THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408060422
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN L. BIGELOW, SPECIAL TO THE VP/LS
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Iron man Cal Ripken, Jr. is one of the baseball-card hobby's favorite superstars.
Collectors began to notice Ripken early in the 1980's. His rookie cards debuted at 50(CT) to $1 each - insignificant amounts for cards of today's hot prospects, but a serious commitment of funds to that generation of hobbyists. By 1985-86, Cal's talent and dependability had the pushed the prices up to $10-12, and they stabilized at those levels.
Ripken's cards began to attract more attention during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. By this time, it had become apparent that his streak was a promising endeavor. Collectors responded accordingly, creating demand for the cards that drove prices to $50-85.
At about this time, also, the market caught on to the fact that Ripken's 1982 Topps ``traded'' cards (the first Topps ``rookie'' that shows Cal, by himself, on the card) is in much shorter supply than the `regular' rookie, 1982 Topps (NU)21. Near-hysteria ensued in the hobby as collectors scrambled to obtain this card - its price surged from $6 to $250 in the two-year period.
Today, the rookie-prices have moderated, in proportion to an overall lull affecting card-values. There can be little doubt, however, that another round of price-jumps will occur as Ripken gets closer to breaking ``the record.''
Current card prices:
Rookies:
1982 Topps (regular set) (NU)21: $50-60
1982 Topps ``traded'' (late-season issue): $200-225
1982 Fleer (NU)176: $45
1982 Donruss (NU)405: $40
1994 cards: 10-12 times the price of a series ``common'' card. MEMO: Brian L. Bigelow is store manager and appraiser for Candl Coins & Stamps
on Independence Blvd. and North (Lynnhaven) Mall Drive in Virginia
Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
By the end of the 1980s, when it became apparent that Cal Ripken's
streak was one of the great feats of baseball history, his cards
became hot items. Prices are very likely to jump again.
by CNB