it's been almost 15 years since chan ho park pitched in his final major league game. he was with the pirates then, following in the footsteps of another dodger pitcher of the 90's who ended their career in pittsburgh - ramon martinez. unlike martinez, however, park has made a return to baseball card releases in 2025 with topps hyping his first autograph cards in quite some time.
i was interested in adding one to my collection, but then i saw the prices. here's a sampling:
instead, i will show off a few new to me park cards that came via a sportlots order a while back. here's a trio of cards from 1998 topps stars
and here's one from 1999 fleer flair showcase
those will have to do for my collection unless the prices of the 2025 autographed product takes a dramatic downturn.
so, instead of a chan ho park autograph, here's a 2021 topps clearly authentic zach mckinstry auto
that i picked up for just a couple of bucks. it's not in the one touch it was originally distributed in, but that's ok by me. maybe park continues to sign and gets a fan favorites autograph later this year that helps to dilute the market. i sure hope so.
Why so pricey?
ReplyDeletepent up demand? manufactured scarcity? who really knows what drives collectors these days!
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ReplyDeleteHoly cow. Those prices are insane, but hopefully Topps has him sign a lot over the next few years and prices settle. I'm in a similar predicament. Johan Santana signed cards for Topps this year and I need two for my left-handed Cy Young Award winners collection. The problem is his Twins autographs sell for way more than I'm willing to pay. But hopefully Topps will flood the market.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely don't get the Park pricing and while I am complaining, I don't get Yamamoto and Sasaki prices either. I honestly think that too many people with too much money are literally ruining modern collecting since Covid. I am just going to make an assumption that neither pitcher will ever touch the level of Kershaw, let alone Nomo, yet several $100s for every single one of their cards AND they are not in any shortage either. Seriously, who is buying all these? Prices have not softened one little bit. Pisses off a Dodger autograph completist collector like myself to no end AND I still need the ultra expensive (and for good reason) Ohtani. I guess my LA Dodger autograph collection being 100% complete is essentially shot by now. I was within 4 just a few years back too! Are they all going overseas? It's just weird to me. I'd like a certified Park too, but not paying more than maybe $20, so I guess i am out of luck.
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