Is the 1952 Topps Andy Pafko an overrated card?

[toppcat]

The Pafko went through at least three printings and as well all know, is not a scarce card. As noted above, it does have some good things going for it and is a well composed card with great eye appeal. The whole first card/last card hype has elevated it to almost mythic status and that rising tide is lifting all boats. The fact it is a Brooklyn Dodger also helps boost it and that is true with any 50's card. I overpaid for my Pafko (a 2, with good eye appeal which I cracked) but was happy to get it. It's frustrating but that's reality.

[Doug]

I won a PSA 2 Pafko last night on eBay and I found it kind of frustrating that it cost more than both the PSA 4 1952 Topps Duke Snider and PSA 4.5 Phil Rizzuto that I picked up a few days ago. I still don't think it makes sense, but I guess that's just how it goes.

[ALR-bishop]

I have a red back and black back. Bought one on ebay, red, and traded for the black one with Levi. Mathews, Pafko and Mantle may all be overpriced, but someone keeps bidding on them. Maybe when all of us baby boomers are dead you younger x guys can pick them all up cheap

[Doug]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I have a red back and black back. Bought one on ebay, red, and traded for the black one with Levi. Mathews, Pafko and Mantle may all be overpriced, but someone keeps bidding on them. Maybe when all of us baby boomers are dead you younger x guys can pick them all up cheap

I just went ahead and got mine now since by then our money will be probably be worthless and the inflation will be so high that they will be even more expensive!

[Iwantmorecards77]

I remember this card being mentioned on an episode of Home Improvement!

[scmavl]

I agree with those of you who said it's a good looking card. It's probably one of my 10 favorite '52s based on eye appeal.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by Iwantmorecards77

I remember this card being mentioned on an episode of Home Improvement!

The Pafko is at least the 2nd card from the '52 set to have been mentioned on a tv show or movie..

Pafko-Home Improvement, Cop Out

Joe Nuxhall- Married with Children...I believe Al was going to leave his "worthless Joe Nuxhall rookie card" to Bud in his will..

[GoldenAge50s]

Here's another way to look at it---Because it is the 1st card in what was then a NEW, OVERSIZED set of cards, it was mangled extra hard by us kids w/ our rubber bands or stuffing them into small boxes w/ our small Bowmans ('48 thru '52 & '51 Topps) !

It's also a reason a High Grade Pafko is so hard to find, percentage wise!

[Volod]

Originally Posted by novakjr

The Pafko is at least the 2nd card from the '52 set to have been mentioned on a tv show or movie..

Pafko-Home Improvement, Cop Out

Joe Nuxhall- Married with Children...I believe Al was going to leave his "worthless Joe Nuxhall rookie card" to Bud in his will..

Yeah, that episode ran recently on a cable channel I was viewing. But, I don't believe Al mentioned the particular set the card came from. Why would Al, a Chicago guy, presumably in his 40's in about 1990, save a Nuxhall rookie card from, what - 1950? Nuxhall was famously brought up by the Reds at the age of 15 in 1944 and pitched one game to a St. Louis lineup that included Stan Musial. Ed O'Neil is from Youngstown, Ohio, but...who knows?
In another episode Al goes to a card show to try to put together an all-time Cubs team set, but can't find a Ken Hubbs card. Why Hubbs, who only played two seasons with a .247 average? Why not Sandberg, or Hornsby?

[Brianruns10]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I have a red back and black back. Bought one on ebay, red, and traded for the black one with Levi. Mathews, Pafko and Mantle may all be overpriced, but someone keeps bidding on them. Maybe when all of us baby boomers are dead you younger x guys can pick them all up cheap

I agree with you on 2 of 3. The Pafko is definitely overrated in lower grades, given it went through three printings, and I see a bunch on ebay. I certainly wouldn't pay much for a low grade one, and I'd definitely be one to save up for a scarce, higher grade 6 or 7.

Ditto with the Mantle, which I think is a hugely overrated card. It's NOT his rookie, it's a double print, and he was popular, and people were prone to save him. I see tons of these cards on ebay, and they just sit, sit, sit.

But the Matthews...I actually think this card is a bit of a sleeper, given that it is the "least" valuable of the three. It's a high number, it was single printed, and he was a rookie, and rather an unknown quantity...meaning people were less likely to save him. Then you've got the rubberband problem. Finally, there is centering. This card comes atrociously centered on nearly every example I've seen. So when I found an example PSA EX5 dead centered front AND back, I jumped on it. Depending on which price guide you consult, I got it for less, or a little more than book value, so right now I consider it at even cost. But I'm convinced it was a good buy, because after watching auctions for six months before, and for the time since I bought it, I've not seen a similar card come up.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

But the Matthews...I actually think this card is a bit of a sleeper, given that it is the "least" valuable of the three. It's a high number, it was single printed, and he was a rookie, and rather an unknown quantity...meaning people were less likely to save him. Then you've got the rubberband problem. Finally, there is centering. This card comes atrociously centered on nearly every example I've seen. So when I found an example PSA EX5 dead centered front AND back, I jumped on it. Depending on which price guide you consult, I got it for less, or a little more than book value, so right now I consider it at even cost. But I'm convinced it was a good buy, because after watching auctions for six months before, and for the time since I bought it, I've not seen a similar card come up.

I never noticed the centering issues on the Mathews until you just mentioned it. Mine is pretty much dead centered as well, but after looking on eBay it seems that almost all of the Mathews cards are off centered to the left, bottom or both. It seems similar to how a lot of the '52 Topps Mantle and Mays cards seem to be centered either down, to the right or both.

[Brianruns10]

Originally Posted by Doug

I never noticed the centering issues on the Mathews until you just mentioned it. Mine is pretty much dead centered as well, but after looking on eBay it seems that almost all of the Mathews cards are off centered to the left, bottom or both. It seems similar to how a lot of the '52 Topps Mantle and Mays cards seem to be centered either down, to the right or both.

I recall seeing a drawing someone made, showing the positions of each card as they would've appeared on an uncut sheet, and the illustrator had the Matthews near the center, which I think is wrong. Based on how the Matthews is always shifted, I think he was probably toward the lower right corner. Other cards, like the DeLock or Kucab I've noticed are fairly easy to come by well centered, so these ones would be toward the center I'd imagine...

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

Ditto with the Mantle, which I think is a hugely overrated card. It's his rookie, it's a double print, and he was popular, and people were prone to save him. I see tons of these cards on ebay, and they just sit, sit, sit.

I think you meant, it's NOT his rookie.

I know, I'm turning into the "'1952 is NOT Mantle's rookie police"...It seems at least twice a week I'm having to mention it..

[Brianruns10]

Originally Posted by novakjr

I think you meant, it's NOT his rookie.

I know, I'm turning into the "'1952 is NOT Mantle's rookie police"...It seems at least twice a week I'm having to mention it..

Oh yes, that's what I meant, thanks. Post edited!