.jpg)
From my experience, prospectors are the only people I have seen make money in this industry. It requires a lot of work and a ton of patience to REALLY make it worthwhile, but when you hit it big, it can be nuts. In order to accomplish the big buys, you have to monitor the MILB stat lines, scour the BA prospect reports, and make sound decisions on what cards to invest in. Its not easy in the slightest. I know that the term "invest" makes no sense in cards, because no one ever makes any money, but this is a little different. These people buy cards for the sole purpose of holding on to them until the MLB debut, and they always have money in mind. I don’t necessarily find that much wrong with the concept, only because its like stock investing in a long term scope.
Lately, things have gotten a little extreme with a few "prospects" that havent even reached pro level ball. They have not been drafted, and one is still a sophomore in high school, 2-4 years away from actual MLB service. Steven Strasburg, a pitcher, has been widely considered as the person who will be the top pick in the draft in the first year he is eligible. He recently played on Team USA and showed amazing potential as a future ace for any number of MLB teams. Bryce Harper is in a similar situation as a catcher for a Las Vegas high school. He also played on Team USA, and again, showed major potential just like Strasburg. His videos have become a sensation on YouTube, especially the HR derby one where he hit a few MLB sized bombs.
As a result of this hype and the buzz from the prospecting community, the auto cards that have been inserted into Sweet Spot and the Team USA box sets have been fetching hundreds of dollars on eBay. It seems as though people think that these guys will be the next superstars to really make a hobby impact a la Pujols, Wright, and Longoria. Although I agree that these are some incredibly talented players, I wont be investing THIS early. I think its pretty crazy that Harper's cards have eclipsed both Pujols and Jeter, two of the hobby's biggest names, and he has yet to even be drafted.
A lot of collectors think prospectors are idiots, and I am NOT one of those collectors. They cant understand why someone would pay for cards of players who havent even played a single pro game in the top levels of the league. Personally, I think that mentality is quite closed minded. See, I have seen quite a few people get rich off of a collection that cost them only a few hundred dollars, and they have used that money to build some of the most incredible collections of players you do know. Of course, there are flip sides to everything, but the smart ones don’t usually fail. However, I think paying $250 for either of these players takes that paradigm of collecting to an absolutely crazy level.
Friday, March 20, 2009
When Prospecting Attacks...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I failed at prospecting in the late '80's.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone need any Phil Hiatt cards?
Keeping the Gregg Jefferies. There's still a chance. Did you know he would swing a bat in a swimming pool? Dude, there's always a chance for a guy like that.
Prospecting is definitely a tricky game. I do it for fun, and have been able to turn over quite a bit of stuff. I would like to say I make money doing it, but really I don't because I take those profits and buy braves cards.
ReplyDeleteI agree, There's defintely money to be made and lost in prospecting. You also need some luck as well.
ReplyDeleteBack in 2003, I bought 12 "03 BOWMAN'S BEST AUTO Chien-Ming Wang RC" for around $25 each.
I thought these cards were a bargain and could be used for future trades. Also I wouldn't be losing so much money if Wang never made it to the bigs.
Kept one for myself and sold the rest for over $150 each in 2007. However, I found it is harder to make money from cards that are already expensive. For example, I had wanted to buy the "03 LEAF LIMITED" Wang AUTO RC /99 but it was selling for around $100 then, there was no way I could buy many. So I ended up just buying the rarest GOLD SPOTLIGHT version /25.
The gold version I bought for $180 and I've seen it fetch over $1000 on ebay.
Prospecting is much like gambling in a way. I'd rather go to the casino and play roulette or black jack.
I sold a Donruss Elite Matt Wieters (sp?) Auto rookie for a little over $250 on Ebay last year. There's a lot of buzz around this guy and he has yet to play an inning of MLB. If I ever get a card like Wieters's who I have no personal affinity for, I sell it right away, because there is a good chance the guy will be a flop down the road.
ReplyDeleteVoluntarheel - I will trade you an Upper Deck Jerome Walton rookie for your Gregg Jefferies.
I have aot of these from the 08 Bowman set refractors Xractors ETC.. For example a mike stanton auto. Is it best to sell these off when there hot or hold onto them? Grant
ReplyDeleteI think it's best to sell the cards when they are still prospects and have a lot of buzz. I'm amazed at what some these cards go, for guys who have never even played in the majors and proved themselves. Sell when the hype is the highest. Some guys will pan out and you will lose some of what you could mhave made, but if you hold on to all of them you will be kicking yourself on a lot of those prospects.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this group break controversy? This dude would appear to be screwing group breakers on a number of breaks. Check the user's other videos.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRAB4Py_0aI
Probably 99 percent of all prospects will end up in the commons bin, which are pretty tough odds to beat over the long run. So if you're going to try to prospect, sell while they're hot, before today's Evan Longoria or David Price turns into tomorrow's Gregg Jefferies or Ben McDonald.
ReplyDeleteNothing creepier than those prospectors stalking high school kids for autographs...
ReplyDeleteI believe in keeping cards and collecting a hobby. Do it for fun and don't get caught up in trying to make money. If you want to make money, get a job (or 2) and invest in the long term. If you want to have fun for a few bucks, buy some cards and get some autographs. But I believe in keeping the two separate.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't asking the ? to see if I could make $ I was asking what the current trend is. Iv'e been collecting since 82' I have no plans on investing in any baseball cards I do it for the hobby and fun. ( get a job or two? ) you assume I have no job? and live off of cards( I woul'nt be able to afford a computer!) interesting. Grant
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a prospector stalking kids for autographs. A prospector isn't going to ruin the value of a card by getting it autographed.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them talk about it on the old Beckett Message Board. They get good photographs and have them sign it during practices and games.
ReplyDelete