How much is too much to spend on a baseball card?

More than the value of your car?

More than you earn in a year?

More than half of all of your investments?

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We are talking one card here. Not all of your cards. What is too much?





For me: one month's take home pay would be way, way too much.

I haven't paid over $500 for any card in my collection. Although that will most likely change real soon.

Jay

Well when I first started (keep in mind a year ago), I thought $100 was too much.

Then $250

Then $500

Then $1000

Then $2300......so I guess to answer the question, if the money's there and I like the card, there really isn't a limit.

I don't have unlimited funds like some collectors, so it takes me a loooooooooooooooooooong time to save for particular cards. That's why I'm only doing a small type collection of no more then 25 cards.

But if I have the funds and it doesn't hurt anything, there is no limit for me.

I have to agree with Eric on this one. When I started back into Vintage Collecting in the Winter of 2003, $100 was a LOT to me to spend on a card. I was collecting T206's with different backs issued in the 150 Series Only and Fact. 649 SC 150 Overprints, b/c I couldn't afford anything else (and these were much cheaper than today's prices). I wanted to collect rare backs and type cards like I did when I quit collecting in 2001. However, the prices were MUCH HIGHER, and being stubborn, I didn't want to pay multiples of what I had sold cards for a few years earlier (which I now regret). Also, I had recently become disabled then, so my income had changed - forcing me to have to buy/sell/trade to get beyond the $100 mark.

Finally, I had made some wise decisions in buying, and the cards started to increase dramatically by the time my collecting habits had changed. I made some good money from the caramels and other cards I bought after I sold my 150 Series T206's and Fact. 649 OP collection.

I just kept wheeling and dealing from there and finally came to the point to where I bought 8 E90-1 Jacksons and had the money to buy almost any card I wanted. The most I ever spent on a Jackson Rookie was $12k. After I sold my Jacksons, I finally obtained a card I had wanted for well over a dozen years - a T206 Uzit Cobb Bat Off Shoulder. I paid $17k for this card, so now that is my new "max" I have ever spent on a card. This will probably be my all-time high for a long time, unless I sell a ton of cards and buy a Ty Cobb back later on (which I don't see happening any time soon).

Scott, that's really intresting to hear how you came to have what you have. I hope to have some luck with a few of the cards I picked up (obviously in the future), otherwise I'll be saving for years just to pick up a card here or there.

Let me just add that discipline when collecting is very tough. I've tried so many times in the past to save for a particular card and I loose my focus and blow it one something else I want. So this year, my non-health new years resolution was to try to really stay disciplined when collecting. I'm going to find a card to go after, and I'm going to try my hardest not to stray from that. Ebay is evil though.

The thing is, now with the Recession looming and vintage cards dramatically rising in prices the last few years it will be tough to flip a card and make money like you used to.

For myself, i did the same as Scott (not the big gains he had) buying and selling the last 2 years to acquire the $ and/or cards i have now. I have mostly cash now having seen what is happening with the economy since August 2007 i started selling my cards in hopes of waiting for prices to fall just like house values and grab them when the bottom hits. I still believe scarce and rare cards will always hold their value but the commons will see a 50-60% fall before they hit their lows. Just my opinion. That is when you come in and BUY. When the 100 year anniv. comes and the media hypes it up, collectors will start buying again and thats when you SELL.


Mark

The biggest key to staying disciplined is to avoid eBay and even looking at the major auctions while you are trying to save up for the key card. It's the only way I can get thru to save up enough for a card I need.

Right now I have money to spend on a few select cards. Once I get those, I will once again quit looking at eBay auctions until I get more money saved up.

Jay

I don't stay as focused as I like, but try to. I do mostly buy tough backs or nice backgrounds these days. I do need to buy more cards to try and turn a profit on however (whether it be short term or long term).

Eric, I do hope my story does encourage others. I truly believe that if you buy/sell/trade wisely that you can eventually have any card you want. I started back into Vintage Collecting at a period in my life where I was as broke as I ever was. And, I would like to think I have amassed a really nice collection from that point in the Winter of 2003 until now.

Anyway, I guess if I wanted a card bad enough I would go as high as $50k for it (ie: a Ty Cobb back in GD). I don't think I would go over this amount unless it was a card I felt I could make money on.

The market isn't too soft anymore. I shut out on two cards I wanted today, 1940 Play Balls of ted Williams and Joe Jackson. The Williams went for $299 while the Jax went for $744. Both were raw and I was the first underbidder on both. I just couldn't bring myself to pay more than $300 for the Williams with that nig crease and with seller not being a specialist in vintage cards, I was real sure how legits the cards were, otherwise I would have paid more for the Jax.

I really don't want a 40PB Jax for my collection but the w514 has become more expensive than the 40PB I don't really want a one of the game cards either, but that is what I may have to settle for.

The Williams would have been change of cards as I have an exhibit and really need to get a PB to replace it so that his card matches up with my goal.

Jay

I know the 40 PB Jackson isn't from his playing days. However, it is a classic card - I love that pose of Jackson with the big "chaw" of tobacco in his mouth!

I don't know what happened to my other response but we will try again.

I am in the same boat as Eric and Scott, started out with a $100 limit and slowly worked my way to $500. I have bought a few cards over $500 but not many. So that is where my cap is at $500 and that is just a few times a year.

Lee

Thanks fellas for all your input. Staying away from Ebay and the auctions is probably the best advice.....although the toughest advice, for discipline.

Eric - by staying away from auctions, you will free so much searching time, that you could take up a hobby! But that would be some endeavor that does not require buying a bunch of stuff. I don't know what that could be .... gardening ....... decorative stuff (whittling, carpentry, welding, etc.) ..... design and build a fireproof safe for your cards (I bet you could make one out of wood) .... ?

My first significant card that I really pacnicked price-wise was $7600 for the e90-1 jackson a few years back. That's alot of money to me. Then this past year I had to write a big check for me to Mastro for a Plank/Delahanty, and that hurt alot too. I feel anything that makes you pause or hurt a little inside is going above your comfort zone and too much.

...like do I want a fully-loaded toyota camry or a piece of cardboard?

cccc wrote:...like do I want a fully-loaded toyota camry or a piece of cardboard?

I'd say go for a fully loaded Scion xB and get cheaper piece of cardboard

Jay