Mike Baker -- now offering a full line grading service?

[atlsprtn66]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

I can't answer this directly, but there were a number of 1952 Topps MBA graded cards that ended recently. I was surprised at how high some of the ending prices were. Apparently buyers were convinced there was significant value with this grading service

Hi, just picking up on the MB topic with my own two cents. I have been reluctant to dive in and bid on MB cards thus far. I am by no means a "grader" and my opinions are based on anecdotal evidence. For me, too many MB cards are too good to be true in terms of their appearance. Corners too sharp, colors too bright and sharp. Since I PU quite a bit of pre-war now and higher ticket items I am very reluctant to go what I perceive to be a riskier route even when the price on the MB is much better than the PSA or SGC.

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by atlsprtn66

Hi, just picking up on the MB topic with my own two cents. I have been reluctant to dive in and bid on MB cards thus far. I am by no means a "grader" and my opinions are based on anecdotal evidence. For me, too many MB cards are too good to be true in terms of their appearance. Corners too sharp, colors too bright and sharp. Since I PU quite a bit of pre-war now and higher ticket items I am very reluctant to go what I perceive to be a riskier route even when the price on the MB is much better than the PSA or SGC.

Your caution is well-founded. PSA said the MBA 3.5 Silver Diamond Mantle that I posted in this thread was altered.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...46#post2519846

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by gunboat82

Your caution is well-founded. PSA said the MBA 3.5 Silver Diamond Mantle that I posted in this thread was altered.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...46#post2519846

Did you submit it raw?

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Did you submit it raw?

No, it was submitted in the slab as a crossover, with a minimum requested grade of "1."

PSA initially charged me and returned it in the original slab without any notes. When I contacted customer support for an explanation, they responded with this e-mail:

""Your order did not crossover because it did not meet your minimum grade requirement that you set, meaning our graders are of the opinion that your card did not meet the standards of that minimum grade or higher. They do not come to this conclusion lightly, and more than two expert PSA Graders inspect your item, and they both must come to the same conclusion. According to our graders, there were signs of alterations on this card, and the only way to have had this item encapsulated was to set your minimum grade to authentic."

PSA was only able to review the card through the slab, but confidently stated that it was altered. PSA also has an incentive to make competitors look bad, but at the end of the day they're on record that this card was tampered with, and MBA is on record that it wasn't. I'll leave it to others to decide whether PSA is wrong or MBA is wrong.

[calvindog]

I’d love to know where on the card the alteration occurred.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I will say it's hard to be 100% in a slab, on the internet, but I am not in love with that top edge, especially looking at the back. The way the wear in the upper left corner ends is weird and that is one of the things I always look for, and both corners curve slightly down, plus the almost regular repetition of damage across the edge with a little ding at set intervals.

I wouldn't say it's conclusive because of what I have to judge by, but that's where I'd look very closely if given the opportunity

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I’d love to know where on the card the alteration occurred.

A couple other angles from when it was in-hand.




I'm no expert, but I noticed some lipping along the top edge. I have no love for PSA, but it also wouldn't surprise me if it was cleaned and MBA is just waving them through for Greg Morris.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by gunboat82

A couple other angles from when it was in-hand.




I'm no expert, but I noticed some lipping along the top edge. I have no love for PSA, but it also wouldn't surprise me if it was cleaned and MBA is just waving them through for Greg Morris.

interesting, from the new back angle it looks warped as well towards the red top section. Maybe a soak gone wrong?

Again it's all conjecture with internet pics but it's interesting.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I’d love to know where on the card the alteration occurred.

Bottom edge towards the left is highly suspect. Upper right corner from the reverse, also highly suspect. Neither appear to have natural wear. Also it could be the scan but the card is very bright. Most evidenced by the worn corners which having that much wear should be dirty.

That is the first card I have seen either in hand or in a scan by MBA that I did not like.

[sacentaur]

I spoke with a dealer yesterday (someone I didn’t know) at a Con who had a nice stack of SGC vintage (NFS) behind his table. He excitedly told me he was going to crossover grade them with MBA, which I thought was rather odd.

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by sacentaur

I spoke with a dealer yesterday (someone I didn’t know) at a Con who had a nice stack of SGC vintage (NFS) behind his table. He excitedly told me he was going to crossover grade them with MBA, which I thought was rather odd.

Who the heck is gonna spend the cash to move their Vintage cards from SGC Slabs to MBA Slabs????

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by atlsprtn66

Hi, just picking up on the MB topic with my own two cents. I have been reluctant to dive in and bid on MB cards thus far. I am by no means a "grader" and my opinions are based on anecdotal evidence. For me, too many MB cards are too good to be true in terms of their appearance. Corners too sharp, colors too bright and sharp. Since I PU quite a bit of pre-war now and higher ticket items I am very reluctant to go what I perceive to be a riskier route even when the price on the MB is much better than the PSA or SGC.

But they have stickers!

[toledo_mudhen]

Emerald Jade Evaluations

So I gave these guys a try due to the (seemingly) non stop Chaos with the Major TPGs lately.

EJE advertises Grading Service at $9.00 per card.

However, Once I got hooked up with them - they sent me a "discount" promo (Welcome) for Grading Service at $5.00 per card.

So I sent them 22 cards at the $5.00 per and (here's the kicker) - Turnaround was 10 days from the time I dropped them off at Post Office until the day that received them back.

Take a look at the examples below - Crucify the results (if you must) but I'm pretty sure that I get cards (like those I sent) graded for more of a protection measure than a "make money on the slab it's in" measure.

Overall - I'm quite satisfied with their service.

https://ejecards.com/

[perezfan]

Never heard of them until your post...

Small sample size, but the 2 grades you showed look to be spot-on. Better than PSA could do these days, at 1/3 the price, FWIW.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

You should ask how much they would charge to slab the cards without their flips. You might get down to almost free!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Presented without comment.

https://www.mbadiamond.com/report-card/SGC0077560

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

It's the Animal Farm of Grading...

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Presented without comment.

https://www.mbadiamond.com/report-card/SGC0077560

As Yogi would say, "It's Deja Vue all over again."