A few days back I came across a blog post that asked the hypothetical question: What card(s) do you think will retain their value in the future.

Well, folks, you’re looking at one of them right here. Today I honor the 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card. It took me several years to get my hands on one of these, but earlier this week my copy finally arrived.

For the last three years — the time in which I really started to add serious vintage rookie cards to my collection — I’ve been waiting and waiting for the right time to pounce on a Clemente rookie. And honestly, there never has been a right time because these things are getting harder to find, thus becoming more expensive. Consider this: This copy probably cost me about 50 percent more than what it would have cost me had I just bit the bullet and bought it in 2005 or 2006. What other rookie card do you know of that has increased in value — and maintained that level for some time — like that?

As it pertains to the hypothetical asked earlier, is there really any way to go wrong with Clemente? Clemente was a fantastic player on the field, and was a excellent human being off the field. Not only is he a baseball icon, but also a national treasure of Puerto Rico. Those are ingredients for cardboard success.

But the Clemente rookie is not the only one that likely will hold its value. In fact, I’ve always been of the opinion that vintage rookies ARE the cards to own in this hobby, and my opinion gets stronger with each passing day thanks to the MLB Network.

For years collectors have been aware of Mantle, Ruth and Mays. They’ve also been accustomed to Clemente and Gehrig. But now they/we are seeing footage of these players on our television sets more often, making them easier to relate to, which ultimately makes us appreciate them more.

I could write all day about my investment beliefs as it pertains to cards, but I’m going to wrap this up — probably revisiting it later — and bring it back to the Clemente.

My copy clearly is not mint. And I’ll be honest, I was a bit disappointed when mine arrived because the scan the auction house used apparently was darkened, which hid the crease that runs vertically (when the card is on its side) between the bio-box and the card number. Nonetheless, I’m happy. Clemente rookies at good prices are drying up, and for good reason. From a collector or investor standpoint, which would you rather have: a 1955 Clemente rookie or a 2005 Ultimate Collection autographed Prince Fielder rookie. My money is on Clemente, literally.

This entry was posted on February 19, 2009 at 2:24 am and is filed under Random Rookie Recap with tags baseball, baseball cards, Cardboard Icons, Random Rookie Roundup, Roberto Clemente, rookie card. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.