What was PSA thinking? 52' Durocher undergrade?
 

Just picked up a nice score I think. Got a 52 Topps Leo Durocher. Paid a bit more than book value, but when you see the scans, you'll understand why. I've no clue why this card would be graded a VG 4. No holes, creases, gum stains... The corners, color and gloss are incredible, and better than my all my PSA 6s! Honestly it's the best looking 52 I've acquired for my set, which includes 6.5s, 7s and 7.5s. What do you all think? Could this have a shot at a 7, even a 7.5?

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...urocherObv.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...urocherRev.jpg

It's a great looking card.
I would have to think that there is a crease that you are not seeing.
If not it appears to be undergraded.

That was my initial thought too, but damned if I can find a crease ANYWHERE. I thought I spotted something extending downward from his chin, but it is so fine and subtle, it looks like it's underneath the paint layers, not inflicted on it, like an imperfection in the stock prior to printing. I've scoured it over, and cannot find anything that would explain why such a nice card would get a 4. I've got a 52 Nuxhall with corners more rounded than angular graded a 4...this one doesn't compare...

PSA just doesn't like Durocher? Ok, maybe i'm just thinking about sportswriters denying MVP awards to Ted Williams and other guys.

fok
 

Man, thats a nice looking card. psa blows

It looks like there might be a crease on the top of the back that doesn't show through to the front. It's difficult to tell for sure from a scan. I've tried to pick up cards like that too, that seem much nicer than the grade.

If scoping it with a jeweler's loupe and putting it under a black light doesn't disclose the flaw(s), bust it out and re-sub raw. You may get lucky. Probably won't do any worse than the four slab in which it now exists.

Very nice card! One way to spot those elusive wrinkles (if the card has one) is to use a flashlight in a completely dark room. Aim the beam of light towards the edges of the card, so the light shines horizontally over the surface of the card. Point the flashlight towards each edge, front and back. If the card has a wrinkle, it should cast a shadow from the flashlight, and should appear much more evident to the naked eye. Either your card has a wrinkle, or PSA saw an indentation that you can't see, or they undergraded that card.

This is an example of the over importance of "TPG". This is a BEAUTIFUL card. So what if it may have a tiny wrinkle or something? Unless someone is a real nut on condition, that card would fit into many top end collections.

Good point, Scott. It would be silly to get that anal over a basically invisible flaw, if that's what's really going on with the card.

I decided to crack the card, and send it off. Worst case is it comes back the same way it came. Looking at it with a loupe I could see a fine line under his chin, which was probably why they knocked it down a bit, but I still think a 4 is a bit low. I think this should realistically make 5, MAYBE a 6 on a good day.

In the end though, as they say, buy the card not the plastic. People who do the latter get burned, like the poor sucker who paid nearly $8000 on ebay last week for a bogus Mantle in a cracked holder.

Grade be damned, it's a beautiful card, and since my focus is centering, I'll take this over any number of superior graded, off centered examples. It was worth the money.

Thanks all, and I'll update you when I get the results in!