A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

[pietraynor]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

Reading these posts brings back a lot of memories...As a teen in the early '80s I went to the weekend baseball cards shows at least once a month, miss those a alot..never knew what was going to walk in the door, made a lot of great buys as a dealer setting up a shows..Remember meeting Greg Pruitt (Browns) & Bob Feller back then..While I haven't collected cards since '85 or so, I do enjoy going to a show every now and then. Awhile back I bought a hoard of early '70s football cards & made sets because they were relatively inexpensive & easy to find (either online or at shows)..Finding myself drawn to sets I knew as a kid (Hostess, Kelloggs, etc)..That's about the only interest I have in cards now. Jay.

[godwulf]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

yeah we got that postcard as well. We plan on going. Maybe we can finally meet

Each table at the dinner will also have an AFL player sitting.

I hope the players and coaches don't get swamped with autograph requests at the cookout, to the extent that it ruins the event for them and becomes embarassing. I would guess that a couple of the better known prospects would be targets for that, if they're there. It would be different if they weren't about to play a six-week schedule, during which anyone going to even one or two games will be able to get all the autographs they could hope for. Me, I've got my season pass, and have plans to get to about 25 games this year, including fifteen days when I'll be on vacation from work and doing nothing but watching Baseball, Mon-Sat.

I saw Rusty Ryal the other day, btw, and he let me hold his 2008 AFL Championship ring; it had a pretty nice stone in it.

[whatupyos]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I remember when I was a kid, I lived for baseball cards. I couldn't wait to do chores around the house or recycle cans to save up to buy a pack of cards. Money would literally burn a whole in my pocket. I collected cards from the time I can remember in 1985 all the way through the beginning of college. I remember my dad sending me a pack or two of cards when I was away at college. I seemed to notice the decline of the baseball card frenzy around the late 90's to early 2000's. Seemed to be a baseball card show a weekend in the early to mid 90's. I miss those days. I can't stand all those game used jersey and bat piece cards. I think card companies started doing that to gain interest in cards since it was starting to decline in interest. I prefer game used now that I'm older, but its sad to see the decline.

Aaron

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I think I can pretty reliably trace the beginnings of my skepticism regarding card collecting, generally, to the time I heard someone trying to explain how a card could actually be devalued by getting the player, whose card it was, to sign it.

Back in the late 80's early 90's I had a Reggie Jackson rookie that basically looked like someone had taken it in their hand and crushed it into a ball. At the time he was my idol (I was young what can I say) and I bought it real cheap because of the condition. I got him to sign it one day while he was visiting the A's during spring training and he lectured me about keeping my cards in good condition to keep their value high and even questioned whether I really wanted him to sign that card cause it might make the card worth less money.

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I just got a postcard today, about an AFL Rising Stars pre-season "family cookout" in Mesa, at HoHoKam Stadium, on October 12th. "Hot dogs and refreshments, Baseball memorabilia silent auction, Special baseball guest speaker", etc. $12 admission for charity. I believe I will try to be there.

yeah we got that postcard as well. We plan on going. Maybe we can finally meet

Each table at the dinner will also have an AFL player sitting.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I think I can pretty reliably trace the beginnings of my skepticism regarding card collecting, generally, to the time I heard someone trying to explain how a card could actually be devalued by getting the player, whose card it was, to sign it.

Two different animals here...the card IS worth more signed, but the potential market for it is diminished, as far more people collect as-issued baseball cards than autographed ones. I agree with your preference, though...I love autographed cards as well.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[joelsabi]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I think I can pretty reliably trace the beginnings of my skepticism regarding card collecting, generally, to the time I heard someone trying to explain how a card could actually be devalued by getting the player, whose card it was, to sign it.

I have a run of autographed concepcion topps card from 1971 - 1988. I think its one of the cooler stuff in my concepcion collection. card purist would say i devalued the cards too. would i rather have a rc or a signed rc? id rather have one that is signed.

[godwulf]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I recently got a jumbo patch card (the jersey takes up 80% of the card) of carl crawford and got him to autograph the jersey part of the card at a recent game it it looks real neat. Right after I got the auto, some guy saw it and said " wow! how much is that worth now" -- I replied, "maybe $5.00"

I think I can pretty reliably trace the beginnings of my skepticism regarding card collecting, generally, to the time I heard someone trying to explain how a card could actually be devalued by getting the player, whose card it was, to sign it.

[NEFAN]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I don't know much about Baseball, but Football seemed to start it's decline in 1993 . I miss the days of one set of topps, bowman etc... per year and that's it. The card companies got greedy and are paying dearly for it now.

[jake33]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

back when i was growing up in the 80's it was clear and simple tog et your favorite players best cards/rookie cards. for me getting the 3 matting rc's donruss,topps and fleer were a delight. I remember in 1993 when the finest refractors came out and mattingly's card ahd a book value around $300!

I couldn't believe that any card would be mroe valuable than his rc or even his 82 tcma card. I was done after that.

However, I am currently and continously collecting 1 autograph of everone who ever played for the tampa bay devil rays/rays. and getting the auto signed on a card takes up the least amount of space. Also, i will get a few jersey or abt cards to get signed which looks neat with an auto. I recently got a jumbo patch card (the jersey takes up 80% of the card) of carl crawford and got him to autograph the jersey part of the card at a recent game it it looks real neat. Right after I got the auto, some guy saw it and said " wow! how much is that worth now" -- I replied, "maybe $5.00"

[godwulf]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I used to be heavily involved in collecting cards. My mother still collect pre war stuff and has almost 2 full T206 sets, myself I really stick to only buying Bowman at this point so I get the draft guys and get them autographed during Arizona Fall League and spring training.

I just got a postcard today, about an AFL Rising Stars pre-season "family cookout" in Mesa, at HoHoKam Stadium, on October 12th. "Hot dogs and refreshments, Baseball memorabilia silent auction, Special baseball guest speaker", etc. $12 admission for charity. I believe I will try to be there.

[joelsabi]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

Members,

I have not collected a baseball card since the early 70's and my sons just never got into them favoring Pokemon cards instead. I just saw a video news story on www.foxnews.com showing the sports card industry has fallen from $1B a year in sales to $200M or an 80% drop. What was also interesting is that the MLB gave exclusivity rights to Topps for all baseball cards. Other companies like Upper Deck must airbrush off the names and logos from the jerseys and batting helmets.

Mark

Always collecting Oakland A's game used jerseys from 1968 to 1980.

its very prudent of the MLB and NBA to create a bidding war for rights from the card companies, similar to tv networks getting rights to the NBA Final or the Superbowl.

Half the fun is the collector's identification to team logo and names. Also in basketball Upperdeck has exclusive rights with kobe and lebron so it will be interesting to see how Panini will handle this.

[David]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

I should add that I sometimes see the marketing of modern game used as not so far different than modern cards (Steiner/Yankees prices only the insane rich could afford, Rafael Palmeiro wearing a different jersey each inning when going for 500, etc).

There's nothing wrong with collecting the stuff-- and I mean that--, but an eye should be kept on valuation.

[joelsabi]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

This past weekend I went to my first show in years. As I walked around, I noticed a few things:

1) Almost every major auction house was present looking for "consignments";
2) Some dealers were asking way too much for their items but offering way too little to buy stuff; and,
3) the ONLY people I saw looking for cards were collector's looking to complete their team sets and those collectors looked to be in the 40+ age group;
4) The majority of dealers all had "modern" insert cards displayed in display cases and none of those dealers seemed to be doing any business at all.

Of course all of the dealers were complaining about how bad business was but even when they are making money, they complain Right?

Here's a show tip: The best way to enjoy the show is to walk around and see what the dealers are offering. After that, just stand back and look for a collector carrying any sort of large bag. Follow that person around until he stops at a dealer's table and the dealer says, "let's see what you have". Walk beside them and pretend you're examining the dealer's table but pay attention to their conversations. If the collector has something you want but a deal isn't made, follow the collector until he/she goes down the next isle, stop them and make them a offer. Works for me.

Jim

you described to the T on how it was when i went to cards shows in the early 90s. i guess nothing has changed.

i too noticed collectors trying to sell stuff to dealers. just be discreet because at most shows i think its prohibited for collectors to try to sell to nondealers.

[David]

Re: A Quick Note on the Decline of Baseball Cards

Except for prospect and rookie card prospecting, the modern card hobby and it's spending $$ is always focused on the current, the now, this year's issue. The problem with this is that in a year this year's cards are last year's cards, and priced accordingly (lower). Anyone who collects modern cards will soon realize this is the way it works.

Compare that to a 1933 Goudey which you bought specifically because it's out old fashioned and out of date.