THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503050204
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN L. BIGELOW, SPECIAL TO THE VP/LS
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The baseball card market is becoming weary of the game's labor shenanigans. Collectors aren't sure whether or not they can expect big years from Frank Thomas or Ken Griffey Jr. because it's not yet known when they'll start playing. Card manufacturers are printing collectibles under the apparent assumption that everything will be fine but, so far, the new cards have inspired far less than the usual passion. Collectors seem to be waiting for some assurance that what they buy will have relevance to what actually happens on the field.
To this point, the only baseball players' union member who's exempt from collector and hobby-market hesitation is Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles.
Ripken has spent more than a decade establishing himself as a class act, on and off the field. What really sets him apart, though, is his status as baseball's modern iron man. At the premature close of the '94 season, Ripken needed 122 games to break Lou Gehrig's 2,130 consecutive game streak. Baseball and the card world were watching.
Ripken's cards, from his rookies to present issues, have held value. What will happen to the '95 season, and to Cal Jr.'s streak are uncertain, but collectors are keeping the faith in Ripken's future.
Cal Ripken card values:
1982 Topps (Rookie) (NU)21: $65-75.
1982 Donruss (NU)405, 1982 Fleet (NU)176 (Rookies): $40-45.
1982 Topps traded (NU)98T (First Solo Topps Card): $220-240.
Current issues (1994-95, depending upon series): $1.25-2.50. MEMO: Brian L. Bigelow is store manager and appraiser for Candl Coins &
Stamps, located on Independence Blvd. and North (Lynnhaven) Mall Drive
in Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Because of the current labor situation, there's little or no card
demand for most active baseball players. The exception is the issues
of the Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. His current issues cards (1994-95,
depending upon series) go for $1.25-2.50. His 1982 Topps (Rookie)
#21 card goes for $65-75.
by CNB