What are the best vintage, investment-type players in your opinion?

[molenick]

When found in sets of roughly equal rarity, King Kelly is similar to Mantle in that his cards cost more than statistically "better" players in the same sets (such as Brouthers, Keefe, and Clarkson).

Rarity plays a large role in N172 and N173 pricing, so it's harder to gauge. But Kelly is probably the most common N173 HOFer (or close to it) and it has not hurt the price of his cards.

What's interesting is that the pricing seems to be because of Kelly's popularity at the time he played, due to his personality, nickname, book, stage performances, etc...but while many people saw Mantle play (or heard about him from their parents), we are many generations removed from Kelly playing, and his popularity seems to persist (at least as reflected by pricing).

[GaryPassamonte]

Originally Posted by molenick

When found in sets of roughly equal rarity, King Kelly is similar to Mantle in that his cards cost more than statistically "better" players in the same sets (such as Brouthers, Keefe, and Clarkson).

Rarity plays a large role in N172 and N173 pricing, so it's harder to gauge. But Kelly is probably the most common N173 HOFer (or close to it) and it has not hurt the price of his cards.

What's interesting is that the pricing seems to be because of Kelly's popularity at the time he played, due to his personality, nickname, book, stage performances, etc...but while many people saw Mantle play (or heard about him from their parents), we are many generations removed from Kelly playing, and his popularity seems to persist (at least as reflected by pricing).

Players who are "bad boys" or those who have "big" personalities seem to often sell for higher prices than other great players of their time. Kelly is an excellent example. Cobb, J. Jackson, Ruth, Mantle, and, to some extent, T. Williams also fit the bill. Unfortunately, being a nice guy is usually not a positive in regards to card pricing. For example, Musial was one of the nicest people in baseball and was also one of the greatest of all time, but his card prices don't reflect this. He wasn't flashy enough.

Hi, Michael.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Players who are "bad boys" or those who have "big" personalities seem to often sell for higher prices than other great players of their time. Kelly is an excellent example. Cobb, J. Jackson, Ruth, Mantle, and, to some extent, T. Williams also fit the bill. Unfortunately, being a nice guy is usually not a positive in regards to card pricing. For example, Musial was one of the nicest people in baseball and was also one of the greatest of all time, but his card prices don't reflect this. He wasn't flashy enough.

Hi, Michael.

Was a bad word ever written about Gehrig, Mathewson or Walter Johnson? Their prices are very strong. And Jackson I think sells not because he was bad, but because most feel he was wronged.

[molenick]

I think we can find examples of players commanding higher prices than expected for a number of different reasons. The Black Sox and Hal Chase because they were infamous/bad boys, Titus because he had a moustache when others did not, Ten Million because he had a cool name, Moonlight Graham because he was in a book and movie, Halla because he had a cool pose, Whitney because he had a dog, Zernial because he had six balls, Mossi because he had big ears, various mascot poses, etc.

[Kutcher55]

Yaz for sure. He is the Mickey Mantle of the Red Sox, although not reflected at all in the pricing of his cards. His cards should spike for a week or so when he passes away as the nostalgia runs deep up here in New England. Of course I'm biased. He was the favorite player of my childhood.

Some earlier Ted cards have held strong, particularly '48 Leaf, although that might be a product of that set's popularity. It seems like it has been a good year for this set, despite us being well past Covid peak.

The 1975 Topps set is another. 50 year anniversary of that set and of the 1975 World Series coming up next year. Plus you've got those beautiful minis. Of course, this set is already popular and I'm biased.

Over the longer haul, Jackie Robinson will endure. As boomers continue to hit the nursing homes in ever increasing #s and 50s-70s vintage begins to decline further over the next ten years, Jackie will remain strong. As will Peewee Reese.

Curt Flood cards will get a bump at some point when he makes the HOF.

Of course this could all be conventional wisdom.

[packs]

Curt Flood is a good one. I also hope he gets his due in time: