THE MARKEL REPORT: Are Graded Baseball Cards Being “Juiced” (Aesthetically Enhanced)?

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Compare these two 1967 Topps Sammy Ellis cards below. Not only do the print marks match, but
there is matching surface scuffing on Ellis' pitching arm (forearm and bicep).



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an exceptionally good comparison of the same card. We were able to make a 6 megabyte
scan of the raw card – front and back - before it was sold to this devious card dealer.

Notice the tiny dots on the top border on the left front of the card above the word "SAMMY".
Even though these scans are not the same exact scale, on a proportional basis the tiny dots are
clearly closer to the top edge on the graded card. Also notice the improved corners on the graded card.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In this comparison the graded card clearly has an improved corner.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice the roughness of the top edge of the ungraded card and the smoothness of the graded
card. The corner of the graded card is clearly improved.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The same is true for the rest of the top edge of the card.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Still not convinced? Compare these two 1961 Topps Tom Cheney cards below. Notice the "snow"
and the streaks on the front. There clearly many unique features to this card:



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On these front blow-ups, look at the two tiny dots on the top border above the "P" on his cap.
Those same two dots are clearly positioned much closer to the top edge of the graded card.
In addition the corner on the graded card is sharper and squarer.




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice the roughness of the top edge of the ungraded card and the smoothness of the graded card.
Also notice the tiny dot above and slightly to the left of the vertical line between the word "ERA"
and the number "27.00" on both cards. The same dot is clearly positioned much closer to the top
edge of the graded card.




SUMMARY

These are some of the better examples of card altering work sold on eBay, however I have roughly
60 more pairs of before and after scans taken from eBay auctions which show evidence of improved
ascetics of the graded card compared to the same ungraded card. I am also convinced that this is
a majority report of what these dealers sell. I have a lot of anecdotal evidence to support this claim
as well. There are hundreds of instances where raw cards were purchased but the scans were
marginal to tell if the card was trimmed but the perp managed to get a 1 to 2 bump on the graded
card. In my vast experience, most eBay sellers of raw cards overgrade the cards they sell - not
undergrade.

[Jay Wolt]

Dan - was curious in your findings, are these cards sold by a variety of dealers
or is the majority being sold by 1 or a few, and if so, who are they?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Dan -- outstanding investigation. I hope you do something with your findings.

[botn]

Dan, Over the top work! You have done a great service to the hobby and I hope this will open collectors' eyes.

As posted on the other board, according to VCP, the seller on the graded cards in Dan's investigative report is ebay id scottsusor. Wonder if he was the submitter on those cards as well.

Thanks,

Greg

[Leon]

Dan was nice enough to follow my wishes and post this on the post war side of Net54 before it was posted over here. I told him that after about a day and a half we could move it over, as I do try to keep post war stuff in that area (at least to start with), but this is so important and such a great thread I jumped the gun a little and moved it here. It is definitely worthy of a front page spot even if it does expose the less honest part of the hobby. Of course it needs to be brought out but it would be better if it didn't exist. Great job Dan and thanks again for being so cordial. regards

[Rich Klein]

However; IIRC; any mention of his name brings poofing of threads on the PSA Boards. Very interesting -- and since I don't know all the details -- I won't say more than that.

I'd love to hear,.... The Rest of the Story

Rich

[HRBAKER]

Buy the Holder, not the Card,..............oops I mean..............

Great work btw!