MBA Opinions - Mike Baker Authentic

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by gunboat82

I have a slab from MBA. The grading seems fair, given the edge wear. I've seen PSA 3s that look similar, but I've also seen PSA 5s that look worse.

That's an accurate grade. PSA will call that a 2 most of the time today though. They've completely forgotten how to grade vintage cards. SGC will usually call that a 3 now, though they're getting less consistent now as well.

The card has been cleaned though, FYI. I've seen a lot of cleaned cards in MBA slabs recently for some reason.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Snowman

The card has been cleaned though, FYI. I've seen a lot of cleaned cards in MBA slabs recently for some reason.

I can think of one...

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I can think of one...

The more things change....

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Snowman

That's an accurate grade. PSA will call that a 2 most of the time today though. They've completely forgotten how to grade vintage cards. SGC will usually call that a 3 now, though they're getting less consistent now as well.

The card has been cleaned though, FYI. I've seen a lot of cleaned cards in MBA slabs recently for some reason.

Travis, please explain the part about the card being cleaned. I have bid on MBA cards (without winning them) and would like to have a full story if possible. I am sure others may be interested, too.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Brian

Travis, please explain the part about the card being cleaned. I have bid on MBA cards (without winning them) and would like to have a full story if possible. I am sure others may be interested, too.

Most vintage cards have been cleaned. Seriously if you are buying a card in a slab there is very little chance it hasn't been cleaned in some way.

[tjisonline]

Originally Posted by Brian

Travis, please explain the part about the card being cleaned. I have bid on MBA cards (without winning them) and would like to have a full story if possible. I am sure others may be interested, too.

all you need to do is watch a few of Kurt's videos (cleaning vintage cards) to see what to look for. one obvious tell is bright white vintage cards w/ rounded corners. all vintage paper stock ages and tones over time

[Johnny630]

I have a question. Has anyone tried to submit to MBA grading crossing over your cards in GAI holders? I know he was head grader there and there was a lot of cards that would not grade with other grading companies that he slabbed with number grades in GAI holders.

[Fred]

Johnny,

I was wondering the same thing. When GAI started, I thought they were good, then after time it just got horrible. Obviously trimmed cards were slabbed with numerical grades. I wondered WTF happened.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Fred

Johnny,

I was wondering the same thing. When GAI started, I thought they were good, then after time it just got horrible. Obviously trimmed cards were slabbed with numerical grades. I wondered WTF happened.

It got way worse when he was the head grader when they changed the name to Global Authority. Many people who sent cards in never got them back. I was one of the lucky ones that after sending several emails got my cards back ungraded but still got charged for grading. At least I got my cards back. That is when I learned the BBB was completely worthless and actually can't do anything to anybody.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Fred

Johnny,

I was wondering the same thing. When GAI started, I thought they were good, then after time it just got horrible. Obviously trimmed cards were slabbed with numerical grades. I wondered WTF happened.

Exactly!!! The people that have been around a while know the past… I would be interested to know if he would put those cards in his new holder.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Fred

Johnny,

I was wondering the same thing. When GAI started, I thought they were good, then after time it just got horrible. Obviously trimmed cards were slabbed with numerical grades. I wondered WTF happened.

I wasn’t aware of Mikes affliction with GAI. I have heard bad things about GAI slabbed cards. Are any GAI cards good?

[rand1com]

I crossed a 1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle in a GAI 8.5 to a PSA 7. I thought the card might be trimmed but placed a minimum grade of 7 for the crossover and they crossed it. It was worth about $2K in the GAI 8.5 slab and I sold it for $4500 in the PSA 7 so it was worth the $250 fee.

GAI was legit in the early days and Baker was the head grading guy but was also a partner in the company and I'm sure he became overwhelmed and they took shortcuts due to being flooded with volume. I can't remember the exact details but they did a promotion of some sort that completely overwhelmed their grading capacity.