The most grossly overrated card of all time...

[jason.1969]

Another class of cards I think are overrated are PSA 9s and 10s. When I look at the sharp and centered 1975 set that Bill is building, with many PSA 8s, I just can't fathom how distinctions largely requiring a loupe to spot would justify 10x markups to price. I understand there is a rarity issue, but I regard this form of rarity as artificial. Were it not for the grading service assigning a numeral, I think we would generally view all cards in the PSA 8-10 spectrum as much, much more alike than different, perhaps only deciding on the rarest occasion that one looks ever so slightly better than the other and warrants a 10% markup.

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

Another class of cards I think are overrated are PSA 9s and 10s. When I look at the sharp and centered 1975 set that Bill is building, with many PSA 8s, I just can't fathom how distinctions largely requiring a loupe to spot would justify 10x markups to price. I understand there is a rarity issue, but I regard this form of rarity as artificial. Were it not for the grading service assigning a numeral, I think we would generally view all cards in the PSA 8-10 spectrum as much, much more alike than different, perhaps only deciding on the rarest occasion that one looks ever so slightly better than the other and warrants a 10% markup.

Love your thinking. +1. Over the years my collecting has really moved away from condition and become all about eye appeal, saving me much loot in the process for more cards. Especially when you crop those ugly holders out altogether, or buy raw, and enjoy the cards that way.

[brian1961]

I could not agree more about the looks of the 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle; it is so beautiful, peaceful, and extremely well-designed. I love the fact it was horizontal, which Bowman was wise to have some horizontal cards thrown into the mix for variety. Topps did this in '52, then later in 1971, with great effect (1971 Thurman Munson, one of my all-time favorites).

The size of the 51 Bowmans was a new standard for them. The Mantle would not have looked right in the size they used in 48-50. I liked their "new" size.

Then come '52, Topps rolled out their "GIANT SIZE" cards, as they worded it on their wax packs. Bowman countered in '53.

The competition gave us collectors among the nicest baseball cards ever rendered. ---Brian Powell

[MattyC]

I would love to have a binder set of 51B and 52B one day, just to page through the images.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

Another class of cards I think are overrated are PSA 9s and 10s. When I look at the sharp and centered 1975 set that Bill is building, with many PSA 8s, I just can't fathom how distinctions largely requiring a loupe to spot would justify 10x markups to price. I understand there is a rarity issue, but I regard this form of rarity as artificial. Were it not for the grading service assigning a numeral, I think we would generally view all cards in the PSA 8-10 spectrum as much, much more alike than different, perhaps only deciding on the rarest occasion that one looks ever so slightly better than the other and warrants a 10% markup.

Never understood how the hobby guys on Net54 look down on the PSA 10's of the post war car. PSA did a great favor to the hobby to help find rarity in non rare cards. PSA is here to stay.

Saying 'were it not for the grading service assigning a numeral' that the cards would be graded the same....perhaps..but without Jordan or Pippen, the Bulls don't win 6 championships......the grading service assigning a numeral cant be discounted..its a huge thing...just like pippen and Jordan...

[1952boyntoncollector]

the reason the 51 bowman mantle has picked up is because the 52 topps mantle is picked up even more.....

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

Never understood how the hobby guys on Net54 look down on the PSA 10's of the post war car. PSA did a great favor to the hobby to help find rarity in non rare cards. PSA is here to stay.

Saying 'were it not for the grading service assigning a numeral' that the cards would be graded the same....perhaps..but without Jordan or Pippen, the Bulls don't win 6 championships......the grading service assigning a numeral cant be discounted..its a huge thing...just like pippen and Jordan...

My issue is that the grade of 10 versus 9 is essentially arbitrary -- and some would say, probably with some justification, political. Crack some 9s and 10s out of holders, regrade them, and the results will be completely different. If you don't believe me, do it.

[Republicaninmass]

Going to crack some PSA 10s



BRB

[1952boyntoncollector]

expert opinions are always arbitrary....

its better than the alternative....heck every psa 5 on ebay the dealer says 'due for a bump, undergraded' every card that's raw that looks almost mint will be sold as mint..

people pay for the holder 'gasp' it happens...you don't need to keep submitting a cracked card if you already have a psa 10...theres value in that...

without a psa 10 or psa 9.... this is the scenario..

right now you can have maybe 54 1988 topps psa 9s and 44 psa 10s....but with no grading company we now have 2440 raw cards that are arguably 'MINT'....really lowers the value when the POP goes from 98 to 2440

for people not into grading..shouldn't be a big deal...they can buy away on raw cards or get the psa grade that's low enough they are getting it cheap.cause others don't want it in that grade..

i just think overall the psa grades is great for the hobby..and even better for the dealers......i just don't see why people complain..its win win...buy the cheaper psa cards or buy raw and you no longer competing in the graded environment..


..

[Peter_Spaeth]

Oh I agree, it doesn't have to affect anyone, I am just saying don't buy into the notion of significant merits differences between 9s and 10s.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

expert opinions are always arbitrary....

its better than the alternative....heck every psa 5 on ebay the dealer says 'due for a bump, undergraded' every card that's raw that looks almost mint will be sold as mint..

people pay for the holder 'gasp' it happens...you don't need to keep submitting a cracked card if you already have a psa 10...theres value in that...

without a psa 10 or psa 9.... this is the scenario..

right now you can have maybe 54 1988 topps psa 9s and 44 psa 10s....but with no grading company we now have 2440 raw cards that are arguably 'MINT'....really lowers the value when the POP goes from 98 to 2440

for people not into grading..shouldn't be a big deal...they can buy away on raw cards or get the psa grade that's low enough they are getting it cheap.cause others don't want it in that grade..

i just think overall the psa grades is great for the hobby..and even better for the dealers......i just don't see why people complain..its win win...buy the cheaper psa cards or buy raw and you no longer competing in the graded environment..


..

It's artificial scarcity. Two or three people can look at a card and agree about the grade. If you buy a Mint card off of Ebay and you don't agree with the grade, send it back. It doesn't matter if PSA/SCG/BCS say it's an X.x. If I don't agree, I don't want it. I see T-cards graded 5 that I'd never put in my collection, but I just bought a 3. It just boiled down to who sent the card in.

You can talk about what good grading companies have done, but they've done as much bad. They grade fake/trimmed cards. They sell grades to "favored" dealers. That's the only way that I can explain 2s in 5 holders. Then you can never own the card unless you grossly over pay.

I can attest to the crack and send it in until you get the grade. I know a dealer who sent a card, received an 8, cracked it, sent it in and got a 10. So, if there is no difference between an 8 and 10, what the OP said was correct, 9s and 10s are just overpriced 8s.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I am seeing a LOT of SGC cards these days that, to my mind, look overgraded. Particularly 5s and 6s.

[Hammerin'Hank]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

Another class of cards I think are overrated are PSA 9s and 10s. When I look at the sharp and centered 1975 set that Bill is building, with many PSA 8s, I just can't fathom how distinctions largely requiring a loupe to spot would justify 10x markups to price. I understand there is a rarity issue, but I regard this form of rarity as artificial. Were it not for the grading service assigning a numeral, I think we would generally view all cards in the PSA 8-10 spectrum as much, much more alike than different, perhaps only deciding on the rarest occasion that one looks ever so slightly better than the other and warrants a 10% markup.

The only thing keeping SOME PSA 8s from being PSA 9s is the back centering.........which I don't care that much about......or at least I don't care enough to pay 10X the price. Granted plenty of PSA 8s have centering issues on the front as well.

I'd take plenty of well centered PSA 7s, with 1 corner having minor wear, over some PSA 8's that are not as well centered but have 4 perfect corners. In fact much of my collection is made up of well centered PSA 7s with 1 corner with minor wear. To me the eye appeal is great !

IMO 50/50 to 55/45 centering with 1 corner with minor wear > 65/35 to 70/30 centering with 4 sharp corners.