Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

**byergo** · 09-09-2008, 11:40 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

Honestly, since you asked I think it's pure stupidity and those people are going to financially lose their ass on nearly all of those speculative purchases.

**bigtruck260** · 09-09-2008, 11:53 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

If you are planning on investing in these prospects, then you are wasting money. If you are trying to acquire a legit bat at market value, then you have to pay sometimes to play. In today's market, dealers and some collectors are including many years of inflation on these players...you are basically paying up front for the future value of the bat or other item.

This goes on all the time in the collectible marketplace...

I collect Cardinals stuff, meaning I buy the occasional Pujols item. Upper Deck sells a signed baseball for $499 - that is ridiculous, but some people will pay that much. The only way I see a profit being made in the future off of that item is - and God forbid, Albert dies soon. Mantle UD balls are still making people money years after the fact because, like Pujols - his signature is forged so often, that collectors are willing to pay extra because of the reputation of UD. Those balls were expensive when they were first sold too...

Paying $1500 for a bat of a player that has 1 season under his belt is crazy - unless money is no object and you need to have it in hand. If that player gets hurt and his career is ruined the following season - like Byergo said - you will lose your a$$.

**chakes89** · 09-09-2008, 11:55 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

I paid about $450 for my Jay Bruce game used bat

But I didn't do it for investing purposes.

He is my favorite player and I wanted one of his bats

But I do think it is really getting out of hand

**Rob L** · 09-10-2008, 12:06 AM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

Yep. It's all way overpriced. It's the same thing that happens with Rookie cards. I bought my McGwire and Sosa rookies back in late 1990s when they were all the rage. Did I overspend, you bet. It's always best to wait a few years to see where the market is at. Look at Winfield and Thome bats. They are very reasonably priced for a HOFer and a future HOFer. Bonds prices are going down (for obvious reasons). It's best to try and not snap at something during the hype. It can be hard, but economically, it's the best way to go.

**r_phelps** · 09-10-2008, 12:08 AM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

I agree with you all but I also know that the market for jay bruce or evan longoria is quite smaller than that of soriano or tejada. simple..supply and demand factors in as well in our market. for those who make a killing on these guys i say 2 words ..well played.

**r_phelps** · 09-10-2008, 12:12 AM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

And I thought I would add some great examples of busts..Bo Hart,Super Joe McEwing, and Mike Caruso. I remember selling a Bo Hart bat for more than 200!!!

**David** · 09-10-2008, 12:27 AM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

When a prospect is supposed to be the next Babe Ruth, his prices will later plummet when collector's realize he's merely the next Mel Ott.

**commando** · 09-10-2008, 01:04 AM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

MOST of those bats will lose considerable value in my opinion. While a few players will make the Hall of Fame, become hometown favorites or be members of a collectible team year (i.e. 1986 Mets, 1982 Brewers), most of these values simply will not hold in the long run.

The list goes on and on with players from the past 30 years who were excellent players in their day... But today are largely forgotten when it comes to collectors and the prices they pay. Darrell Evans, Tony Armas, Bob Horner, Pedro Guerrero, Manny Trillo, Larry Parrish, Ken Singleton, Al Oliver.... The list of quality players from the past goes on and on... These guys were considered stars on their respective teams at the time but I think the prices of their bats are pretty darn reasonable -- not to mention the fact that their bats are fairly scarce when compared to what's available for today's players.

**David** · 09-10-2008, 01:53 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

A way to view future value of a prospect is to look at the current values of cards, autographs and memorabilia of the lesser HOFer players: Gary Carter, Don Sutton, Bruce Sutter, etc. Most of the stuff from these guys is very affordable, and any current top prospect will be lucky to have half the career of any of these HOFers

**kudu** · 09-10-2008, 03:24 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

I would just wait until the off season, when those type items aren't moving as much. Maybe even go to some of the team FanFests and find some stuff there.

**bigtruck260** · 09-10-2008, 03:51 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

I sold TONS of cards at a garage sale 2 years ago. Included were the following gems:

Gregg Jefferies (decent player)
Ben McDonald
Todd Van Poppel
Shawn Abner
Jerome Walton

Funny, at the time - I probably spent hundreds of dollars in lawn mowing grip trying to get these cards...which in some cases I had 50-60 of. Beckett magazine had them so highly priced that I thought I'd be able to skip high school and pay for a private tutor.

Bats are kind of the same...but at least in some cases a bat can become valuable if that prospect is needed to fill a hole. Doesn't really even need to be a prospect. I once saw a Mark Mulder Cardinals bat go for more than $500. It was no doubt going towards someone's 06 World Series collection.

Funny, I just traded for a Jefferies bat....

**BergerKing22784** · 09-10-2008, 04:02 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

I agree those prices are crazy for these young guys. You just have to be willing to wait it out and wait for the player to play a good # of season so the market gets flooded with their items and it gives them time to establish themselves as either a super star (at that point you can pay the crazy prices), a minor star, or just a journeymen utility guy.

I had that conversation with Andrew L. about the Nationals how I do not get how him and you other Nationals guy pay what you do for those prices consider the team is a last place team full of former nobodys from other teams. But he said its supply and demand as the team is so new there is no items. The prices will go down over the next few years. It is the same effect for these so called future superstars.

**cjclong** · 09-10-2008, 04:03 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

If you are looking at the bat as a financial investment then you are probably running a risk. However, if you are a collector its a somewhat different story. I've become a big fan of Josh Hamilton and I wanted a bat from his first year with the Rangers. If I had to overpay somewhat, so be it. Even if he goes on to have a great career he is probably too old now to wind up as a HOF player, but I'll have the bat from what is hopefully a good career of a player I like.

**thomecollector** · 09-10-2008, 05:47 PM

Re: Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

I am blown away by the fact that a guy like Thome , who is going to be in the HOF someday. Still doesn't get the respect he should. You can't even get $300 for his bats, or $500 for a jersey. That's a crock ! While you can see those bats/jerseys for players that have been around a year or two, getting crazy money. We'll see how that works out. I say it doesn't matter how you start, it's how you finish.
I never buy anything as an investment. I buy it cause I want it in my collection.

Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

Are Raising Stars Bats Becoming Over Priced?

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