Legendary Auction -- Josh Gibson Toleteros card

[Orioles1954]

No matter what grade it is, that Gibson is probably the most over-rated card in the hobby.

[slantycouch]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

No matter what grade it is, that Gibson is probably the most over-rated card in the hobby.

I'm always amazed by the attention it gets. I understand its importance, but there are MANY cards I'd go after before this one, at that price level.

[Orioles1954]

I guess I don't appreciate post-career "tribute" cards

[slidekellyslide]

I also think it's an overrated card. Didn't the value plummet after all the "rookie" card collectors got one?

[Orioles1954]

I've always felt that a "rookie" card is just that....a card from the player's rookie year or minor league issue. 1952 Topps Mantle? Not a rookie! 1986-87 Fleer Jordan? Not a rookie! 1982 Donruss Golf Niklaus? Not a rookie!

[Peter_Spaeth]

I think another reason for the price decline is that Leland's was able to trickle these out over a period of time, so that few people knew the total population.

The interesting question here of course is why, in this day and age, a major auction house would sell a high grade, major card raw.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The interesting question here of course is why, in this day and age, a major auction house would sell a high grade, major card raw.

Gee, like I said, that's a real head-scratcher. Maybe Lelands isn't aware that graded cards sell for more. Or maybe the card would have (or did) grade a 3 on closer inspection.

[turtleguy64]

Peter,the reason a big auction house would not take the trouble to grade a big ticket card is probably due to the philosophy once imparted to me by the infamous Doug Allen: "We didn't grade the better condition cards in your lot because sometimes we get more bidding interest on raw cards." Ah,those old Mastronet days.

[MikeU]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

No matter what grade it is, that Gibson is probably the most over-rated card in the hobby.

100% Agree

[zork1974]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

No matter what grade it is, that Gibson is probably the most over-rated card in the hobby.

Originally Posted by MikeU

100% Agree

Sorry guys but I would like to politely disagree with your assessment. Josh Gibson was one of the greatest players to ever play the game. With so few cards to collect, those of us who love the Negro Leagues and the history it represents have only a few cards to target for our collections. The card comes from a vintage era and it was published outside of mainstream America. It's aging and it's scarce. Compared to some of the prices we've seen over the years, $14 000 is a drop in the bucket. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

[triwak]

Zork,

I'm with you. Conspiracy theorists not withstanding, I would love to own that card!

[calvindog]

Well, the Gibson sold for 21K last night -- 50% more than it sold in a raw state just a couple months ago in Leland's!

I guess Josh Evans learned a valuable lesson: when you have a 5 figure card in "NM" condition it might make sense to get it put into a PSA 7 holder before you auction it off. Kudos to Doug--based on the way Josh runs his auctions I never thought he had anything to learn from Doug (or Bill for that matter) but clearly I was wrong.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Jeff perhaps the price increase is due not to the slab but to our recovering economy.

[calvindog]

Damn fine point, Peter. The stimulus package really did kick in over the past 45 days so perhaps you are right. Perhaps the winner just traded in his car in the Cash for Clunkers program?

[Potomac Yank]

Originally Posted by zork1974

Sorry guys but I would like to politely disagree with your assessment. Josh Gibson was one of the greatest players to ever play the game. With so few cards to collect, those of us who love the Negro Leagues and the history it represents have only a few cards to target for our collections. The card comes from a vintage era and it was published outside of mainstream America. It's aging and it's scarce. Compared to some of the prices we've seen over the years, $14 000 is a drop in the bucket. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

*
*

Sorry Mr Zork, but I would like to politely disagree with your assessment.
I'm also a Cuban, Latino, and Negro League collector that got to see some of them play.
There is no question in my mind that Josh Gibson was one of the greatest players to ever play the game ... no knowledgeable baseball fan will question that.

The real question is the card itself.

It was created three or so years after his playing days, and after his death in 1947.
Like it has already been stated ... it's a tribute card.
The Puerto Rican Toleteros 1950 - 51 set, had that card in it as a tribute to Josh Gibson.

To say that the card is over - rated, is an understatement.

The Leland's pulled a snow job, and some people bought the snow job over a period of time.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The hobby is full of popular tribute cards. 33 Goudey Lajoie. 48 Leaf Ruth. Sport Kings Cobb. 69 white letter Mantle. Given that there is NO other card of Josh Gibson even roughly contemporaneous with his career, I think the Toleteros is a great card.

[zork1974]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The hobby is full of popular tribute cards. 33 Goudey Lajoie. 48 Leaf Ruth. Sport Kings Cobb. 69 white letter Mantle. Given that there is NO other card of Josh Gibson even roughly contemporaneous with his career, I think the Toleteros is a great card.

It's like you took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to mention the Lajoie and the Leaf Ruth in my first post (as tribute cards) but I thought those were kind of obvious. I'll own those cards someday as well. I have no problem with tribute cards if they have some significance within the hobby and the Gibson certainly has that.

[Minerscoin]

I agree with Potomac Jack. I also believe the card is over rated. There has to be many more out there waitng to be found.
Mark