When it comes to rookie autographs, Chrome is king. I cant even count the number of times that I have said that phrase, and when you look at the way the products performed in 2010, its easy to see why that’s the case. At the height of Strasburg mania, the boxes of 2010 Bowman were selling at almost triple their original MSRP. One reason was that Strasburg was lights out during his first few starts, but the other reason was the potential number one pick at the time, Bryce Harper.
Harper was the consensus guy to be the Nationals’ new catcher, and it was more about his huge power and amazing potential than anything. Collectors latched on similarly, and his cards quickly became a number two with a bullet, to Strasburg’s number one. Ever since his solidification as the number one prospect in the collecting world, combined with Strasburg’s injury, Harper’s cards have been going nuts. After Topps announced that signed versions of his first ever chrome card would be included in the wrapper redemptions for 2010 Bowman Chrome, many were salivating over the possibility of getting exactly what wasn’t available the first time around – a legit signed version of Harper’s debut.
A few have popped up on eBay and sold very well, but this particular one should raise some eyebrows with everyone
. For this price, you could easily pay off your mortgage or rent for the month, and yet, we still see that many people see more investment quality in this unproven and definitely risky commodity.
Harper also was featured in 2010 Bowman Chrome as a signed AFLAC All American card, and even those cards are breaking expectations of potential value. Based on this, I think the question still remains as to why people are buying into these cards at at such a HIGH price
? As I have said, again, numerous times, the point of investing in cards is to buy low and sell high. Right now, that doesn’t seem at all possible with any of these cards.
Regardless, it is nice to see things starting up again with Harper-mania – 2011 edition, and I guess we will see just how much things carry over from 2010.
Some collectors have some seriously short memories. We literally just learned this lesson with Strasburg. I just don’t get it.
If he turns out to be as good or better than Pujols, then I think if you spent $500 on his RC auto you can turn a profit. The problem is that it is unlikely based on the odds he will be this good and several of his auto’s are selling for way more than $500. I could never spend that much, but then again if someone tried to sell me a Pujols Chrome Auto for $500 right now, I couldn’t give them the money fast enough. There are only 100 of the Chrome BuyBack auto’s and 230 of the Aflac auto’s. If he is as good as advertised these prices will be cheap 5 or 10 years down the road. This is a big if, but people can do what they want with their money. You win some and you lose some, some more than others!
Every year there is at least one hype player this year it is going to be Harper
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Paying $2500 for an auto of a kid who has never stepped up to bat yet seems like a lot of cash to drop right now. While he probably wont end up blowing out his arm liks Stras did he still needs to prove himself before sane people spend that kind of cash even on a limited auto card.
On a seperate note, Harper sure looks excited to be playing in Washington. You know he is counting the days until 2016 when the Yankees sign him as a free agent.
Part of me is really hoping that this kid turns baseball on it’s ear with a 2012 call up that turns into a 40 hr, 120 rbi, .350 avg season. That part being the one who was lucky enough to pull some of his auto’d stuff during wax busting fits so that I can sell them and pay for my daughters education.
The other part of me whats to slap the shit out of him for being such a disrespectful punk. I mean, seriously, I know Washington isnt going to be good for a while (or at all), but that team just handed a KID millions of dollars to play a GAME. At least he could put on his best fake smile and enthusiasm for the hour he had to sit there & answer questions.
@ corky, I dont know if even the Yankees will have the kind of dough this kid is going to want based on what his agents wanted Washington to pay for a teenager.
Some people have a high threshold to satisfy their instant gratification. (And apparently, a high bank balance.)
For those dropping that kind of money, it’s either:
1) Not really a natural seller-to-collector transaction, but an arrangement for fun or profit from a business. It’s one way to get publicity–kind of like buying a grilled cheese sandwich with the Virgin Mary on it.
2) Although unlikely, it could be a well-heeled natural collector that just wants the opulence and minor-league temporary fame that being a buyer of record might give him. It may have much less to do with actual investment upside that it does with collecting pygmy giraffes, simply because one can.