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#1
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This...got a 9 from PSA?
This is a vintage card, not pre-war, but it goes to PSA's whacked out grading standards of late. I've seen so many cards I felt were under-graded (by at least one full point) since the new label and slab went live, seemingly reinforcing the idea that PSA has toughened their standards.
Then I see this, a 1970 Topps Roberto Clemente. They gave it a 9 grade. One of the big boys is selling it, and it looks like it got some very preferential treatment. PSA 9 '70 Topps Clemente on Ebay First of all, look at the right edge. The factory cut runs perfectly parallel to the white interior border. Now look at the left border, where the problem, as I see it, exists. If you compare the edge quality to the other three edges, it sticks out like a sore thumb. I know there are rough cuts, but that's not a rough cut. The bottom left corner shows the edge waving slightly. As you move up the border, to the point where the top of Robby's bat barrel intersects with the edge, it becomes very rough, and starts sloping inward. Some of you guys have more experience with '70 Topps cards, or cards in general from the early 70s. Seems to me to be a pretty clear indication of trimming, and this card shouldn't have received a 9 grade, but an authentic grade.
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Building these sets: T206, 1953 Bowman Color, 1975 Topps. Great transactions with: piedmont150, Cardboard Junkie, z28jd, t206blogcom, tinkertoeverstochance, trobba, Texxxx, marcdelpercio, t206hound, zachs, tolstoi, IronHorse 2130, AndyG09, BBT206, jtschantz, lug-nut, leaflover, Abravefan11, mpemulis, btcarfagno, BlueSky, and Frankbmd. |
#2
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I agree it's overgraded, but disagree with your assessment of what's wrong. The right edge doesn't look completely parallel to the white border to me. The amount of gray on the right side seems narrower at the bottom and wider at the top, to me. Given that, and the reverse effect on the left side, I would say the card is diamond cut, which is to say the 2 side edges are parallel to each other, but not perpendicular to the top or bottom edges.
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Actively collecting Carl Yastrzemski ! Also 1964 & 68 Topps Venezuelans |
#3
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PSA has gotten tougher on centering. A card like this may have been reholdering as the newer holders seem more desirable as folks assume they had a more rigid review. Always a possibility.
Cory |
#4
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That's another issue I have with their grading methods, Cory. Many cards that qualified for a 9 grade 5 years ago would never get it now. But if somebody can take that card, send it in to be re-holdered, voila, they have a 9 that the card didn't earn on its merits. It's misleading.
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Building these sets: T206, 1953 Bowman Color, 1975 Topps. Great transactions with: piedmont150, Cardboard Junkie, z28jd, t206blogcom, tinkertoeverstochance, trobba, Texxxx, marcdelpercio, t206hound, zachs, tolstoi, IronHorse 2130, AndyG09, BBT206, jtschantz, lug-nut, leaflover, Abravefan11, mpemulis, btcarfagno, BlueSky, and Frankbmd. |
#5
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Actually an easy way to see that the card, even though the image is ever so slightly oriented on the angle, is parallel, is to notice that it is not straight in the holder. The card is tilted ever so slightly clockwise, which on first glance gives the impression that it may be diamond cut or worse, trimmed.
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#6
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Is Robotics-based grading far away?
The gap between science fiction and reality is getting shorter all the time.
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. "A life is not important except in the impact it has on others lives" - Jackie Robinson “If you have a chance to make life better for others and fail to do so, you are wasting your time on this earth.”- Roberto Clemente |
#7
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Not really
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Andrew Member since 2009 |
#8
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You know, Dan, now that I look a little further down on the right edge, I see what you mean. It does seem to slope inward slightly, starting at about the belt level. You really need to look at it in higher resolution to spot it. But the edge quality seems to be maintained consistently, where I look at the left edge, and see something different altogether. The first deviation is at bat level, then there's a second at ear level where it becomes much more pronounced. Could it have been from the factory cut? I suppose so, but my Spidey senses are tingling enough where, where I in the market for a PSA 9 '70 Clemente, I would never buy this one. Be it a trim job, or a factory plate slip up, I just don't see this being anywhere near a 9 grade. The left edge brings it down substantially, and I think the seller got the benefit of the doubt here, big time.
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Building these sets: T206, 1953 Bowman Color, 1975 Topps. Great transactions with: piedmont150, Cardboard Junkie, z28jd, t206blogcom, tinkertoeverstochance, trobba, Texxxx, marcdelpercio, t206hound, zachs, tolstoi, IronHorse 2130, AndyG09, BBT206, jtschantz, lug-nut, leaflover, Abravefan11, mpemulis, btcarfagno, BlueSky, and Frankbmd. |
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