Mid-Grade Collectors

[Rookiemonster]

So this thread is great because it’s what I collect! Here are a few low to mid grade gems from my collection. I never really understood why people snubbed theses cards. We’ve had a lot of conversations about high grade cards and the problem with them being in existence.

I’ve actually tried to sell card like theses and have dealers tell me that if they bought them no one would be interested because they are not high grade.

Theses cards have been played with and kept for years and cherished as I do now.

[Nick55]

Originally Posted by Rookiemonster

So this thread is great because it’s what I collect! Here are a few low to mid grade gems from my collection. I never really understood why people snubbed theses cards. We’ve had a lot of conversations about high grade cards and the problem with them being in existence.

I’ve actually tried to sell card like theses and have dealers tell me that if they bought them no one would be interested because they are not high grade.

Theses cards have been played with and kept for years and cherished as I do now.

Love 'em all. Fun to look at!

[irv]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

Hi Irv,

I always thought of collector grade as a bit lower than mid-grade up to maybe VG at the top end of the scale. Cards that are being "collected" not bought for an investment of any kind. Of course not all high end cards are strictly bought for investments purposes. Some folks just have the means to collect high grade and plenty of it.

Just my thoughts anyway.

AndyH

Thanks Andy.

That's a good explanation and one that is likely correct.

I appreciate it.

[Rookiemonster]

Originally Posted by Nick55

Love 'em all. Fun to look at!

Thanks ! I’ll post a few more later if I can.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Here's my 55 Williams in "collector grade" that was given to me by a friend. It fits right in with my collection too.

How ya like that one?

[Nick55]

Although rough, the Williams is completely viewable/readable and it was free. How can one go wrong there? Very nice!

[HOF Yankees]

I collect mid to lower end myself depends on the mid grade price and player, damage doesn't bother me either but I like a fully intacted card so when looking at them I can read the front and backs. Most of my 1960 Topps Baseball set is EX to EXMT and some of the lower end commons NM but those are the under 10.00 ones.

[Tripredacus]

I like to put cards into binders, so right there a slabbed or top loader won't do me any good, and also handling of cards and putting them in pages can damage them as well. Personally, I find there is some charm in worn, damaged or otherwise altered cards, and for the most part, I would prefer to have a card of that type in my binders.

I even had recently bought a lot of late 50s/early 60s cards where the original owner had cut up other cards to "update" his older cards, or had written on them. I need cards for a lot of players from back then, and if I can get them at a low price because they are damaged, then that is good for me.

Here is the only pic I took of the cards from this lot, and you can see other low grade cards in the picture also (like the Orlando Pena) or other of the modified cut-up cards like the Don Larsen.

[johnts1]

I collected '71 to '92 Topps! Still have them all too, and they're all pretty much minty. I have a spot set aside, in my modest, but nice, memorabilia room at home.

[steve B]

I've seldom been all that fussy about condition.

If I need a card, and it's a good deal for what it is I might buy it.
The last few years I have been passing on really worn commons, if a nice one is only a dollar or two more I may as well wait.

[Newton21089]

I mostly collect mid grade cards. These are two of my favorite cards in my collection. I think I picked both of them up for less than a $100 dollars.

[Exhibitman]

So how's everyone making out in the great slabbed card scandal of 2019? Nice to be a lower grade collector right about now: I've got no skin in the game.

[irv]

Originally Posted by irv

Over 30 yrs ago I received 148 1952 Topps cards from my Father. Since 2016, when i joined this site, I have been picking away trying my best to add to it as much as I can.

Most he gave me are in the 2 to 4 range with maybe a few 5's here and there. When I purchase cards I normally purchase in that range as they are more affordable and it keeps with the theme/condition of the cards he gave me.

I would love one/a few 8+ graded 52 Topps cards just to say I have one/some, but at the same time, knowing most are out of reach dollar wise, I am glad to be able to purchase more cards than what likely one of those would cost.

When I first joined the site, I didn't concern myself with centering much, but since then, I try my best to find decent centered cards if I can. Top to bottom bothers me a lot less than side to side centering but creases, unless they are subtle or almost invisible in scans, are usually a no go for me.

Currently I am around 306 cards and counting (FlickR link below) and I add here and there when money says I can.

In light of the recent scandal involving PWCC, Moser and PSA et al, the above bold is no longer on my wish list.
Like I said in another post, it was pointed out to me on a FB post about a current auction with some nicely graded 52 Topps cards with one being a PSA 9.
The 9 was a beautiful card to look at but my immediate thoughts were "Doctored"
Not saying it was as I have no idea but like I have stated numerous times, I find it hard to believe (sometimes) that these 60-70+ and beyond year old cards managed to stay in this condition for all these years.

[sfmays24]

After being untouched for many years, I finally sorted all my 1970-1976 Topps Baseball, Basketball and Football cards (mostly Ex-Mt) last week. I also found out I need glasses, don't recall the numbers being so hard to see on some sets.

Is anyone working on any of these sets? If so, please send me your want lists and let me know if you have any extra 1973 and 1975 Minis to trade.

Thank you,

Mike

[BigRedMachine1969]

Great thread. I really enjoy looking at all of these great cards. Here are some of my favorite mid grades from my collection.

[GasHouseGang]

I've been having a good time looking for mid grade cards for my collection.

[ASF123]

How is that 67T Aaron miscut but the 64T Rose isn't??

[IgnatiusJReilly]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I've been having a good time looking for mid grade cards for my collection.

Oh man, I love that Berra. That card is high on my priority list and you've got a great example right there. I think that's my favorite Berra card by a lot.

I posted this Musial in the pickups section, but I think it deserves a spot in this thread. I think it's a very nice example of a "mid-grade" card!

1952_Bowman_Musial_1 by boosandpearl, on Flickr

[rugbymarine]

Some great stuff here. I've learned more and more to appreciate mid-grade vintage. Here's a few of mine.

[Seven]

One poster made a comment about it before, sure while owning high graded cards would be nice, I get the same amount of joy from the lower graded pieces. I mainly target good eye appeal when I'm looking for a card, the numerical grade doesn't really matter to me.

I think it also comes down to there are Certain cards on my list that I'll never be able to afford in higher grades. I would love a high grade 34 Goudey Gehrig #61 or a high grade t206 Dark Cap Matty, or a high grade 51 Bowman Mantle. However unless I inherit a fortune from an unknown relative or happen to hit the lottery, that's not gonna happen.

Plus there's something romantic about a well worn card in my opinion. It maks you wonder how many hands it passed through? Who collected it i the first place?

[Tere1071]

In December of last year I purchased two fair conditioned 1953 Bowman color commons at a local card show and it ignited a passion I've had since the 1970s to own a complete set. I decided on putting a set together in mostly vg/ex condition as it reflected more or less the types of older cards in the 70s when I was a teenager. eBay has been my main source for purchase, about 156 of the 160 have been obtained from there. To fund my set I have been selling many of my Topps Heritage master sets and SSP variations.

Overall I would rank my set to be in vg/ex + condition with about 45% in vg/ex condition. Thirty-three cards are graded. Most of my high series is still in vg/ex condition. I have been upgrading commons to ex to ex/mint condition here and there. When I began I was able to purchase the high number commons in vg/ex shape from some wonderful eBay dealers anywhere from $3-$5 each, those days, unfortunately, seem to have disappeared. Here is a sample of some of my cards from the set:

[cardsagain74]

In addition to grade 3-5 usually looking pretty good, it often seems like there's less demand for post-war vintage in that range (compared to the many current "gotta have the card" collectors who want to spend as little as possible and thus keep a fairly high floor for the lowest grades' prices).

And naturally the scarcity and higher-end luxury feel to grade 6-7 and above often makes those a totally different ballpark than mid-grade.

So I've always felt that grade 3-5 is clearly the best combo of value and visual appeal. You'd think there would be a lot more others out there who feel the same as many of us here, but the market doesn't really dictate that. Making it the range that I usually focus on for my '50s and '60s collection.

[Natswin2019]

I'm glad this thread got bumped to the top because you guys are my kind of collectors. I like low grade cards for many of the reasons that you guys have already said. I like how it gives them a certain character and makes them feel more real. I usually don't mind if there's a visible crease or 2, if they are off center or have bad corners. The only things that bother me are paper loss, lots of writing or if part of the card are missing. I'm also a big fan of how it allows me to afford more cards in the set that I'm building or more of the random cards that I think are cool.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Natswin2019

I'm glad this thread got bumped to the top because you guys are my kind of collectors. I like low grade cards for many of the reasons that you guys have already said. I like how it gives them a certain character and makes them feel more real. I usually don't mind if there's a visible crease or 2, if they are off center or has bad corners. The only things that bother me are paper loss, lots of writing or if part of the card are missing. I'm also a big fan of how it allows me to afford more cards in the set that I'm building or more of the random cards that I think are cool and to pick up.

I look for the same type of cards as you. It's all about how the card looks, and there are plenty of lower grade cards that look just fine when they are in a binder. I'm fine with some minor creases as long as they don't have a major impact on how the card looks. I also try to avoid paper loss and writing as well as tears and pinholes. There is no way I would have nearly as much in my collection otherwise.

[pcelli]

I love your kind of collecting , its collecting in its purest form. Slab collecting can be adapted to any range of condition or pricing. I buy both..Great stuff out there in lower range. I believe most people are focused on centering over all other attributes ( my view ) but old fashioned eye appeal works for me best..

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by pcelli

I believe most people are focused on centering over all other attributes ( my view ) but old fashioned eye appeal works for me best..

Centering went from a preferences thing to a hard hobby condition judgment point in the early 2000's with the rise of TPG popularity. In the 80's and early 90's before grading, most collectors looked for cards with sharp corners over and above centering unless a card was just badly OC or miscut. Funny how times have changed. I'm not a centering freak, I guess in part because this is the era I came up in. I will generally go for a card with a better surface and image and coloring that's mildly OC, over one that is perfectly centered but lesser in those areas.

You are right though, sometimes you just have to eyeball a particular card and see how you feel about it. This is what too many slab-only collectors today seem to have lost the ability to do, in some cases it seems to me.

[KJA]

I've decided to get more into collecting lower grade vintage as it's a lot easier on my wallet and can get more for the money. Been debating though about a paper loss 57 Mantle, under a 100 dollars but the paper loss is on the front but none of the text or image of Mantle is fine and otherwise it's a great looking card. I've been okay with back paper loss if it's nothing major if it's not a blank back. But on cards like this it's tempting on something i might not otherwise get into my collection.

[bammerbb]

On my budget I need to use lower grades. I have a 58 All Star of Williams that's really nice and it's a 6. So I will keep looking for at least 5s and 6s. I grew up in late 50s and 60s and I'd like to have a nice collection of the players I enjoyed back in the day. Now if someone would let me know how to post my pics I'd sure appreciate it.

Brian (southeast Iowa's largest Yankee fan)

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by KJA

I've decided to get more into collecting lower grade vintage as it's a lot easier on my wallet and can get more for the money. Been debating though about a paper loss 57 Mantle, under a 100 dollars but the paper loss is on the front but none of the text or image of Mantle is fine and otherwise it's a great looking card. I've been okay with back paper loss if it's nothing major if it's not a blank back. But on cards like this it's tempting on something i might not otherwise get into my collection.

If it doesn't bother you, go for it. A '57 Mantle #95 for less than $100? That's basically a thing of the past.

[refz]

Typically this is my domain. I generally collect raw/graded in the 3-6 range mainly due to my wallet. Some higher/lower.

[skelly423]

I collect mid grade for two reasons. Obviously budget is the biggest, but the second is I think there's more value in mid grade cards. There is often very little visible difference between 5s and 8s or even 9s. I've got 5s and 6s that look significantly better than higher graded versions of the same card. I've yet to see a better looking version of this card in any higher grade, and I probably paid a fraction of what a registry collector paid for an 8 or 9.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by skelly423

There is often very little visible difference between 5s and 8s or even 9s. I've got 5s and 6s that look significantly better than higher graded versions of the same card.

There is certainly more variability in eye appeal in the mid-range and lower. PSA 2 through about 6 are good examples. My favorite place to play right now is a card that looks like a 6 or so with nice corners, but only got a 3 or 4 because of a wrinkle or hairline crease or some other surface issue that's difficult to see. I recently got a '66 Jim Palmer RC in a 4. Card looks like a 6 - the grade is due to a wax stain that you can't even really tell is there.

[jiw98]

I don’t mind lower to mid grade cards at all.

[MBH65]

I hope it’s okay for me to bump this thread. I just got back into the hobby a couple of months ago after being away for over 3 decades. I’m basically starting all over again. I sold off almost all of my collection over 30 years ago, except for a few of my favorite cards. It has been quite a learning experience getting up to speed with where the hobby is now. Things sure have changed since I was in the hobby back in the late 1980s.

This thread about mid-grade collecting is definitely one of the best things that I have found in my hobby re-education so far. I started out again in collecting by looking at higher grade cards and I quickly found it to be kind of stressful. I wanted to make sure that I was fine with any flaws that I could find in a card graded at something like a PSA 8 before I potentially spent money on the card. That was no fun at all.

After reading this thread and few others similar to it, I decided to settle into mid-grade cards in the 3-6 range, with an occasional 7, for cards from the 50s through 70s. It’s been more fun since then. A nicely centered card with nice color and registration in that grade range is a nice looking card and a heck of lot easier on the wallet and stress level. I can also get what seems to be infinitely more cards that way versus focusing on high graded cards.

Anyway, hello to you all from Ohio.

Michael

[JollyElm]

Hey, welcome aboard!!!

So many of us who used to seek out prime examples of cards had to develop a whole different game plan when the pandemic saw the prices on everything shoot into the stratosphere. That was a sea change of a "WTF??!!!" moment, and caused collectors to start making much 'better' purchase decisions with their budgets.

Good luck with your collecting rebirth, you'll definitely have fun here on Net54!!!

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by MBH65

I hope it’s okay for me to bump this thread.

Always! Welcome aboard!

Apparently I started this thread 6 years and 2 days ago, lol. Mid and lower grade vintage is the lifeblood of many in this hobby, I remain convinced. Many of us here are far more interested in baseball and baseball history as far as our collections are concerned, over and above our cards being "investment pieces" which might some day help us retire. It was with that notion that I asked that question 6 years ago...

This isn't even midgrade, but here is today's pickup. I'm so proud of this damn thing this is the 3rd thread I think I've posted it in, LOL.

Good to hear from you, Michael!