Cards selling over 1 million dollars in 2024

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

It had to be almost all modern. Or put differently, there just are not that many vintage cards that sell for over $1mm. Aside from the BN Ruth and the t206 Wagner and Doyle, I can’t think of any card that would sell for more than $1mm in pre war department; maybe a higher grade, super rare back 1916 Ruth or a nice T210 Jackson, but not even the W600 Cobb, W600 Type 1 Wagner, W600 Type 2 Matty, any e107, t206, 1914 CJ, etc, of any grade, goes over $1mm (or anywhere close).

That leaves maybe a few cards from the 50’s and 60’s that are graded super high - 52 Topps mantle or Mays, maybe a PSA 10 54 Aaron, 55 Clemente, 49-52 Robinson. A PSA registry buy…

I just don’t see there being many single vintage cards that sell over $1mm, even in the go-go years of 2021 and 2022.

Maybe this was already mentioned, but didn't a '33 Goudey Ruth #53 PSA 9 sell for over $4 in the same auction as a #181 Goudey Ruth PSA 9 that went for over $1M?
https://www.beckett.com/news/1933-go...r-4-2-million/
Not sure if those would reach a million again.

And true Mantle rookies have eclipsed $3M and a Gehrig Rookie Exhibit eclipsed $1M

Not sure if a '51 Bowman Mays graded in 9 (I don't know if there are any 10s) could reach $1 Million.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

Not sure if a '51 Bowman Mays graded in 9 (I don't know if there are any 10s) could reach $1 Million.

I think you actually would probably get to 7 figures with Mays 52T in PSA 9 (pop 9) and definitely in PSA 10 (pop 1). If I remember the rumors correctly, pre-pandemic a Mays 52T in PSA 9 went for as much as $750K in a privately brokered sale.

Mays 53T in PSA 9 or PSA 10 would probably be similarly likely to hit 7 figures, although part of the story there is that PSA 9 is pop 1, and PSA 10 is also pop 1. So us set registry goons would be a big part of the story there.

And I wouldn't be surprised if Mays 51B at PSA 9 (pop 8) would get to a cool $1M. Assuming it was a nice example, of course, and not merely an over-graded early slab. There are none in PSA 10.

[jsfriedm]

I would actually be surprised if a 1951 Bowman Mays PSA 9 didn't hit at least 2 mil, considering 8s sell for around 250K, and that I don't think a 9 has sold for 15 years or so.

[Fred]

This is where I get lost. A "9" being worth about 8x the same card graded an "8". When it comes to subjectivity at that level, we pretty much know it could go either way. We've all seen 8's that are better than 9's.

I'm so glad that I'm not stuck on a kick where I have to have the highest number on a label and gladly pay 8x more for a number on a label.

Apologies to the registry collectors that may think I'm making fun of them. Even if I had $1.75M to spend on cards, I'd be making a different choice than upgrading my "8" grade for a "9" grade. But that's just me, I guess.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Fred

This is where I get lost. A "9" being worth about 8x the same card graded an "8". When it comes to subjectivity at that level, we pretty much know it could go either way. We've all seen 8's that are better than 9's.

I'm so glad that I'm not stuck on a kick where I have to have the highest number on a label and gladly pay 8x more for a number on a label.

Apologies to the registry collectors that may think I'm making fun of them. Even if I had $1.75M to spend on cards, I'd be making a different choice than upgrading my "8" grade for a "9" grade. But that's just me, I guess.

I wouldn't sweat it. I think even us hardcore set registry goons acknowledge the folly in our approach, and in moments of extreme omphaloskepsis may question whether it's wise to continue to climb this ladder.

Although truth be told, I suspect that when you get up into 7 figures, most of the time you're probably not really dealing with hard core set registry collectors. It's probably a much smaller subset of "investor-class" collectors, who are less focused on completing sets in high grades, and more focused on "number go up".

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by raulus

I wouldn't sweat it. I think even us hardcore set registry goons acknowledge the folly in our approach, and in moments of extreme omphaloskepsis may question whether it's wise to continue to climb this ladder.

Although truth be told, I suspect that when you get up into 7 figures, most of the time you're probably not really dealing with hard core set registry collectors. It's probably a much smaller subset of "investor-class" collectors, who are less focused on completing sets in high grades, and more focused on "number go up".

I learned a new word today.


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[Fred]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

I learned a new word today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll be honest, I had to google that. Too funny.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by raulus

I wouldn't sweat it. I think even us hardcore set registry goons acknowledge the folly in our approach, and in moments of extreme omphaloskepsis may question whether it's wise to continue to climb this ladder.

Although truth be told, I suspect that when you get up into 7 figures, most of the time you're probably not really dealing with hard core set registry collectors. It's probably a much smaller subset of "investor-class" collectors, who are less focused on completing sets in high grades, and more focused on "number go up".

That makes sense.

If I were an "investor-class" collector (which aint gonna happen unless I win a HUGE Powerball jackpot), then I'd be looking at other cards besides Topps and Bowman because I would figure those cards are more plentiful than some of the true rarities like the W600s or E107s. It's probably a good thing I'm not in the "investor-class" because I'd probably lose my butt on the "investment", but I'd sure own some cool cards!

[Rhotchkiss]

If I were an "investor-class" collector, then I'd be looking at other cards besides Topps and Bowman because I would figure those cards are more plentiful than some of the true rarities like the W600s or E107s.

Bingo. As someone who loves cards but ultimately buys them for investment, I believe that real/natural rarity is much better than manufactured rarity or rarity based on grade. And real rarity is most often found in the prewar stuff, like E107 and W600s. Even better, indeed almost essential, is the player, which is why I focus mostly on Cobb, Wagner, Ruth, Jackson, etc. In my opinion (and general experience), rare cards of these types of players, regardless of grade, make for pretty good investments; this is especially true if you can hold them and sell when you choose.

[MACollector]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

I would actually be surprised if a 1951 Bowman Mays PSA 9 didn't hit at least 2 mil, considering 8s sell for around 250K, and that I don't think a 9 has sold for 15 years or so.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the only 8.5 Mays would eclipse 1m. There are several Aaron 8.5’s that have sold for 3-4x the price of an 8 in the past year.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

Maybe this was already mentioned, but didn't a '33 Goudey Ruth #53 PSA 9 sell for over $4 in the same auction as a #181 Goudey Ruth PSA 9 that went for over $1M?
https://www.beckett.com/news/1933-go...r-4-2-million/
Not sure if those would reach a million again.

And true Mantle rookies have eclipsed $3M and a Gehrig Rookie Exhibit eclipsed $1M

Not sure if a '51 Bowman Mays graded in 9 (I don't know if there are any 10s) could reach $1 Million.

Nice call. So as you and Scott point out, there are other $1mm+ prewar cards in addition to T206 wagner + Doyle and BN Ruth, specifically a W600 Cobb, nice looking and higher grade 1916 Ruths (or rare backs), and super high grade 1933 Goudey Ruths. Still, very few prewar cards will crest anywhere near $1mm compared to what we saw in the modern world, especially in 2021 and 2022.