REA, MH, ML, And Heritage.

[3-2-count]

I'm going to play devils advocate here on the trio of 1914 CJ's which ended last night on Ebay.

Since Ebay does not charge a buyers premium, if factoring in the 20% juice that would have been added on top of these prices if sold through an AH these actually weren't that far off.

The Psa 5 Jax from last night if a 20% BP were added would have been $126,120.00

The last Psa 5 Jax which sold for $240,000.00 was far superior to this example and was centered which many pay way up for these days. Now we can debate if it was $100K+ nicer, but it was nicer nonetheless. Prior to this $240K spike the last sell for a Psa 5 Jax was $116,400 on 8/8/21.

The Psa 4 Cobb from last night if a 20% BP were added would have been $59,721.60.

The last Psa 4 Cobb which sold (this exact card actually) ended at $58,800.00 on 8/15/21.

The Sgc 2 Matty from last night if a 20% BP were added would have been $61,920.00.

The last Sgc 2 Matty which sold (this exact card actually) ended at $64,156.40 on 8/28/21.

Just my two cents

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I believe with the new US Stock Market Bull Run beginning many of these blue chips are gonna sell higher and higher in this year's fall and next spring's major auctions to come, REA, MH, ML, And Heritage.

Johnny is ever the optimist. Up, up, and away!!!

Naturally, I take the opposite tack and expect that we’re due for a major crash. Aaaaaaaaaany day now!

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by 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…

Interesting... I heard a rumor that the set break was actually Probstein's cards, not a consignor.

Either way, I do think that break should have been done through an auction house.

[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!

[Republicaninmass]

Lots of excuses. Next thing will be about how the "packaging " at an auction house is better or more trusted than Probstein. I have an incredibly hard time believe buyers, consignors, and their Shillers, miss probstein auctions.