Do you grade tickets?

[perezfan]

I personally do not see it, but that's just me. I am not a fan of grading in general, and don't have any desire to seek out someone's arbitrary opinion regarding the condition of my items...

As for protection, I think these things look a lot better in an acrylic screw-down holder (or something without a bar code). To me, the bar code is ugly and modern - and it clashes with the otherwise beautiful memorabilia contained within. I see it as a violation which sort of goes against the original reason for collecting these artifacts from a more innocent time. Just my 2 cents

[Rob D.]

I have a number of vintage tickets in my collection that are graded, and the slabs don't bother me, so I've left the tickets entombed. I can't imagine, however, ever paying to have a ticket or ticket stub graded. Do I really care whether someone at PSA thinks my Bob Feller no-hitter ticket stub is a 4? Or a 5? Or a 6?

I recently picked up the ticket below, which is a proof for the first baseball game in Cleveland Stadium (July 31, 1932). During the course of nearly 30 years of collecting, I've seen less than a handful of ticket stubs to this game and never a full ticket. So buying this proof was a big deal for me. The staining and dog-eared corners would make this a PSA beater. But the thing is, if it were in mint condition, I wouldn't value it any more (or have bid any higher). Having it slabbed would add nothing for me.

[smotan_02]

If you had every opening game to every Cleveland game would that change your mind? I guess thinking about it from the point of view as a set. If I had one 1955 Topps AA football card in Mint condition, I wouldnt grade it. If I had 100 in mint, well.....

[mr2686]

I have several tickets I was going to send in to get slabbed and graded mainly so that they would be protected when being matted in any one of my team projects, but i've come to the same conclusion as Perezfan that a good quality screwdown protector is actually nicer and looks better...and less money!!

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by smotan_02

If you had every opening game to every Cleveland game would that change your mind? I guess thinking about it from the point of view as a set. If I had one 1955 Topps AA football card in Mint condition, I wouldnt grade it. If I had 100 in mint, well.....

That's a question that's very on point, Scotty. One of my passions is collecting opening-day tickets (and stubs) from Cleveland. I have about 70 different and never have given even a passing thought to having them slabbed. That's not to say I can't see why someone else would; it's just not for me.

[sox1903wschamp]

Nice ticket Rob and great collection. I am not sure if a buck and a quarter is a good deal for the upper reserve in the midst of the great depression?

I am in the camp of not grading tickets. I suppose I would buy one graded if that is what is available such as this 1915 WS game 4 below that I lost out on recently. I purchased and own the below 1916 WS Game #1 ticket and love the writing on the back and have no desire to slab it but what is interesting is it has the same top 2 corners as the slabbed ticket but I am quite sure the writing on the back that I love would drop the grade to "poor" . And I just realized Ernie Shore won both of these games .

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by sox1903wschamp

Nice ticket Rob and great collection. I am not sure if a buck and a quarter is a good deal for the upper reserve in the midst of the great depression?

I am in the camp of not grading tickets. I suppose I would buy one graded if that is what is available such as this 1915 WS game 4 below that I lost out on recently. I purchased and own the below 1916 WS Game #1 ticket and love the writing on the back and have no desire to slab it but what is interesting is it has the same top 2 corners as the slabbed ticket but I am quite sure the writing on the back that I love would drop the grade to "poor" . And I just realized Ernie Shore won both of these games .

Michael,
When it comes to collecting baseball tickets, it's never bothered me that the patron wrote something on the ticket. On the contrary, it's always indicated to me that the fan thought that it was important to add this info because they wanted to remember specifics of the event.

My own interest in collecting baseball tickets began when I came to the realization that a saved baseball ticket was the direct link to the fan's eye view of an specific event linked to sports history. Baseball tickets, especially to regular game day events, were rarely saved, instead of thrown away. Most patrons never believed that they ever had anything other than sentimental value....

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Michael,
Baseball tickets, especially to regular game day events, were rarely saved, instead of thrown away. Most patrons never believed that they ever had anything other than sentimental value....

Scott, you are so right. It's easy to see where tickets might have been saved for something obvious like a No-hitter, or 3000th hit, but other things like a players first homerun (and he then goes on to have a HOF career) or something like Rick Monday saving the flag. I can't imagine too many people saved that ticket thinking it would be an important event in baseball. By the way, anyone having one of those tickets (April 26th, 1976) please let me know

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Michael,
When it comes to collecting baseball tickets, it's never bothered me that the patron wrote something on the ticket. On the contrary, it's always indicated to me that the fan thought that it was important to add this info because they wanted to remember specifics of the event.

My own interest in collecting baseball tickets began when I came to the realization that a saved baseball ticket was the direct link to the fan's eye view of an specific event linked to sports history. Baseball tickets, especially to regular game day events, were rarely saved, instead of thrown away. Most patrons never believed that they ever had anything other than sentimental value....

Quite true Scott. I have a few Red Sox stubs from my youth that I put the score on the back and even the attendence. If I did not put the score on the stub, I put it on the front of the program (even if I scored the game). Serves has a great remembrance for me.

[Bilko G]

i love tickets and got several graded tickets. All my graded tickets were already purchased graded and i like the slabs for the protection and storage. Personally i could care less about the numerical grade and the registry though.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

I have a number of vintage tickets in my collection that are graded, and the slabs don't bother me, so I've left the tickets entombed. I can't imagine, however, ever paying to have a ticket or ticket stub graded. Do I really care whether someone at PSA thinks my Bob Feller no-hitter ticket stub is a 4? Or a 5? Or a 6?

I recently picked up the ticket below, which is a proof for the first baseball game in Cleveland Stadium (July 31, 1932). During the course of nearly 30 years of collecting, I've seen less than a handful of ticket stubs to this game and never a full ticket. So buying this proof was a big deal for me. The staining and dog-eared corners would make this a PSA beater. But the thing is, if it were in mint condition, I wouldn't value it any more (or have bid any higher). Having it slabbed would add nothing for me.

Nice dialogue on ticket collecting by Rob here. He has got one terrific Cleveland Indians ticket collection, BTW...

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I personally do not see it, but that's just me. I am not a fan of grading in general, and don't have any desire to seek out someone's arbitrary opinion regarding the condition of my items...

As for protection, I think these things look a lot better in an acrylic screw-down holder (or something without a bar code). To me, the bar code is ugly and modern - and it clashes with the otherwise beautiful memorabilia contained within. I see it as a violation which sort of goes against the original reason for collecting these artifacts from a more innocent time. Just my 2 cents

I agree with Mark whole heartedly!

BTW, collecting baseball tickets has been a huge focus of mine for about 40 years. Most die hard baseball ticket collectors that I know in the hobby do not slab their tickets.

Why do I need someone to authenticate a ticket that has a date on it? To me this seems redundant and a waste of money. It seems to me that it is slabbing just for the sake of slabbing. I don't get it and don't suppose I ever will, FWIW...