Sports Collectors Digest Grading Question

[39special]

The other day I picked up some cards,one was a modern card graded by
Sports Collectors Digest.I didn't know they graded cards.I was wondering if they still graded cards? Also how accurate are they?Does anyone have any info on them? Thanks in advance.

[mintacular]

My understanding is that SCD hasn't graded cards for quite some time (several years) but when they did, they were pretty accurate.

[39special]

Thanks Patrick! I never knew they graded cards.

[Bob Lemke]

You have to be careful to differentiate between the "original" SCD graded cards, which have the real SCD logo in a red oval, and the "second generation" slabs which have the logo in blue on silver. The second generation slabs were made after SCD sold out of its grading division, probably close to 10 years ago.

The original (red logo) SCD graded cards very conservatively and most will cross to modern PSA or SGC slabs . . . if you crack them out before submitting.

[39special]

Originally Posted by Bob Lemke

You have to be careful to differentiate between the "original" SCD graded cards, which have the real SCD logo in a red oval, and the "second generation" slabs which have the logo in blue on silver. The second generation slabs were made after SCD sold out of its grading division, probably close to 10 years ago.

The original (red logo) SCD graded cards very conservatively and most will cross to modern PSA or SGC slabs . . . if you crack them out before submitting.

Thanks Bob!This one has the red oval.On the back it has 3 catagories on the left top:centering,corners/edges,surface with the numbers behind them.Is the "second generation" still grading?

[Rich Klein]

Regards

Rich

[tigers6884]

Does anyone know why SCD got out of the grading business?

Jim

[cardaholic]

They apparently were not profitable in their grading operation - not enough cards were being submitted to justify the salaries and other costs.

Nick

[Bob Lemke]

That's it exactly. Then-publisher Steve Ellingboe petitioned the company to start a grading service not long after PSA debuted. Ownership dragged their feet until Beckett got into the gaem. By that time Steve was gone and the whole idea of going up against both PSA and BGS should have been scrapped.

[tigers6884]

Good info.

Does anyone know the back story of the blue label SCD company?
I see them on ebay with the blue sports cards direct label. Sounds like they tried to man a sinking ship.

Jim

[Bob Lemke]

I wasn't involved in the sale, but I know they bought one of SCD's two slabbing machines, all of its unused plastic, etc. I think they created the blue label in similitude to the original red SCD label to try to ride the coattails.

[aro13]

A little late to the game on this one but I thought I would mention that I had great success when I crossed over my SCD red labels to PSA. They graded very well in my opinion and were particularly harsh on back centering on some of the cards I had.

[ZernialFan]

I also had success with the Red Label SCD on cracking out and submitting to either PSA or SGC. Usually the same or a little higher. Also tried a couple of the newer Blue and found trimmed cards. Stopped that quick..........

Charlie

[MikeGarcia]

'' Buy the holder , not the card '' IMO

[ALR-bishop]

Great cards Mike, whatever the holder

[betafolio2]

The Net54 forum has been very educational, and I appreciate everyone's thoughtful comments. This particular thread, for instance, helped me enormously! I don't usually buy slabbed cards -- only when I'm desperate for a particular card -- but now I know that the old red-labeled SCD slabs are reliable. And it's true what others have already said -- the SCD graders were very conservative in their numbers. I recently picked up a couple cards on eBay that were red-SCD slabbed (only after reading this thread), and I have NOT been disappointed at all! In fact, I would even say that if I were to have the cards reslabbed (which I'm not), they'd get AT LEAST the same grade from PSA, if not higher. And I can say this because I've bought my share of PSA-slabbed cards as well. So again, thanks to all!