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Juan Gris
Well-known member
Let me preface this topic by saying that while I do not personally collect game used cards, I can appreciate their place in the hobby and their appeal to collectors. I prefer to own the entire game used item (mostly bats) and think the small portion of material included in a card should not result in card prices so much higher than what it costs the manufacturer to place a small fraction of the bat/jersey in each card. Supply and demand are what push the card market (I get it, believe me!) but sometimes I can't help shaking my head.
Case in point:
I bought this game used bat earlier this year for $143.51. It is signed, shows moderate game use and has a light coat of pine tar on the handle.
This is the knob of my bat:
Last night, this 2005 Topps Pristine bat knob card sold for $191.50. I think it's a beautiful card but HOW IN THE HELL DOES IT COST $48 MORE THAN AN ENTIRE GAME USED BAT?!
I can understand paying good money for a card with a game used piece from an item that would've cost a ton of money before being cut up (Ruth, Cobb, Mantle, etc.). Most of us can't spend $300K on a game used jersey but we can afford to own a small piece of that item at a small fraction of that price. Where do we draw the line? Is there a line?
Case in point:
I bought this game used bat earlier this year for $143.51. It is signed, shows moderate game use and has a light coat of pine tar on the handle.
This is the knob of my bat:
Last night, this 2005 Topps Pristine bat knob card sold for $191.50. I think it's a beautiful card but HOW IN THE HELL DOES IT COST $48 MORE THAN AN ENTIRE GAME USED BAT?!
I can understand paying good money for a card with a game used piece from an item that would've cost a ton of money before being cut up (Ruth, Cobb, Mantle, etc.). Most of us can't spend $300K on a game used jersey but we can afford to own a small piece of that item at a small fraction of that price. Where do we draw the line? Is there a line?