why are some baseball cards like roger clemens so expensive?

Question

really, what makes them special? if i had known i wouldnt have thrown mine away they were old and moth eaten.. :/

Why on earth would people fork over 1000 bucks for a baseball card? I am baffled...

Answer 1

The value of a card is determined by a number of factors...

Hall of Famers' cards are normally worth more than cards of players who are not hall of famers... but the real key is getting a card from EARLY in a Hall of Famers' career.

A 1951 Mickey Mantle (rookie) card is extremely valuable, because no one knew at the time just how good that rookie would turn out to be...their expectations of him were very low at the time, because he was replacing Joe DiMaggio.

Everyone knows, for example, that Greg Maddux will be in the Hall of Fame, so anyone who gets a new Greg Maddux card in the year 2006 knows it'll be worth something, some day.

But someone who, maybe by pure luck, has a Greg Maddux card from his first or second year in the league, would probably make out a lot better... Everyone knows to save Maddux's card now, if you get it, but not many people knew this 15 or 18 years ago, when he was just another promising rookie.

The value also depends on the condition of the card, and how well it's been preserved.

But the main thing about baseball cards is, they're basically worth whatever someone is willing to pay for them.

Answer 2

Well, for starters, if a card is blemished, marked, or chewed by critters, the value of the card is downgraded.

Unless the card is rare, like the famous Honus Wagner card from the early 20th century, which is valued inspite of its condition because there are so few in existence.

As for cards in very good condition (or better) -- they are expensive for a number of reasons:

(1) How many were printed (limited editions fall under the law of supply and demand).

(2) Is the player a future Hall of Famer?

(3) Is the player in the "power" category (i.e. Was he a slugger, or power pitcher?) Americans like power athletes.

(4) Did the player have a shiny reputation? Was he a fan favorite?

(5) Did he play for a huge market (i.e. New York, Chicago, etc.)

Answer 3

That card is from a set of 30 cards offered by Post cereal. I got the whole set when I was a kid but today its probably worth around $10 for all thirty cards. The roger clemens card is probably worth $.25 tops. The whole set was pretty cool though, lots of superstars like clemens, nolan ryan, barry bonds, griffey jr. kirbey puckett, don mattingly, etc

Answer 4

Baseball cards are so expensive, because baseball is one of the favorite past times. In the days of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Phil Neikro, people were really into baseball, and it haven't changed. There are many people who trade the popular players and will pay a substantial price. You have to be a MEGA FAN.

Answer 5

Step 1:

Head to the local library.

Step 2:

Buy a photocopier card

Step 3:

Find a text on Economics

Step 4:

Photocopy the Chapter on Supply and Demand.

Step 5:

Read it several times focusing on marginal utility

Step 6:

When you finally understand the answer to this question, create a service or product, let me know what it is so I can invest in it, and we'll make millions.

There's gold in them there hills.

Answer 6

Because the only people who want to buy his card are rich people who think they can buy the best players and stuff.
Go CARDS!!!

Answer 7

Because he played on big market teams that won games....
If he had played on small market teams he would not have won as many games. and would not have recieved any consideration for the awards he has won......

Answer 8

the player that is on the card is so good that its worth more than other cards

Answer 9

they are probably rare and the player must be really well-known.

Answer 10

he's a future HOF'er