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

[prohornblower]

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.

[acoustix]

[ 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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

[Benholio]

[ 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?

[RacersEdge]

Anyone know what a signed Greg Maddux baseball is worth?

[acoustix]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone know what a signed Greg Maddux baseball is worth?

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

[TheRover]

[ QUOTE ]
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 ]

[LAGmaniac]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Remember when 87 fleer Will Clarks were the big thing?

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

[/ QUOTE ]
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.

[Sponger.]

[ QUOTE ]
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 ]

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!

[DoomSlice]

Same with Marvel Skybox '92... lame

[27offsuit]

I have a Princess Di Beanie Baby.

I'm asking $350.