When word circulated that San Diego Padres slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for an anabolic steroid and would be suspended for 80 games, a group of fans had to feel sick.
They weren’t feeling sick for the Padres, who signed Tatis to a $340 million contract, they were feeling sick at themselves for investing in the star.
As it turns out, Tatis will only lose some $2.86 million in salary for not playing those games, but the ramifications in the card market could top a nine-figure loss.
“When you take into consideration how much could have been lost here, you not only have to calculate all the trading cards that are graded and in collections, but also the trading cards that are not yet graded, all of the raw product in sealed boxes and cases that will be negatively impacted by this event,” said Ken Goldin, executive chairman of Goldin Auctions. “To me, the total impact to the collecting community could approach $100 million, especially when you take into account that just one single card — the 2016 Bowman Chrome superfractor — likely had a decrease of $2.5 million in itself.”