GUESS THE GRADE: Jordan Rookie *GRADE IS IN*

[scmavl]

I just sent this to PSA for Walk-Through service, so after the slow Registered Mail trip it should pop pretty quickly. I bought the set from a coworker 5-6 years ago and basically gave all the other cards away awhile back (I know, I know). I have an idea of what I think it should grade, so what do you folks think? I realize it's in a sleeve, but do your best. I think the specs near the yellow border by his name are on the holder, not the card.

I'll send the first person to correctly guess it a little gift. N54 member vintagetoppsguy was nice enough to send me some large penny sleeves at no charge, so I thought a little giveaway would be good karma.

[D. Bergin]

7.5

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

7.5

That's what my thinking is, too.

[Blackie]

8

[nebboy]

Nice card - see a few small conditions that I believe keeps the card in the EX-MT range so my guess is

6.5

Hope it goes well and you get the grade your hopping for.

[stlcardsfan]

Straight 7. Awesome card

[GasHouseGang]

I was guessing 7.5 but it might slip to a 7. Nice card.

[Hxcmilkshake]

6.5 nice!!!!

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[Econteachert205]

7.5

[Rookiemonster]

Psa 5

[7nohitter]

based on those bottom corners, 6.5.....maybe a 7.

Beautiful card!

[BobbyStrawberry]

7 is my guess

[hockeyhockey]

i'll go 6 cuz PSA can be filthy animals at times

[Touch'EmAll]

Top 2 corners look nice, PSA 9 type corners. Bottom 2 corners look high end 7 type corners. Cerntering wonderful. Edges would grade 8. Assume no surface issues. In total I would go PSA 7 or 7.5 Have seen cards like that in 8 holder - especially older 50's & 60's. But the modern colored boarders/edges are tough.

[bnorth]

If sending cards to PSA has taught me anything it's that that card can easily grade anyplace from A-10,

[John1941]

I'll go with 7.

[Wid_Conroy]

Funny without seeing any responses I was thinking textbook 7.
But I’m thinking 7.5 because it’s very nicely centered

[pokerplyr80]

First thought was 8, but since someone already picked that I will say 8 5

[Wid_Conroy]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

First thought was 8, but since someone already picked that I will say 8 5

Honestly this might actually get an 8. The centering is excellent , and I’m not sure the corners are that bad.... some white showing but still sharp

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Wid_Conroy

Honestly this might actually get an 8. The centering is excellent , and I’m not sure the corners are that bad.... some white showing but still sharp

Plus they could easily be fixed.

It's a very nice cards good luck on the grade.

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by Wid_Conroy

Honestly this might actually get an 8. The centering is excellent , and I’m not sure the corners are that bad.... some white showing but still sharp

I think if this wasn't a Jordan RC, it might get an 8. Or if I'd sent it in 5 years ago. Nowadays, I think they'll overscrutinize it based on the notoriety of the card. I'm thinking 7.5, as that is the grade it deserves. If it comes in at anything less than a 6.5 I'll be quite displeased.

[scmavl]

Arrived at PSA yesterday, has been logged, and is now "In Grading". Should know something by tomorrow, I'd think.

[Peter_Spaeth]

8

[scmavl]

Please be right, Peter.

It's now at Quality Assurance 2, the final step before shipping.

[scmavl]

Grade is in. A freaking 5. I'm at a loss (although Dustin guessed it). There is obviously no wrinkle, or it would top off at a 4. I do not get it.

[KangsKards]

On the first pass I was thinking it was a bit nicer than I did after really scrutinizing, best you can online. That's kind of the good news, that it's a card when you or anyone else looks at it, they're likely to think, "Dang, that's a really nice Jordan rookie."

When I looked a few more times after the first I was thinking 6.5. I'm pretty surprised about a 5. But then I remember PSA is an awful, horrid company. Joe Orlando should wear a mask and carry a gun every 15 days. My attorney has instructed me to include, "That's all my opinion."

[Rookiemonster]

Originally Posted by scmavl

Grade is in. A freaking 5. I'm at a loss (although Dustin guessed it). There is obviously no wrinkle, or it would top off at a 4. I do not get it.

Let me start by saying sorry that you were disappointed. I’m sure everyone would agree that it’s a beautiful card and any one of us would gladly put it in out collection.

My grade was based off the corners and edges (mainly the bottom left) . Also it could be the pic but it appears to have some discoloration on the back. Again congrats on a epic piece .

[BRoberts]

Based on what can be seen in the photos, that makes little to no sense.

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by Rookiemonster

My grade was based off the corners and edges (mainly the bottom left) . Also it could be the pic but it appears to have some discoloration on the back. Again congrats on a epic piece .

Thanks Dustin, your prize will be in the mail soon. As for the back, that’s just the photo because the back was clean as a whistle. I guess since I got it in before the price hike, I’m paying for it one way or the other.

[swarmee]

A surface wrinkle can get a 5, per their grading scale. Usually on the back of the card.

[slidekellyslide]

I think this is just more proof that PSA is going to be harder from this point forward on all iconic cards. Has anyone watched the pop reports lately on this card? How many 10s, 9s or 8s have been added within the last 6 months?

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I think this is just more proof that PSA is going to be harder from this point forward on all iconic cards. Has anyone watched the pop reports lately on this card? How many 10s, 9s or 8s have been added within the last 6 months?

I really, really wish I'd sent this card in 5 years ago. It just sat there in a toploader forever!

[nebboy]

When I guessed the card would come back as a 6.5 I was thinking just like Dan mentioned in his post about tough grades on high profile cards. But I really surprised at seeing what the grade popped at.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by scmavl

Grade is in. A freaking 5. I'm at a loss (although Dustin guessed it). There is obviously no wrinkle, or it would top off at a 4. I do not get it.

If keeping it just be happy it is protected for now. If selling into this crazy market I would 100% crack out and Please Submit Again and see what happens.

[scmavl]

This should pop today. Anyone want to guess on how hard they're going to hammer Hank?

I was think due to the back top right corner, it can't do better than a 3.5 but now I'm just hoping for a 2!

[slinger23]

I am going with a 3 on the Aaron rookie.

On the Jordan rookie, is there a small stain on the white area of the right edge on the front?

Best looking 5 I have seen!

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by slinger23

I am going with a 3 on the Aaron rookie.

On the Jordan rookie, is there a small stain on the white area of the right edge on the front?

Best looking 5 I have seen!

I see what you're looking at. I assumed a shadow, but maybe not.

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by slinger23

I am going with a 3 on the Aaron rookie.

On the Jordan rookie, is there a small stain on the white area of the right edge on the front?

Best looking 5 I have seen!

I have never noticed it in-hand, but when I look at the photos it's in all of them. So yeah, I guess so. Eagle eye, my friend!

[D. Bergin]

It's amazing how widely the aesthetic look of a card can vary at the bottom end of the PSA grading spectrum.

I"ll go with an optimistic 3.5 on the Aaron card, even though it looks better then lots of 5's I've seen, and then will assume it will come in under a 3.

There.........I've covered all my bases.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I think this is just more proof that PSA is going to be harder from this point forward on all iconic cards. Has anyone watched the pop reports lately on this card? How many 10s, 9s or 8s have been added within the last 6 months?

Or it could be PSA being PSA. I had a friend about 20 years ago who opened a box of 1986 Fleer and pulled 3 beautiful Jordan RCs. Graded with PSA and got two 7s and one 8. He showed them to a dealer who graded a lot and he couldn't believe how under graded they were.

I think the Aaron is a 3/3.5. Hopefully better luck on that one.

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by bnorth

If keeping it just be happy it is protected for now.

Thanks Ben, this is the right way to think of it. Even though the eBay sold prices make it very tempting, it’s staying in my personal collection.

[Peter_Spaeth]

My presumption based on the pics and the OP's assessment is that it's just one more example of PSA kicking the crap out of people who aren't their favorite submitters. I'd love to see what one of them would get on the same card.

[ZiggerZagger]

I'm going to estimate a 2.5 on the Aaron. The centering and presentation really does deserve the half-grade bump, but I'm not sure they will consider those corners modern-day "3" corners.

They have gotten so tough. Unfairly so.

[dio]

PSA is BS, they don't even follow their grading scale description
submit 10 times and you get 10 different result

[scmavl]

No grade yet on the Aaron, although it was supposed to be 2-day service. Next week, I guess. It’s in QC 1 right now.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by dio

PSA is BS, they don't even follow their grading scale description
submit 10 times and you get 10 different result

Exaggerate much?

[stlcardsfan]

I agree with a 3 on Hank. Another awesome card.

[scmavl]

Grade is in on Hammerin' Hank. The '54 Aaron got a 2.5 After the Jordan, I wasn't surprised. Just happy it got the .5 bump, I guess. I also sent in a Goudey Ruth that I expected to get a 1, so at least I got that one right and it wasn't deemed Trimmed or something.

[dealme]

Originally Posted by scmavl

Grade is in on Hammerin' Hank. The '54 Aaron got a 2.5 After the Jordan, I wasn't surprised. Just happy it got the .5 bump, I guess. I also sent in a Goudey Ruth that I expected to get a 1, so at least I got that one right and it wasn't deemed Trimmed or something.

I have a PSA 2 '54 Aaron that I acquired in 2017, and quite frankly, your card is a much nicer version. Mine has four somewhat soft corners and small bit of paper loss on the front. Probably goes back your point regarding some of today's higher profile cards getting much more scrutiny. Regardless, it's a great looking card.

Cheers,
Mark

[scmavl]

Thanks, Mark.

And the Jordan arrived today. Best looking 5 I've seen!