Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

I collected basbeballs cards in the 80s for fun and b/c they were really going up in value. In 88 or so, an 85 Mattingly was $85 (It's now $2.50). The 88 Donruss set is only $10 (I used to buy packs for about a $1!) Basically there's no 80s card now worth over $60. Kind of disappointing.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

I learned this thing once about supply and demand, so no, I'm not shocked.

Swede

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

You and 100 million other people.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

This only in 80s cards, or also in other years? I didn't think most sports cards were worth much besides the obvious.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

I used to collect 80's baseball cards, I sold most of them for 50's and 60's classics.

Even those are going down in price now.

GRRRR....

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

Yeah those were some crazy times. I remember Jose Canseco rookies shooting up to like $120 or something when he hit 40/40. I guarantee you the majority of those collectors never thought the bottom would drop out of the market like that. A few probably saw it coming, but no one could say when, how far down, or how it would all shake out.

Kind of like the poker boom. Enjoy it while it lasts, but don't ever assume it can't come to an end.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

Aren't highly graded cards much more expensive these days?

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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Aren't highly graded cards much more expensive these days?

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not really, if a card is worth $500 mint (9), then if your card gets rated anything lower than that the price is deducted accordingly.

with that said, since my talks with nolanfan i have had about 25 cards graded and have sold them all except my 86-87 jordan fleer RC (bc i haven't felt like it yet) on Ebay and they sell really well there, often times selling for more than what they were worth, thanks nolanfan!

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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I collected basbeballs cards in the 80s for fun and b/c they were really going up in value. In 88 or so, an 85 Mattingly was $85 (It's now $2.50). The 88 Donruss set is only $10 (I used to buy packs for about a $1!) Basically there's no 80s card now worth over $60. Kind of disappointing.

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mcgwire olympic card?

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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all except my 86-87 jordan fleer RC

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i got one of those and most of the other stars from that set, a lot of the stickers too, including jordan [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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[ QUOTE ]
I collected basbeballs cards in the 80s for fun and b/c they were really going up in value. In 88 or so, an 85 Mattingly was $85 (It's now $2.50). The 88 Donruss set is only $10 (I used to buy packs for about a $1!) Basically there's no 80s card now worth over $60. Kind of disappointing.

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mcgwire olympic card?

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Or like every card in '84 Fleer Update.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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[ QUOTE ]
I collected basbeballs cards in the 80s for fun and b/c they were really going up in value. In 88 or so, an 85 Mattingly was $85 (It's now $2.50). The 88 Donruss set is only $10 (I used to buy packs for about a $1!) Basically there's no 80s card now worth over $60. Kind of disappointing.

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mcgwire olympic card?

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i dont think the $60 stat is true, although the McGwire card isn't worth that much, what is worth money is Update/Traded rookie cards of the top stars--Clemens, Bonds, Ripken

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

The card magazine I was skimming a few days ago had the 87 fleer bonds at $40, the 89 Upper Deck Griffey at 60 and an 85 or 84 Ripken around $4 for some reason. Remember when 87 fleer Will Clarks were the big thing? I think those are under $5.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

All,

That sucks. I have boxes and boxes of cards from the 80's sitting somewhere at my parents house, a lot of them all pristine and protected in those stupid plastic things.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

I never understood why something that got massproduced through a machine, a cardboard with a picture could worth $10k.

I can understand why autographed or game-worn jeresy cards have value, but not rookie cards. Its a piece of paper that cost $0.01 to produce.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

[ QUOTE ]
I never understood why something that got massproduced through a machine, a cardboard with a picture could worth $10k.

I can understand why autographed or game-worn jeresy cards have value, but not rookie cards. Its a piece of paper that cost $0.01 to produce.

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I used to not eat lunch to take that money and go buy cards. What a shame. I used to even steal them. Now they aren't worth anything.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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[ QUOTE ]
I never understood why something that got massproduced through a machine, a cardboard with a picture could worth $10k.

I can understand why autographed or game-worn jeresy cards have value, but not rookie cards. Its a piece of paper that cost $0.01 to produce.

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I used to not eat lunch to take that money and go buy cards. What a shame. I used to even steal them. Now they aren't worth anything.

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I used to collect basketball cards as well, but I was only 12 or 13. Newsgroups + Becket [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I admit it was fun pulling out a nice limited edition card

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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I used to collect basketball cards as well, but I was only 12 or 13. Newsgroups + Becket [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I admit it was fun pulling out a nice limited edition card

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I honestly believed that in 30 to 40 years they would sky rocket. So much for the steroid era.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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Remember when 87 fleer Will Clarks were the big thing?

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No, but I remember loving Will Clark, Robbie Thomas, and Bonds as a kid [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] I think every year I switched who my favorite player was on my little league baseball card.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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All,

That sucks. I have boxes and boxes of cards from the 80's sitting somewhere at my parents house, a lot of them all pristine and protected in those stupid plastic things.

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Ditto.

I have all kinds of cards -- looney tunes, desert storm, X-men, spiderman. Most of them put out by the jillion.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

I thought I was going to retire on my Frank Thomas #1 draft pic 1990 topps card.

I actually looked in a Beckett's about a year ago and I think it was worth $1.

Hey, it might be worth $2 now that that Sox just won a championship. Not bad. Tough to find an investment that doubles in one year, baby!

(I think the decline is directly related to the fact that baseball cards SUCK these days). There is no market right now. Maybe someday there will be again, but I doubt it. Not with the internet.

Back in the day, the only way IIRC to memorize stats was to peruse the backside of your Mike Schmidt topps card. Also, it was the only way to find out that "Mike also enjoys playing golf, and hunting." Now, with the internet, you can easily memorize stats, see pics, and learn much more about Mike Schmidt than you'd probably care to know.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I collected basbeballs cards in the 80s for fun and b/c they were really going up in value. In 88 or so, an 85 Mattingly was $85 (It's now $2.50). The 88 Donruss set is only $10 (I used to buy packs for about a $1!) Basically there's no 80s card now worth over $60. Kind of disappointing.

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It depends on the brand as well. I have a Mattingly Rookie card (1984) which is the topps brand, and it is worth more than the Donruss one (only $27 but still worth more than the donruus which I believe is like closer to $10). Certain brands are the "money card" for a particular player in a particular year. I have no idea why, maybe something to do with first to print a rookie card for a particular player. I also have the 1984 Mattingly in the Topps Canadian sister company O-Pee-Chee, but I don't know what thats worth. Maybe more than the Topps one.

Edit to say that card values usually only skyrocket once the player is dead. If Donnie Baseball finally gets into the Hall of Fame and then dies, the value of that card will shoot up significantly.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

[ QUOTE ]
I never understood why something that got massproduced through a machine, a cardboard with a picture could worth $10k.

I can understand why autographed or game-worn jeresy cards have value, but not rookie cards. Its a piece of paper that cost $0.01 to produce.

[/ QUOTE ]

How much does a $100 bill take to produce?

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

Anyone know what a signed Greg Maddux baseball is worth?

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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Anyone know what a signed Greg Maddux baseball is worth?

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Depends on the year it was signed, condition of the ball, whether or not it is a game ball (if so which game), and a legitimate authentication of the signature. Take it to a card show, and have it appraised. Those shows usually have someone there who does that sort of thing for a rough estimate. Other than that, you can contact a professional service through your homeowners insurance company, and have a real price thrown at you.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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All,

That sucks. I have boxes and boxes of cards from the 80's sitting somewhere at my parents house, a lot of them all pristine and protected in those stupid plastic things.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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Remember when 87 fleer Will Clarks were the big thing?

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No, but I remember loving Will Clark, Robbie Thomas, and Bonds as a kid [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] I think every year I switched who my favorite player was on my little league baseball card.

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Robby Thompson! My top three were Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell and Robby. I have all their rookie cards too. Sucks that they aren't worth [censored]. I had a Ryne Sandberg rookie that worth $50 back then. I figured it would be worth at least $100 by now but its like 15 bucks.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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That sucks. I have boxes and boxes of cards from the 80's sitting somewhere at my parents house, a lot of them all pristine and protected in those stupid plastic things.

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Yeah, I think everyone has a box of some collectibles sitting at their parents house no matter how old they are.

Also if anyone wants to get a hold of 7 Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 comic books just send me a PM. One of them is even signed!

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

Same with Marvel Skybox '92... lame

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

I have a Princess Di Beanie Baby.

I'm asking $350.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

So sad. I think it was 1985, I bought two full sets of Topps cards. Back then I think there was a hierarchy: there was Topps, who was the original and seemed to be the most pleasing to the eye; then there was Fleer and Donruss, in no particular order, sort of the CBA and Triple A of baseball cards. Or so I thought.

I loved the old Topps cards circa 1982-1984. Some of the old-timers like Pete Rose, they had so many years of stats that the seasons were printed in TINY font, but it made you respect the player that much more, even if you couldn't make out the numbers.

Anyone remember the Topps IN ACTION set from like 1982? Good stuff.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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All,

That sucks. I have boxes and boxes of cards from the 80's sitting somewhere at my parents house, a lot of them all pristine and protected in those stupid plastic things.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd better go check.

If your mother is like everyone else's mother, she probably threw them out.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

yeah.

i used to make my mom drag me to our local flea market like two saturdays a month just to look for cards, and i spent like every penny i made as a kid on these things. now not only have they not "matured," in a lot of cases they are worth less now than they were when i bought them. bleh!

(although i do still have a soft spot for some of my cards, namely my collection that may be the sweetest ryne sandberg baseball card collection in existence.)

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I never understood why something that got massproduced through a machine, a cardboard with a picture could worth $10k.

I can understand why autographed or game-worn jeresy cards have value, but not rookie cards. Its a piece of paper that cost $0.01 to produce.

[/ QUOTE ]

How much does a $100 bill take to produce?

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$100?

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

el d,

be careful in the type of protection the cards are in, you might think it is great when it might not be. i took my jordan RC in to a card shop and it was in a "brick" and hadn't been taken out in forever. this "brick" is about 3" thick and is great protection but the guy freaked out on my saying how he had lost three jordan RC's in the last year b/c of that brick thing. what happens is heat gets trapped inside the casing and actually melts the card, so when you take the card out of the case it peels and is ruined. thankfully my card was fine.

when you get your cards graded though they give you a protector that will take care of the card forever. its so weird how nitty (is that a word?) trading cards are now. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

I have over 300 boxes unopened, all from 87-92, mostly baseball. Have 20 boxes of 87 fleer which had a ton of good rookies. Got 40 Hoops 91 or something, they are worth like 5 a piece, ha. I have a ton of cards that I want to get graded including the whole bball 86 fleer but havent done it. Have a bunch of Upper Deck boxes with Jr's rookie too, but I know those have gone down a ton. Ah well. If my poker run keeps going, I'm going to have to sell all them to build back my bankroll.

Fav Set: 81 topps bball I believe. Bird/Magic/Erving on one card. Dad bought a few sets of those for me and my brother for next to nothing.

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

Yeah, most of the late 80s stuff has very little value. The mid to early 80s stuff is going to gain value if you have grade-worthy cards though. And for an old guy like El Diablo, the mid to late 70s stuff is valuable for sure.

Of course it's all gaining value if you have it like this:

[insert standard nolan unopened packs brag pic]

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthless?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I collected basbeballs cards in the 80s for fun and b/c they were really going up in value. In 88 or so, an 85 Mattingly was $85 (It's now $2.50). The 88 Donruss set is only $10 (I used to buy packs for about a $1!) Basically there's no 80s card now worth over $60. Kind of disappointing.

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I worked in a card/comic store before and during grad school, from around '92 to '98. This was after the Pro Set football boom, but I got to see firsthand the Wild Card fiasco, the Death of Superman, the Valiant Comics boom, the Bowman craze, the onset of Magic, all kinds of wacky stuff.

When you have predominantly kids (and I mean KIDS, not the people that are driving the poker economy right now) that market is not built to last. Couple that with the insane numbers of cards/comics that the companies produced during that era, and it is no surprise whatsoever that they're all virtually worthless right now.

If the pendulum swings, and there's another boom, the same thing will happen ten years later (or sooner). I'd bet three Ken Griffey, Jr. 89 UD RCs and 10 copies of Spawn #1 on it. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

I remember when Gregg Jeffries was supposed to be the next superstar and everyone was snapping up his cards. I also have George Brett's Topps card from every year in a display. Too bad the whole thing is probably worth only $5 now

Re: Is anyone else shocked that 80s baseball cards are almost worthles
 

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I remember when Gregg Jeffries was supposed to be the next superstar and everyone was snapping up his cards.

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My friends and I were just talking about that not too long ago. Gary Thurman was another one.