Game Used Bats: PSA vs Mears

swarmee · #1 02-15-2021, 05:38 AM

Make sure you read what you're getting with PSA:
https://www.psacard.com/services/batgradingstandards

Quote:

PSA/DNA GU 5
A PSA/DNA GU 5 bat must match available factory records, possess identifiable player characteristics and will, most likely, exhibit no evidence of use. In essence, this is a game ready bat that did not see action.

So PSA can rate something a 5 on a "Game Used" scale without it actually being used in a game. Always read the fine print.

Jim65 · #2 02-15-2021, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swarmee

Make sure you read what you're getting with PSA:
https://www.psacard.com/services/batgradingstandards

So PSA can rate something a 5 on a "Game Used" scale without it actually being used in a game. Always read the fine print.

Its not a game used scale, its authentication. An unused game ready bat is still authentic.

swarmee · #3 02-15-2021, 07:41 AM

When the grade itself contains the abbreviation "GU" in it, I'm not sure I agree with you. But almost none of those grades ever required the player to have used the bat himself, just to show wear. I'm sure many buyers of these grades don't realize what they're getting. Maybe they do?

Shoeless Moe · #4 02-15-2021, 07:43 AM

MEARS blows PSA out of the water.

I definitely prefer a MEARS.

Bugsy · #5 02-15-2021, 09:36 AM

I think it all depends. Nobody can be an expert on every single player's use characteristics. I have seen errors made by both, including wrong dating periods and misidentifying players. As for MEARS, I have seen some COAs that are really skimpy on details and others that are almost packets of info. PSA's standard letter is better than skimpy MEARS, but maybe not as thorough as the more robust MEARS worksheets and accompanying documentation. Are you looking to get a bat graded or talking about a graded bat? I think the quality of a letter speaks for itself when you read the details that it covers. I would say disregard the grader and read the actual documentation they present.

Mark · #6 02-15-2021, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I think it all depends. Nobody can be an expert on every single player's use characteristics. I have seen errors made by both, including wrong dating periods and misidentifying players. As for MEARS, I have seen some COAs that are really skimpy on details and others that are almost packets of info. PSA's standard letter is better than skimpy MEARS, but maybe not as thorough as the more robust MEARS worksheets and accompanying documentation. Are you looking to get a bat graded or talking about a graded bat? I think the quality of a letter speaks for itself when you read the details that it covers. I would say disregard the grader and read the actual documentation they present.

This is, of course, very good advice. In my opinion, PSA/DNA tends to be stricter,---or narrower, if they disappoint you. At times, you may think that the PSA grade fails to consider something that you think is very relevant. MEARS will sometimes take into consideration a great range of interesting details. A big difference is that MEARS doesn't follow the Vince Malta system, as PSA does, and this means that there may be differences about dating, and thus about use. I should say that most of the bats in my collection are pre-1930, so those who collect newer bats may have very different experiences.

yanks12025 · #7 02-15-2021, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

This is, of course, very good advice. In my opinion, PSA/DNA tends to be stricter,---or narrower, if they disappoint you. At times, you may think that the PSA grade fails to consider something that you think is very relevant. MEARS will sometimes take into consideration a great range of interesting details. A big difference is that MEARS doesn't follow the Vince Malta system, as PSA does, and this means that there may be differences about dating, and thus about use. I should say that most of the bats in my collection are pre-1930, so those who collect newer bats may have very different experiences.

You're spot on about dating. I saw a Aaron bat on ebay years back dated to 1960 based on Malta's book so it was a team index bat because it didn't match records. But Mears called it a 1957 and used by Aaron so it sold for alot more than it should have.

And just last month a member on this group bought a Terry bat from Mears. But after posting photos in the pickup thread, another member pointed out that it actually wasn't from the dates that Mears said.

Jobu · #8 02-16-2021, 03:01 PM

Can you offer a bit more info on what the Vince Malta system is and how there can be dating differences?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

...MEARS doesn't follow the Vince Malta system, as PSA does, and this means that there may be differences about dating, and thus about use...

eastonfalcon19 · #9 02-15-2021, 10:45 AM

There is one thing that always has confused me when it comes to PSA DNA bat authentication. I have a bat which was authenticated by PSA DNA and it came back as an Index bat. Now in the letter it does state that the player ordered that length during that time period, 12 bats to be exact. Now I've seen his bats from that time period in auction catalogs measuring the same length as mine and they are considered Pro Model bats. Those bats have nothing as far as characteristics that mine doesn't have. I've seen this with other players too. To me that's a grey area in which affects the outcome of the bat and it's price if I were to ever sell the bat. So if a particular player orders that model, length, weight, etc how is not a Pro Model and written off as a Pro Stock? I get that there's a small chance the player used it and could never find out if he did or not but there's still a chance he did especially if other's are being authenticated as such. Hopefully this makes sense.

yanks12025 · #10 02-15-2021, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastonfalcon19

There is one thing that always has confused me when it comes to PSA DNA bat authentication. I have a bat which was authenticated by PSA DNA and it came back as an Index bat. Now in the letter it does state that the player ordered that length during that time period, 12 bats to be exact. Now I've seen his bats from that time period in auction catalogs measuring the same length as mine and they are considered Pro Model bats. Those bats have nothing as far as characteristics that mine doesn't have. I've seen this with other players too. To me that's a grey area in which affects the outcome of the bat and it's price if I were to ever sell the bat. So if a particular player orders that model, length, weight, etc how is not a Pro Model and written off as a Pro Stock? I get that there's a small chance the player used it and could never find out if he did or not but there's still a chance he did especially if other's are being authenticated as such. Hopefully this makes sense.

Can you post the letter?

doug.goodman · #11 02-15-2021, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastonfalcon19

... Index bat.
... Pro Model bats.
... Pro Stock.

Adding "game used" to that list, would somebody be so kind as to educate a guy who doesn't collect bats as to the differences between the types?

And, feel free to add any that I have missed, I'm just curious.

Thanx,
Doug

PS - while I don't collect bats, I do have one. From a player with a career slash line of 1.000 / 1.000 / 2.000

Jim65 · #12 02-15-2021, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I think it all depends. Nobody can be an expert on every single player's use characteristics. I have seen errors made by both, including wrong dating periods and misidentifying players. As for MEARS, I have seen some COAs that are really skimpy on details and others that are almost packets of info. PSA's standard letter is better than skimpy MEARS, but maybe not as thorough as the more robust MEARS worksheets and accompanying documentation. Are you looking to get a bat graded or talking about a graded bat? I think the quality of a letter speaks for itself when you read the details that it covers. I would say disregard the grader and read the actual documentation they present.

The standard MEARS COA that comes their auctions is worthless, its just a printout of the auction description. When people ask about MEARS COAs, I assume they mean these since they are way more plentiful.

As you stated, the full letter and worksheet are much better.

perezfan · #13 02-15-2021, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim65

The standard MEARS COA that comes their auctions is worthless, its just a printout of the auction description. When people ask about MEARS COAs, I assume they mean these since they are way more plentiful.

As you stated, the full letter and worksheet are much better.

Yes, no comparison. The Mears full letters are very accurate and complete.

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