Interesting: PSA - 1915 Cracker Jack data
 

This was posted on blowout, and I thought it was worth mentioning here- substantially more PSA 8’s than any other grade, in a 100 year old card? And PSA 7&8’s constituting over 1/3 of all graded 1915 Cracker Jacks??!! That does not seem right to me.

I put two different pics of same thing in case you can’t see

Edited - the points below about mail-order are valid and it’s something I, and likely the OP on Blowout, did not consider.

Dammit, another Registry set I will not be able to pursue.

It’s because in 1915 (unlike the year before), you could sent away for a complete set, so a lot of complete sets of 1915 CJs survived in nice shape, without the candy stains that plague the 1914s.

I recall in the 90s the sale of a group of nearly all 8s and maybe even a few 9s that (reportedly) came from one of those complete albums. They looked trimmed to me. It would not surprise me at all if many of those high grade cards were altered in some way.

Use common sense guys. I totally agree with David on this. I only collect 1914’s, but it is common knowledge you could send in to Cracker Jack for the whole set in 1915, as oppose to 1914 where you only could obtain the cards from in the box.

If the collector was interested enough to mail in for the set- they were going to preserve the cards to best of their ability for the foreseeable future. Making for a great deal of High end 1915’s. Are some 1915’s altered- surely. I do not think the majority are altered though.

I wouldn’t be too concerned Ryan. Be careful but I think the fact you could send in for the set is the real explanation. Go 1914 when in doubt as you already have the best cards and they are much scarcer/desirable. IMO. Keep kicking ass with your collection.

I guess that makes sense. An analogy to that is the 1933 Goudey Lajoie (also obtainable by mail), where 29 of the 77 graded (without qualifier of half-point) are 7, 8, or 9. Of course, Lajoie was only available by mail and 1915 CJs by mail or with the product, but the mail order does seem a plausible justification. Still seems high though for a 100+ year old card, but great points.

Changing the title of the thread from “concerning” to “interesting”

The same could be said for the M116 Sporting Life set. Many exist in higher grade due to how they were distributed.

Perfect analogy. Hope all is well Ryan

It might be a combination of the 1915 set being available by ordering it from the company, and card doctors making sure to touch up the 6's and 7's.