Blog Bat Around 4: The Jim Cramer Edition

I finally have my stuff together and got my Blog Bat Around on time and even a little early depending on your time zone. The Question: which card or set are an absolute BUY and HOLD.

Now you probably won't understand this post unless you watch the following video or are a fan of Jim Cramer's Mad Money:



IT IS TIME! It is time for the Lightening Round on Matt F's Card Money. I take your calls rapid fire, you say the name of a card set or player and I tell you whether to BUY BUY BUY or SELL SELL SELL. Just to be clear I don't know the callers or the card questions ahead of time. Let get this lightening started with Mario in South Florida:

"Mario: Boyah Matt. Jose Canseco?"

I'm surprised you asked me that Mario, your own blog spelled out the doom and gloom Canseco collectors are feeling right now...is there any ray of sunshine in the future? I've heard rumors of a third book but there is nothing that can save this sinking ship...SELL SELL SELL! Let's go to Bob in Minnesota.

"Bob: I'm thinking about trying to put together the new Mayo Football set? Is that a good idea?"

BOB! STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WALK AWAY FROM THE MAYO! This isn't Amsterdam! We don't put Mayo on everything in America. Look Bob, I've been thinking about this for a while now and I just don't think anyone needs to be investing their money in sets anymore. I believe the "set" is done as being the main collecting focus, if it ever actually was, of collectors who are interested in financial value as opposed sentimental value.

The last set ANYONE should have cared about is 1989 Upper Deck and unless a new brand new shiny card company comes along...hello Panini, I'm looking at you...and blows us all away with their new groundbreaking product, the set as a collecting tool will continue to be for completists and maybe those parent's that are looking for a last minute Christmas gift at Walmart and all the Tickle Me Elmo's are sold out. Okay, next caller Mark in NYC.

"Mark: What should I do about my A-Rod cards?"

SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL

His cards are going down faster than whoever will play QB for the Chiefs next year...get out while you can...

Going back to the previous caller, sets are dead, so in terms of financial value you have to focus on the individual player. But as we've seen from this week's events it can be a crap shoot as to who you should choose to invest in. Yesterday's A-Rod is tomorrow A-Roid. So you've got to pick carefully. Some hot names now would be Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, and if there is not an impending expose on ESPN, Albert Pujols.

Next caller, Jim in Cleveland.

"Jim: I want to invest but I'm just so scared that after I buy the latest shiny short-print chrome sticker-autograph rookie card of the latest super star that he'll be testifying before Congress and being interviewed by Peter Gammons in a blue sweater. What should I do?"

I know what you're saying Jim...for every flashy stock that tanks like Enron there's always those sturdy performers that just keep getting it done year after year after year...like Campbell's soup. That company has it's best years when the economy is in a downturn. So who's the Campbell's soup of baseball cards? Ichiro Suzuki. I'm giving him a BUY BUY BUY, especially if you can get your hands on some of his Japanese rookie cards from the mid 1990s.

If you've already got some HOLD HOLD HOLD because they will be going UP UP UP as he get's closer to 3,000 hits faster than anyone in history. The man has 73 homeruns over eight seasons so steroids are not an issue and he's just a great overall player. Hell, he was even going to pitch in the World Baseball Classic until the jerks in Seattle rained on his parade. He get's my highest rating!

That end's the Lightening Round for today, Boyeah!

Comments

Mark Aubrey said…
Very nice. I'm not a fan of Jim Cramer's show, but it is like a horrid auto accident. Once you notice it, it is difficult to turn your head.

You nailed this.