What's the highest-graded card you've cracked out of a slab?

[trdcrdkid]

As I've mentioned on here before, I'm basically a raw card guy. I have more options for displaying them, including plastic pages; I'm much more concerned with eye appeal than with technical grades; raw cards tend to be cheaper (sometimes significantly so), which is good from my perspective because I don't plan to sell any of my cards in the foreseeable future, though I know that I can always get cards graded if I do eventually want to sell them.

Nevertheless, like any active collector of vintage cards, I have accumulated some graded cards, and like many of you, I've cracked a few cards out of their slabs. These have mostly been low-grade (SGC 10 or A) T206s that bought graded but wanted to integrate into all my raw T206s. I figure being in a slab isn't going to do such cards much good anyway, in terms of either protecting them physically or enhancing their value. My most valuable T206s, including some in pretty decent condition, are all raw, mostly bought years ago when graded cards weren't quite so ubiquitous. If I got a really valuable T206 (or other T card) today, I assume it would probably be slabbed, and I'm pretty sure I would keep it there for protection.

I know there are other aficionados of raw T and E cards on this board, and I know some of you have posted about cracking graded cards to put them in plastic sheets or otherwise add them to your other raw cards. For those of you who fit that description, what is the highest-graded card you've cracked out of a slab? Is there some grade above which you would never crack a card? Similarly, what is the most valuable card you've cracked out? I remember seeing a post a while back where somebody mentioned cracking out a Cobb and putting it in his plastic pages.

[Leon]

I generally wouldn't crack a card out of a higher grade holder. I would probably not crack out a 5 or better but it depends on the card too.

[ksabet]

I cracked a PSA 10 once...PSA didn't give me a 10.5...I was upset and vowed never to use PSA again...I think I will start a thread.


Never cracked prewar card. I have taken modern and cracked PSA 9s in order to submit to BGS for the 9.5.

[Luke]

I only collect a few sets. I like slabs for my t206 because they denote the back on the flip. However, my low grade e120 set is all raw. I've cracked a few 4s, which I think is my highest.

There's a member here (can't remember his name) with a really cool raw t206 set, which includes a PSA 7 Cy Young and a signed Larry Doyle that he cracked out.

[ullmandds]

my green cobby was a sgc 50...i cracked it because I thought it deserved a 60...now it's a 45 in a psa holder.

[packs]

I've only cracked once. It was a Gehrig Goudey graded an SGC 10. Second time around it came back SGC 20.

I've got a Koufax rookie in a PSA 5 holder that I keep thinking about cracking out and taking with me to spring training. But I can't get myself to do it.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Leon

I generally wouldn't crack a card out of a higher grade holder. I would probably not crack out a 5 or better but it depends on the card too.

This hits the nail on the head--it depends upon the card and the condition it can usually be found in--if a "5" is a relatively high grade (as it is with most unaltered pre-war cards, it's too big a risk to believe you can beat the graders.

Larry

[vintagebb2014]

Here's my story. Purchased this very nice Chief Bender, SGC 50 - VG/EX 4. Both me and the Seller thought that it was under graded. Cracked it open, sent it to SGC and it comes back "A" - Authentic. Cracked it open and sent it in for a third time because of a sense of disbelief. It came back trimmed. Traded it to a friend that later sent it in and it comes backs "Altered". I'm guessing a 5th time it would come back as a fake..... Poor Chief Bender. Last I heard, he decided not to travel to the East Coast any more, he was headed to the West Coast and I look forward to hearing about his trip when he returns.

[sycks22]

I once popped a 51 Bowman Teddy ballgame in a 88 and came back a 92. That .5 bump sure helped.

[bobbyw8469]

1957 Topps basketball common SGC 8.5. Came back a PSA 8. Think I broke even due to the fact that PSA sells for more than SGC.

[LuckyLarry]

This one:

Larry