THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503260385
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN L. BIGELOW, SPECIAL TO THE VP/LS
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Baseball cards, like the game itself, are in a slump. This fact has been widely reported, and quite a few ``speculators'' and casual collectors are distressed by the news. Cards picturing baseball players are only one part of the overall hobby picture. Other types of cards, and even some other baseball collectibles, are experiencing a remarkably healthy market.
Following are some bright spots on what is perceived, by some, to be a dim hobby horizon:
Football cards: Took up some of the slack left in the market by baseball's absence during the Fall of 1994. Forty-Niners' and Cowboys' cards developed increased interest and value strength. This category should maintain its gains; collectors are already enthusiastic about the first announcements of 1995 football card issues.
Racing cards: Continue to take the card-market by storm with Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon items leading the pack. The racing segment is still so new that each set is seen as being fresh and innovative.
Basketball cards: Are as healthy as they became during the rookie season of Shaquille O'Neal. Now, this portion of the hobby rallies around Michael Jordan (again!) and Grant Hill.
Baseball cards: Are, in spite of some bad press and investor grumbling, still capable of vibrant activity in certain specialized areas. There remains a lot of potential in the cards of key players (Griffey, Jr. Thomas, Ripken) but it's not likely to be fully realized until questions of labor dispute are resolved. Classic older material is unaffected by current events, and many buyers are looking for bargains in 30 or 40 year old collectibles during the hobby's mild recession.
The collecting hobby continues to be an active one in these and other specialty segments. As always, a hobbyist should remain loyal to personal collecting preferences. And card collecting ``for the fun of it'' never goes into a slump, and is immune from market uncertainty. 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
The baseball-card bubble has lost some steam for now, but issues of
Ken Griffey Jr. and other stars still pack potential.
by CNB