Mark McGwire 1998 E-X2001 Essential Credentials Now 5of11 PSA 8
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Main reasons to invest
Return potential📈: An investment of €500 could reach an estimated value of €1,773 in 5 years.
Cost-to-Return Ratio⚖️: With just 2.5% annual total costs, your net profit could be 28.8% per year.
Baseball’s Savior and Cultural Icon 🏆: Mark McGwire’s legendary 1998 home run race reignited America’s love for baseball after the 1994 strike, cementing his place as one of the sport’s most influential figures. Leading home runs for three straight seasons and holding two of the top four all-time records, McGwire embodies lasting cultural and historical significance.
Description
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Investment Horizon | 3–5 years (target exit 2029–2031) |
| Potential Net ROI p.a. (Balanced) | 28.8% p.a. |
| Potential Net ROI p.a. (Ambitious) | 36.6% p.a. |
| Price Verification (Pre-Fees) | -3.8% vs. current market value |
| Price Verification (Post-Fees) | +8.1% vs. current market value |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.84 (vs. SMI: 0.61) |
| Value at Risk (VaR) | 91.54% probability to exceed initial investment after 5 years |
| Standard Deviation | 34.8% |
| Overall Risk Rating | B (8.0 / 10 – Moderate Risk) |
- 3–5 Year Horizon: Exit window between 2029 and 2031, designed to capture market maturity and peak collector demand.
- 28.8% Net ROI p.a. (Balanced): Based on an 80% probability of achieving a 39.8% CAGR from 2020–2026 per the McGwire CardLadder Index.
- 36.6% Net ROI p.a. (Ambitious): Reflects 100% probability of replicating historical performance of McGwire’s market-leading trajectory.
- -3.8% Entry Discount (Pre-Fees): Purchased slightly below verified market levels; +8.1% premium post-structuring fees.
- Sharpe Ratio of 0.84: Demonstrates compelling risk-adjusted returns, outperforming major equity benchmarks such as the SMI (0.61).
- 91.54% VaR Protection: High downside protection and capital preservation probability over a five-year period.
- Standard Deviation (34.8%): Consistent with volatility levels of comparable ultra-rare 1990s sports grail cards.
- Risk Rating “B” (8.0/10): Balanced risk-return profile supported by 6 verified sales and measurable collector demand.
Investing in sport trading cards has evolved from a collector niche into a global alternative asset class with compelling scale and performance metrics. The global sports trading card market exceeded $15 billion in 2024, with the high-end segment (cards above $100,000) driving a disproportionate share of value. Record-breaking sales underscore maturity and demand, including a $12.6 million Mickey Mantle card and $5.2 million LeBron James rookie. Long-term data shows a ~19.5% CAGR for high-end cards, significantly outperforming traditional equities, while low correlation and growing international liquidity make them a powerful diversification tool.
The 1998 Mark McGwire Essential Credentials /11 card is widely regarded as one of the most iconic sports collectibles of the 1990s — a true “apex” card that perfectly fuses cultural impact, rarity, and design excellence. Produced during the height of McGwire’s fame, it commemorates the 1998 home run race that captivated the world and revived Major League Baseball after years of decline following the 1994 players’ strike. McGwire’s pursuit of the single-season home run record became one of the most defining moments in modern sports history, and this card — released in that very same year — stands as the perfect visual and symbolic representation of that cultural turning point.
What makes this card even more extraordinary is its scarcity. With only 11 copies ever produced, it ranks among the rarest baseball cards of the modern era. Essential Credentials cards were famous for their groundbreaking design: vibrant layered acetate, intricate foil work, and precise serial numbering that directly correlated with the card’s set position. This particular McGwire card, numbered 5/11, carries added symbolic weight — marking both his home run rank at the time of retirement and his enduring legacy among the game’s greatest power hitters.
The card’s historical importance is underscored by McGwire’s enduring market relevance. His 70th home run ball from the same season sold for $3 million in 1999 — one of the most expensive pieces of sports memorabilia ever sold — cementing his place among the legends of the game. Comparable Essential Credentials cards from similar-tier athletes like Ken Griffey Jr. or Michael Jordan have reached valuations between $200,000 and over $3 million, further emphasizing the potential of this ultra-scarce collectible.
For investors, the McGwire /11 represents a fusion of rarity, history, and prestige — a cultural artifact that embodies the spirit of an entire sporting era while offering strong long-term appreciation potential.
Expert
K3Y Asset is a hobby platform to tell stories in the hobby of card collecting in proper contexts and often in parallel to sports history and moments, while unlocking desirable attributes from key sports cards to elevate them into long term desirable assets.
