THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504300187
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN L. BIGELOW, SPECIAL TO THE VP/LS
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Andy Van Slyke has extended his career by signing with the Baltimore Orioles. Van Slyke is a quality player who's well-respected by the fans, and he's proven himself healthy enough to be an asset to his new team.
What effect does his career move have on the value of his trading cards? Not much, actually.
The collecting hobby tends to classify players into hierarchy of desirability. At the top level of this stratification is the group of superstars. These are the universally known and avidly sought individuals that give the hobby its excitement. The bottom tier is populated by the ``commons,'' those players who put in a day's work on the diamond but lack widespread recognition. Van Slyke belongs in a third category, the one occupied by ``minor stars.''
Minor or ``semi-stars'' are those players who have made a name for themselves, but haven't inspired long-term loyalty on the part of collectors. Their statistics are good enough to make them seem better than ``common,'' but are insufficient to elevate them to superstardom. They may be athletes who possess a strong regional appeal, but are relatively unknown outside their home market. Their rookie cards are usually bought and sold at a premium, but their later issue cards are priced very subjectively.
Van Slyke card prices:
1984 Donruss (NU)83 $4-5
1984 Topps (NU)206 $1.50-2.00.
1984 Fleer (NU)339 $3
Recent issues: 1 1/2 to two times ``common'' card price. MEMO: Brian L. Bigelow is store manager and appraiser for Candl Coins &
Stamps, located on Independence Boulevard and North (Lynnhaven) Mall
Drive in Virginia Beach.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Andy Van Slyke's 1984 Fleer (NU)339 trading card is currently
selling for $3.
by CNB