The history of pumps and dumps in the basketball card history
 

Someone else mentioned a huge pump of 1990-91 Fleer Jordans a few years ago in the other thread and it got me thinking about when else this has occurred in the past. Prices went up 500% of normal then fell back to then usual.

Some questions for the BO crowd:

1. What pumps have you purchased into the past near peak prices and still own despite a significantly lower value.

2. Any other examples of pumps then dumps in the past?

People are calling this current Jordan pump possible manipulation and it may or may not turn out to be like that, but what are some concrete examples from sports cards history that we can learn about?

And i'm not talking about people hyping up rookies (Andrew Wiggins) that flamed out, but a group of cards that could be had for cheap for a long time, then pumped, then got back to cheap again to where they should have been in the first place.

When cards get pump and people buy into it, prices will come down but not at the price it was orginally at. Just wait intil the luka 2nd year prizm base craze starts. Time to stock up.;)

menendez brothers rc

Kobe 03-04 extra exquisite jersey cards. I don’t remember the exact prices but some people started pumping them like it was no ones business. I think they were selling more than the auto patches, it was crazy.

[QUOTE=patchgenie;15755600]menendez brothers rc[/QUOTE]

good call

I remember 2011-12 certified totally greens getting pumped pretty hard, as well as the 2011-12, 2012-13 precious metal gems from the upper deck fleer retro issues.

Intrigued! I like this thread idea...

Its good to shed further light on the shady side of card collecting history.

Not cheap by any means, but the 1987-88 Fleer PSA 10 Jordan.

In 2016, it was selling for 2800-3000 in Jan/Feb.

That same year PWCC had two record auctions over 5400 in Apr then over 6000 in May.

Eventually prices dropped to the $3000 range again. Theyre on the rise again, maybe they can hit 10k soon!

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;15755619]I remember 2011-12 certified totally greens getting pumped pretty hard, as well as the 2011-12, 2012-13 precious metal gems from the upper deck fleer retro issues.[/QUOTE]

How about the actual 90’s PMGs and not the retro ones? Goonblott and his buddies were buying and selling between each other all the time recording new record highs. I am of the belief that Mike the Huperroyalty guy wasn’t part of it but I think they used him hardcore to get the message out there. Funny though that the bubble popped some on those but has stayed inflated, wonder if they ever go down a lot again.

[QUOTE=mc1;15755642]Not cheap by any means, but the 1987-88 Fleer PSA 10 Jordan.

In 2016, it was selling for 2800-3000 in Jan/Feb.

That same year PWCC had two record auctions over 5400 in Apr then over 6000 in May.

Eventually prices dropped to the $3000 range again. Theyre on the rise again, maybe they can hit 10k soon![/QUOTE]

Along the same lines, the Jordan 1986-87 fleer was pumped from around $10k to $40k, fell back down to $10k, and now they are back up again.

[QUOTE=clipperboy24;15755651]How about the actual 90’s PMGs and not the retro ones? Goonblott and his buddies were buying and selling between each other all the time recording new record highs. I am of the belief that Mike the Huperroyalty guy wasn’t part of it but I think they used him hardcore to get the message out there. Funny though that the bubble popped some on those but has stayed inflated, wonder if they ever go down a lot again.[/QUOTE]

It's funny that they were the ones who pumped the 90's jordan inserts initially about a decade ago, but Jordan has actually sustained in price as they were able to convince a large number of wealthy collectors that they were worth the investment due to their scarcity.

I don't see this happening with jordan base cards.

[QUOTE=clipperboy24;15755651]How about the actual 90’s PMGs and not the retro ones? Goonblott and his buddies were buying and selling between each other all the time recording new record highs. I am of the belief that Mike the Huperroyalty guy wasn’t part of it but I think they used him hardcore to get the message out there. Funny though that the bubble popped some on those but has stayed inflated, wonder if they ever go down a lot again.[/QUOTE]

90's PMGs is a tough one because even if people pump them, there's still collectors looking to buy them up. Deep pockets will pay for top tier cards like that. Not only for inserts but look at certain exquisite cards, every time they pop up it's a new record price.

If you want to talk about pump and dump in this era, Panini is doing a fine job of that. 5-10 years from now, we will look back at these last few years and wonder why the heck were people pay $500-$1000 for non high end boxes of cards.

The De'aaron Fox pump and dump stands out to me

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;15755653]Along the same lines, the Jordan 1986-87 fleer was pumped from around $10k to $40k, fell back down to $10k, and now they are back up again.[/QUOTE]
That card hasn’t been $10k since 2014. After the 2016 rise, it fell to a nadir of $16-17k from summer to early winter 2017.

He's a thread on the 2016 Jordan Fleer pump and dump for those interested. [URL="https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1003605"]https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1003605[/URL]

Thanks to ninjacookies for bumping it.

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;15755653]Along the same lines, the Jordan 1986-87 fleer was pumped from around $10k to $40k, fell back down to $10k, and now they are back up again.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I coulda bought a perfectly centered one [choice of 2] for $16-18k live at a show and decided not to do so on the way back up. Whoops.

I also remember the ludicrous TC Green pump and dump. Just so silly.

Harry Giles....

But so many of these 'Pumps' aren't true pump and dumps... they are collectors getting too excited and overpaying because of FOMO.

Eventually the heat dies out and prices come back to earth, BUT, if the card is truly something that has significance and it's of a player who counts, it usually doesn't come back to the price it started at.

But don't act like this is something new.... it was happening in the early 90's with Ben McDonald Upper Deck error cards and Nolan Ryan Stadium Club Tuxedo

101 Star Jordan

Gala RC /8

Psa 10 junk wax Jordan’s and the boxes themselves.

[QUOTE=tjforce;15756193]Harry Giles....

But so many of these 'Pumps' aren't true pump and dumps... they are collectors getting too excited and overpaying because of FOMO.

Eventually the heat dies out and prices come back to earth, BUT, if the card is truly something that has significance and it's of a player who counts, it usually doesn't come back to the price it started at.

But don't act like this is something new.... it was happening in the early 90's with Ben McDonald Upper Deck error cards and Nolan Ryan Stadium Club Tuxedo[/QUOTE]
Anfernee Simons feels like he fits in the Giles category sort of (granted he has a chance to be a much better player)

Stephen Curry

[QUOTE=tjforce;15756193]Harry Giles....

But so many of these 'Pumps' aren't true pump and dumps... they are collectors getting too excited and overpaying because of FOMO.

Eventually the heat dies out and prices come back to earth, BUT, if the card is truly something that has significance and it's of a player who counts, it usually doesn't come back to the price it started at.

But don't act like this is something new.... it was happening in the early 90's with Ben McDonald Upper Deck error cards and Nolan Ryan Stadium Club Tuxedo[/QUOTE]

Exactly! People are getting confused. A shift in prices because of fomo, a couple good games (or one really good game) or a strong showing in summer league doesn’t really qualify as “pumping”.

You’re 100% right that this isn’t new. When I got back into collecting in 04-05 people were talking about how exquisite was being pumped and prices would never be sustainable lol. I remember people thought a buyers group was pumping Al Jefferson SPA rookie autos that year as well as prices rocketed up to $300 plus. Turned out a new collector with deep pockets (secote if anyone remembers that name) just wanted as many as he could for him and his son and didn’t mind paying exorbitant prices. While I don’t disagree that there is some collusion on inflating certain cards there is more organic movement in prices then people will admit. Easier to blame it on buyers groups I guess.

Side note I find it hilarious that certain people defend the prices of Zion and the ridiculous boxes prices this year as the new normal. Zion is the next messiah! Zion brought in all this new money!! Get use to prices being ridiculous, yet when cards of the greatest and most influential player of all time start to rise it’s a witch hunt for a buyers group lol.

[QUOTE=codered;15757565]

Side note I find it hilarious that certain people defend the prices of Zion and the ridiculous boxes prices this year as the new normal. Zion is the next messiah! Zion brought in all this new money!! Get use to prices being ridiculous, yet when cards of the greatest and most influential player of all time start to rise it’s a witch hunt for a buyers group lol.[/QUOTE]

Zion prices are certainly ridiculous.

But rookie cards of players in their rookie years have always driven the most demand since the hobby began over a century ago.

That is nothing new.

Since when did modern day veteran base become coveted?

Perhaps it's just a sign of the new times and some of us are Clint Eastwoods being overly protective of the prized Chevy Volt in the driveway.

/ Boomer out

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;15755501]Someone else mentioned a huge pump of 1990-91 Fleer Jordans a few years ago in the other thread and it got me thinking about when else this has occurred in the past. Prices went up 500% of normal then fell back to then usual.

Some questions for the BO crowd:

1. What pumps have you purchased into the past near peak prices and still own despite a significantly lower value.

2. Any other examples of pumps then dumps in the past?

People are calling this current Jordan pump possible manipulation and it may or may not turn out to be like that, but what are some concrete examples from sports cards history that we can learn about?

And i'm not talking about people hyping up rookies (Andrew Wiggins) that flamed out, but a group of cards that could be had for cheap for a long time, then pumped, then got back to cheap again to where they should have been in the first place.[/QUOTE]

Harry Giles immediately came to mind.

Only the pump so far but since I've been looking to buy one the Pippen 88 Fleer RC in PSA 9 has gone from $40 to $500 in like 2 months. Rodman same thing on a smaller scale.