Sun Oct 26 01:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The article explores the surprising investment performance of a 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card compared to gold over the past 20 years. While gold has seen impressive growth, a PSA 10 graded Griffey Jr. card has significantly outperformed it, offering a return of 15x-17x versus gold’s roughly 10.5x return. This highlights the potential investment value within the sports card collecting hobby, even cards from the overproduced “Junk Wax” era, especially when graded in top condition.
News Article:
Forget Gold: Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card Smacks Investment Home Run
Sports Illustrated – October 26, 2024 – In the world of alternative investments, gold has long been considered a safe haven. However, a recent analysis reveals a surprising contender outperforming the precious metal: the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card.
Collectible expert Jason A. Schwartz compared the investment returns of a PSA 10 graded Griffey Jr. card to gold over the last 20 years, revealing that a mint-condition Griffey card purchased in October 2005 for $270 now fetches between $4,100 and $4,700. This equates to a return of 15 to 17 times the initial investment. In contrast, an ounce of gold purchased for around $400 in 2005 is now worth approximately $4,200, a still-impressive 10.5x return, but notably less than the “Kid’s” card.
“It’s remarkable,” said Schwartz, “That a card from the much-maligned ‘Junk Wax’ era could provide such a significant return. It goes to show the potential value that lies within the sports card hobby, particularly with highly graded, iconic cards.”
The article also notes the tangible appeal of owning a Griffey Jr. card over a bar of gold. While past performance is not indicative of future results, this story offers an interesting perspective on the collectible market and the potential for unexpected investment winners.
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