Are Baseball Cards Destined to Slowly Diminish in Value?

[Bicem]

Good points raised by Matt and Mike about the baby boomers and 50's/60's stuff, couldn't agree more. I suspect the appeal of 50/60's stuff is that these collectors also collected these same sets when they were kids. While the appeal of prewar has more to do with early baseball history.

[barrysloate]

Well there is history in 1950's cards too. Aren't Mays, Aaron, and Mantle, among others, part of baseball history? Sure, the 50's and 60's cards got a huge boost from baby boomers, who are now at an age where more will leave the hobby than enter. But a 1952 Topps set, always a classic, is approaching 60 years old and is also a part of history.

Sure, I think E, T, and N cards have a better chance to increase in value than Topps and Bowman, but I find it hard to believe that the better sets from this latter era won't be avidly collected in the future.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Well there is history in 1950's cards too. Aren't Mays, Aaron, and Mantle, among others, part of baseball history? Sure, the 50's and 60's cards got a huge boost from baby boomers, who are now at an age where more will leave the hobby than enter. But a 1952 Topps set, always a classic, is approaching 60 years old and is also a part of history.

Definitely a big part of history Barry, as will be 70's/80's/90's cards too. Just personally think that the new vintage collector entering the hobby 20 years from now and with no personal ties to 50/60's (such as collecting it as a kid or seeing these players play), will naturally gravitate towards the older, more diverse stuff. Maybe for no other reason than the perception that older is usually better when it comes to collectibles.