Rookie Cards Comparing sets.

[Nimitz]

What determines what set rookie is the most sought after? This year I have Pulled 2 Matt Duchene Rookies one from SPA future watch /999 and one OPC Premier /299

I would think the Premiere would be worth more since it is /299 and has 4 jersey swatches. But the SPA is selling for more, from what I see on ebay. Was wondering why, I know supply and Demand but what make the Demand for SPA higher?

Also next year I am going to try and get as many P K Subban as I can, what Rookie card set would be the card to have other than "The Cup" 10 years from now an Subban Became a Montreal Franchies Player.

[FuriousD82]

Great question. I think there are a few reasons why the SPA Duchene sells for more than the OPC Duchene.

First, SPA has a larger group of collectors. Therefore there is more demand for the SPA version. This is the single most important reason why the SPA Duchene sells for more. It has been around for over a decade and collectors know what the product delivers (even though the 09-10 version fell a bit short of all collectors expectations).

Second, SPA came out first and a lot of collectors began their missions to complete that set before OPC was released. When OPC came out, these collectors already invested in SPA and stuck to the set. OPC has not been around as long as SPA (brand wise) and therefore has a more limited following.

Third, SPA has a lower price point per box than OPC. Right now, you can get almost 2 boxes of SPA for the same price as OPC. This makes it a more attractive buy to most consumers.

[RGM81]

SP Authentic has built up a very strong reputation as being one of the "must have" rookie cards every year. If you had to pick only 3 RCs for a player to collect, I would venture to say that most people would go with the Young Guns, SP Authentic Future Watch, and The Cup. Those are the most collectible sets of the year as far as rookies go.

OPC Premier does not have that same standing. Yes, it's a higher-end product. Yes, the rookies have a lower print run. Yes, they're also hard-signed. Yes, they have (photo shoot) memorabilia on them. But the appeal of OPC Premier isn't in the same category as SP Authentic, and in some ways the rookies are a secondary interest in the set relative to, say, a quad auto patch of Wayne Gretzky /5. The cards look nice, they've got the hard-signed auto, etc. but they're just not in the same league as SP Authentic.

[30ranfordfan]

Well said.

I would agree 100%. SPA is very much a stapel set, and the secondary market very much reflects it.

Sale Value of a card is really on determined by one thing - Demand. Despite there being roughly five times more SPA RCs of a player, compared to the OPCP one, there is way more demand for SPA, so the prices stay higher.

SP Authentic has built up a very strong reputation as being one of the "must have" rookie cards every year. If you had to pick only 3 RCs for a player to collect, I would venture to say that most people would go with the Young Guns, SP Authentic Future Watch, and The Cup. Those are the most collectible sets of the year as far as rookies go.

OPC Premier does not have that same standing. Yes, it's a higher-end product. Yes, the rookies have a lower print run. Yes, they're also hard-signed. Yes, they have (photo shoot) memorabilia on them. But the appeal of OPC Premier isn't in the same category as SP Authentic, and in some ways the rookies are a secondary interest in the set relative to, say, a quad auto patch of Wayne Gretzky /5. The cards look nice, they've got the hard-signed auto, etc. but they're just not in the same league as SP Authentic.

[skyride39]

maybe simple is better, which is what spa is.

[Nimitz]

Think any of the Panini Set will equal SPA in Secondary market. Love collecting just hate not being able to trade/sell the extras to fund my addiction.

[FuriousD82]

Think any of the Panini Set will equal SPA in Secondary market. Love collecting just hate not being able to trade/sell the extras to fund my addiction.

I think Rookie Contenders has a shot. The foilboard is a turn off, and random short printing of autos is annoying, but its on-card autos, same price point as SPA and has a good following in other sports.

[RGM81]

Think any of the Panini Set will equal SPA in Secondary market. Love collecting just hate not being able to trade/sell the extras to fund my addiction.

Predictions are tough, especially those made about the future. For those of us hockey fans that haven't followed Panini's other sports cards ventures (and I'm one of them) this year is going to be an interesting introductory period to them and their products. What works in other sports may translate into hockey, or it may not. Cards that aren't a big hit in other sports may be hugely popular with hockey fans. You just never know.

I'll say this much: who expected there to be so much excitement about Score?

[marclemagnifique]

I have a similar questions...

Why SPX /499 rookie (or /484) with stickers auto is selling higher then OPCP rookie /299 hard signed.

Duchene spx will sell around 70$, opcp around 55-60$.

[RGM81]

I have a similar questions...

Why SPX /499 rookie (or /484) with stickers auto is selling higher then OPCP rookie /299 hard signed.

Duchene spx will sell around 70$, opcp around 55-60$.

Same as the earlier comparison between SPA and OPCP - SPx is a better-established set with a higher following than OPCP.