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The Most Valuable Sports Cards
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Published: August 30, 2006
Most Valuable Sports Cards
For one brief moment I would like to dispute the saying mostly applied to "new money": "they know the price of everything but the value of nothing." In a broader application and analysis, value of material possessions is one of the main factors in driving the price of these objects. If there is no interest in certain objects, then there is no demand for them; if there is no demand for them, then there is no ground for pricing them so highly, and these objects remain relatively low-priced. Therefore, the relationship between value and price is not mutually exclusive but contingent - in fact, directly proportional. More conclusively, we pay more for objects we value more.
Let's apply this theory to sports cards' value. Quite simlpy, the price of the card depends upon the player on it. If the player is in high demand (the highest demand), then it is the most valuable sports card. Of course, other important factors like rarity, condition, and historical relevance, help decide the value of sports cards but, ultimately, it's the face that makes the case.
Notwithstanding player demand, the most valuable baseball cards tend to be determined by the novelty of the player. When baseball players who have left the game are so iconic and influential to subsequent generations of players, their cards tend to be higher in demand and, respectively, value. Players who are currently active accrue the most value in sports cards through sheer popularity- and this is usually due to performance. Whether or not they are pioneering players has yet to be determined.
On the other hand, football is slightly different. The most valuable football cards are broken down by positions, and the players whose statistics rank the best for their position usually have the most valuable sports cards. Yet, if the card features a quarterback they are the overall most valuable sports cards in football. Surprisingly enough, the most valuable cards featuring veteran players don't feature quarterbacks at the moment. To date, the most valuable sports card in football is the 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski #24. It sold privately for $240,000.
As for hockey and basketball, the stated rule for pricing still applies. But collectors should consider time as a large factor for these sports. Hockey and basketball have had their numerous lean and voluminous production periods; still some cards are priced in the thousands. To get the most value out of these cards, more time has to pass and more careers have to flourish.
The 1936 World Wide Howie Morenz #18 is worth $50,000; Howie Morenz was considered the "Babe Ruth of Hockey" before he died of a sports related injury in 1947. In basketball, the 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 is currently worth $9000; George Mikan is often credited as a pioneer for the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Careers like these are legendary.
Phenomenally, a prime example of time and personage lies in the Honus Wagner card. Considered "The Holy Grail" of all sports cards- not just baseball- the Honus Wagner card was priced near half a million dollars, eleven years ago. Today, it is worth a whopping million dollars more.
Major reasons attributing to the astonishing value of this particular sports card is the passage of time from its 1910 print date, limited output (about ten estimated to exist), and Wagner's status as the greatest shortstop to ever play. As a compliment (and a complement) to the Honus Wagner card, the aforementioned Nagurski and Mikan cards, respectively the most valuable sports cards in football and basketball, are called "the Honus Wagners" of their sports.
Perhaps not every card will be worth as much as the Honus wagner, but they nonetheless individually retain their own value and charm.
For one brief moment I would like to dispute the saying mostly applied to "new money": "they know the price of everything but the value of nothing." In a broader application and analysis, value of material possessions is one of the main factors in driving the price of these objects. If there is no interest in certain objects, then there is no demand for them; if there is no demand for them, then there is no ground for pricing them so highly, and these objects remain relatively low-priced. Therefore, the relationship between value and price is not mutually exclusive but contingent - in fact, directly proportional. More conclusively, we pay more for objects we value more.
Let's apply this theory to sports cards' value. Quite simlpy, the price of the card depends upon the player on it. If the player is in high demand (the highest demand), then it is the most valuable sports card. Of course, other important factors like rarity, condition, and historical relevance, help decide the value of sports cards but, ultimately, it's the face that makes the case.
Notwithstanding player demand, the most valuable baseball cards tend to be determined by the novelty of the player. When baseball players who have left the game are so iconic and influential to subsequent generations of players, their cards tend to be higher in demand and, respectively, value. Players who are currently active accrue the most value in sports cards through sheer popularity- and this is usually due to performance. Whether or not they are pioneering players has yet to be determined.
On the other hand, football is slightly different. The most valuable football cards are broken down by positions, and the players whose statistics rank the best for their position usually have the most valuable sports cards. Yet, if the card features a quarterback they are the overall most valuable sports cards in football. Surprisingly enough, the most valuable cards featuring veteran players don't feature quarterbacks at the moment. To date, the most valuable sports card in football is the 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski #24. It sold privately for $240,000.
As for hockey and basketball, the stated rule for pricing still applies. But collectors should consider time as a large factor for these sports. Hockey and basketball have had their numerous lean and voluminous production periods; still some cards are priced in the thousands. To get the most value out of these cards, more time has to pass and more careers have to flourish.
The 1936 World Wide Howie Morenz #18 is worth $50,000; Howie Morenz was considered the "Babe Ruth of Hockey" before he died of a sports related injury in 1947. In basketball, the 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 is currently worth $9000; George Mikan is often credited as a pioneer for the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Careers like these are legendary.
Phenomenally, a prime example of time and personage lies in the Honus Wagner card. Considered "The Holy Grail" of all sports cards- not just baseball- the Honus Wagner card was priced near half a million dollars, eleven years ago. Today, it is worth a whopping million dollars more.
Major reasons attributing to the astonishing value of this particular sports card is the passage of time from its 1910 print date, limited output (about ten estimated to exist), and Wagner's status as the greatest shortstop to ever play. As a compliment (and a complement) to the Honus Wagner card, the aforementioned Nagurski and Mikan cards, respectively the most valuable sports cards in football and basketball, are called "the Honus Wagners" of their sports.
Perhaps not every card will be worth as much as the Honus wagner, but they nonetheless individually retain their own value and charm.
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