PSA Grades vs Eye Appeal, Waiting For The National To Buy, & More!! MidLife Midweek Q & A!!
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- Опубликовано: 25 июн 2024
- There was another outstanding group of questions this week in the midweek Q & A video!! Thanks to everyone who submitted a question. Don't forget to submit a question/topic for next week by simply typing your question into the comments section of this video. We cover a variety of topics, which include: comparing PSA grades to eye appeal in regards to card pricing, whether to buy now or wait for the National, and the decision of quality vs quantity in making tough decisions for your collection. Great topics that cover baseball and football cards, and players like Bart Starr, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and more!!
Some of my other recent videos:
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Avoid this Common Card Collecting Mistake: • Card Collectors Can't ...
Why to Buy the Card and Not the Grade: • The Best Advice: "Buy ...
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A Recent May 2023 Card Show Vlog: • Rocklin Card Show Vlog...
Going back in time to see what vintage cards were worth in 1986: • Baseball Cards Have Go...
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Better understanding the supply and demand of sports cards: • How to Predict the Fut...
A Recent Card Show With Tons of Vintage and t206 Cards: • This Card Show Was Loa...
My Analysis on whether Rookie Cards are Overrated: • Are Rookie Cards Reall...
My Dad's Estate Sale Find of a Lifetime; A Shoebox of Vintage Cards: • Finding a Shoebox of V...
Why PSA is Still Beating SGC: • The Reasons Why PSA is...
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Email me at: MidLifeCards@gmail.com
#vintagecards #baseballcards #sportscards #thehobby
All statements and opinions shared in this video (and all of my videos) are for entertainment purposes only, and are not investment advice. I consider Sports Cards to be a hobby, and not an investment. If you're interested in investment advice, I recommend connecting with a certified financial planner. 
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Eye appeal will always be king in my opinion.
You're obviously a seller then. Is Please Submit Again says a card is a 5.5 then the very subjective and over used term "eye appeal" has already been applied!
Mine, too.
Incredible episode. Terrific questions that collectors face everyday, with insightful, rational, and introspective responses. Your critical thinking and use of appropriate analogies make your show a must watch.
That means a lot to me. Thank you so much.
everytime I go to the national I see the same exact cards as are on ebay...just priced a bit higher. ebay is still by far the largest card show on earth.
No argument from me. But, at the national....you get to meet up with friends across the country, see the cards in person instead of in a picture, NOT pay sales tax, and not risk having them shipped through the mail.
Great topics today. The changes in grading puts pressure on me to regrade my old graded cards until I see how inconsistent the grading is. I am leaving my cards in the graded slabs no matter how old , I have decided as the cost and pain of regrading and sending the cards to SGC or PSA is not worth it. In the past I did break some of my SCD and GAIs and other early slabs and regraded but will be leaving the many hundreds of slabs as they are. Also I have never thought of limiting my collecting to just 100 cards. Its too much fun to collect and find new ways of collecting. The hobby offers so many ways to get excited, how boring it would get to limit my collecting to just a few cards. Plus it is so much fun to go to a card show and shop. Something is going to grab you that you never thought.
OF COURSE it is not worth it! Good job, not falling into their corrupt trap, as so many sheeple do.
As usual, you make a lot of really great points. The regrading and changes to the grading standards is a real issue for collectors of raw and graded cards. It makes it an extremely tough situation for know what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.
Thanks for answering my question from last week! It will be interesting to see the trajectory of your collection, and what it, will look like in even 5 years from now. Hope you and your dad have a great time at, the card show.
We had a lot of fun at the show.
I really appreciate it when you do side-by-side comparisons (like you did with the first question) or show recent sales, Graig. Good stuff as always!
Thanks. I appreciate that feedback!!
Graig, I loved your house analogy, especially since my wife and I will probably try to find our dream home or at least the final home we buy within the next two or three years. To make it more challenging, my definition of dream home is different than my spouse, but we will pray and work together, and it will happen when it is meant to be! 😊
That's a great plan.
Is your decision to transition to purchasing less cards correlated to the softening of the card market since Covid? Or have you been influenced by Darren?
Is "scaling up" = keeping up witb the Joneses? Grass isn't always greener. Assets and commodities? Aren't we talking about trading cards which have nostalgia, a story, and history?
To the one who posed the last question, keep the 10 hundred cards. If you really wanted that dream card, you would have been saving up for ir. Don't sell assuming you can buy them back later. Sell because you lost interest or want to take a profit.
This is such a great question.
PSA grades have gotten so much tougher over the years that the grade differential from early 2000s is now two grades minimum. Yeah, those 4s would get a 1.5 today. Absurd and dishonest Turner says grades have not changed. Sad someone would be like that.
Truer words were never spoken.///
There are certainly some concerning issues with the changes that have taken place across the hobby.
Hi Grieg! This is such a great topic and being around your same age I grew up on Beckett. Going in out of the hobby over the last 30+ year I started off with BVG grading and thought Psa felt like a cheap slab. I have since moved over bigger cards to SGC and now SGC 100%. Vintage cards simply look better in a tuxedo in my opinion. I hope to talk to you this weekend at the Fairfield card show, I’m setting up a table for the first time, collector ….selling doubles and things I’ve acquired to resell for hobby dollars. We’ve talked a few times but I always muff our conversation being a big fan! Ha thank you always for what you are doing, I also enjoy your calibrations with all the other great You Tubers… J.B Vintage and More…. What do you think about the name? To long… short wind it?
It's time to start firing up the videos, my friend!!
By using the house analogy, I can say I own several dream homes but also having a blast buying bunches of small cottages in great neighborhoods.
100% agree!! Depends on what each individual wants.
I enjoyed those Q & A. My question is, what post war card are you looking to buy at the National.
Great question. There are several cards from the 1948/49 Leaf set that are on my want list. Dimaggio, Musial, Williams, etc. Plus, the Banks RC and 48 Bowman Musial and Berra.
Great show Graig! It’s difficult for me to have a mindset that I would be okay walking away with a card show with not getting a card. I believe if a person like me, who only attends 2-3 shows a year, walks away empty handed, this is much different than a person who attends 10+ shows a year. Those people can be a bit more picky and know that another opportunity isn’t far down the road.
I used to feel that way. But now I also get a lot of joy at looking and talking with others at shows, and it makes the experience enough for me to be a successful day.
On deceased autos… as a collector of 50s-70s autos… The thing about folks passing away is that if you’re trying to collect *specific* things autographed (like someone’s complete topps run or 8x10 photos) there will inevitably be certain fringe items that didn’t get signed often and you can’t just wait for a signing to fill that need. Those will get more expensive quickly.
For example: I’m desperate for a signed 8x10 of Connie Hawkins in his gold west all star jersey. I’ve never seen one, and I’d pay 10x the price I would for an 8x10 of him with the Suns. Or, someone’s mid-career cards that aren’t worth very much by themselves are much harder to find signed than their rookie card which they probably signed 100+ times as many of. So, that 8th year card of a guy’s 12 year career might be the most rare auto they have.
That's a great point.
Great episode as usual Graig. Here's my question. If overnight all card values went to zero, would people's card collecting style change? My point in asking this question is, if we like a card and it's worth $5.00, should it really matter? I think sometimes collectors focus on value, value, value, rather than the cards themselves.
That's such a difficult question because it all depends on the person. For some it would and for others it wouldn't. It's a mindset.
@@MidLifeCards Exactly. I always think if you showed someone two different cards that are similar. One is worth $5 and the other is worth $100, we all of a sudden look at them much differently based on the value. You're right, the market sets our mindset.
Thanks for another awesome video, Graig!
I have a question about the “hall of very good” and its place in the hobby. A lot of collectors focus on the cards of hall of famers, and it obviously makes sense because these were typically the best players and, thus, are more likely to be popular/collectable. Does this trend or habit prevent many of us from enjoying some awesome cards of some very awesome players who just weren’t great enough to be in the hof? Do you collect any cards of players in the hall of very good? I know you’ve mentioned Tommy John and Tiant, but you have hopes that they’ll be in the hof someday. Any players you collect knowing they will never make it to Cooperstown? My personal favorite is Fernando Valenzuela Thanks!
This is a fantastic question. If I am not able to use it this week, please ask it again next week.
Great questions and answers. Like the house analogy, perfect for describing collecting
Thanks so much!
Awesome video, Graig. The last question fits in exactly with my conundrum for the National, and I agree with you. If you can afford the dream house, buy the dream house!
I lean that way.
Good stuff this week Graig. The second Satchell Paige card looks like it was buried in the backyard. Being a newer slab, it looks like a top loader from the 90's. Maybe just the pic. I always thought collectors had a bit of a hoarding gene, watching youtubers, i see i was wrong.
Thanks Graig
Buried in the back yard. LOL.
The way to evaluate raw cards is to go to card shows and card stores and see what they are selling the cards for. The places I buy cards are 90 percent raw.
Good strategy
Good thoughts regarding waiting for The National.
Thanks Jake!!
Hi, Graig. With the current state of grading, the way it is. ''PSA doing PSA things.'' SGC bought by the same daddy that owns PSA. Collector's Universe. Sadly, Beckett isn't much of a factor. At least not for vintage. And CSG...well, CSG, is like an attractive girl that, you seldom call. Because you're feelings aren't that strong. Could you see yourself having your own custom made, MidLife Sports Cards slab? It seems like it, would be a fun way to collect, and enjoy the hobby. Also, I hear it would be a best seller. But, you do have some stiff competition among, a few other RUclipsrs. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks, Graig!
This is a really fun question. If I don't use this one this week, I really hope you'll ask it again next week.
Sadly won’t be in attendance this year. I recently received a head coaching position so I have to move that week. Can’t wait to see everyone’s pickups and content!
Congratulations on earning the head coaching job!! That's awesome.
Hi Graig, any luck digging up your research on PSA slab generations? You love to see a Google doc and see what you have learned. Please share, thanks.
I'm not sure I know what you mean. I did a video on this topic a while back and shared it fairly recently.
@@MidLifeCards Sorry, I must have missed it. Please forward the link. Thanks!
I don’t mind paying a little over comps for a very nice example. However no one is willing to sell an obviously over graded card for less than comps. It should go both ways
They likely will eventually lower the price if it doesn't sell.
Agreed. We all probably are that way.
Graig I do agree that graded are opinions to a point. But I was thinking, especially on the satchell paige, maybe the one on the left may have gotten a 3 because it may have been cleaned and pressed? I look at the eye appeal 90%/10% grade. At least I try. I like cards that may have a story to them.
If a card is not an opinion,....how do we explain someone submitting the same card multiple times and receiving multiple DIFFERENT grades.
When looking at a "faded" card, notice whether the red border of the flip is also faded. If so, probably it's a worse photo than the one with better color - or perhaps the better one got a little help in Photoshop. Of course that's only one aspect and doesn't affect centering, corners, creases etc.
Good comment. Amazing how many people can't figure out this simple concept.
That's the think I like about PSA flips. They have colors, which help us to know if it's the card or the image.
Regarding autographs of deceased players/deceased hall of famers, the value is dependent on the item signed. I will use Hall of fame second baseman Bobby Doerr as my example. He was 99 when he passed away in 2017, so there are a lot of Doerr autographs out in the market (like the signed hall of fame postcards- I have one of those), but I doubt there are very many copies of his playing days cards autographed. Those autographed cards from his playing days would have more value than his signed hall of fame postcards, which are more plentiful.
I think this is a terrific point.
Gave a video like. Enjoyed hearing your thoughts
Thanks so much!!
When buying older cards, from the era when kids put rubber bands around their stack of cards etc, I actually prefer some of the cards that aren’t the standard “card is centered” eye appeal in a slabbed grade.
Ex: I’d prefer a PSA 7 from 1955 with super sharp corners and edges that lost points for centering (but not so bad it achieved a qualifier) vs a PSA 7 with perfect centering but lost points due to wear because it’s so much more impressive to me that it was kept in great shape than it just happened to be centered from the factory but taken worse care of by the original owner.
That's the beauty of the hobby. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Two guys could look at the same lady and have different opinions on her attractiveness. And, it doesn't mean either one is wrong. Just different preferences and opinions.
@@MidLifeCards obviously when you get down into low grade my opinion shifts back to give me the brightest most centered card, because it’s going to have fuzzy corners and edges by then anyway
It’s interesting that many collectors who built their collections before Covid, got their cards at much cheaper prices. Yet they probably have a load of older PSA slabs where their grade is in question and slabs aren’t worth as much. Then the collectors who have built their collections in the past 5 years paid much more (especially after Covid) but have newer PSA slabs where the grades are tougher, but seem to hold their value more.
PSA has been grading for how long? How old do you consider is an old slab?
That's a really interesting point. But, some "older" grades still hold up, in my opinion. It's about the card more than the number, but you make a great point.
@@MidLifeCards As with most things, it depends. I picked up some '50s commons in PSA 8 from the same seller. These look great. Perhaps the seller had them in his personal collection for 25+ years because they were so nice.
I have found that a week or two before the National is a great time to get good deals on expensive cards. I have never been to the National so I don’t know how good the deals are.
If I wasn't going to the national, I'd be buying like crazy right now.
It truly is a travesty that untrained, or barely trained graders that receive a minimum wage salary have the power that we give them as consumers!!! It is truly unbelievable our reliance on this industry to determine values of our best and beloved vintage cards!
The sheeple can't seem to grasp this obvious fact. A massive boycott is in order.
Agreed.
I have a question for you. Is there any reason other than to get more activity on your videos you don't simply keep a list of the questions you don't use so you'd have the option of using them in future videos/weeks? This way too you wouldn't have to fear not having enough questions from week to week. Personally, I've asked a question before, it wasn't used the following week, no big deal obviously, but I'm also not posting it again.
I'm not sure I have a good answer for you, because I think you make a really good point/question. I try to pick the 5 questions that are posted each week that I think the viewers would be the most interested in. Sometimes I don't know if people are asking questions because they are truly curious about the question/response or if they're simply being nice to me and asking a question so I have questions to use. If a person asks the question twice, then to me, it means they are genuinely interested in the question/topic. I'll try to discuss this exact thing in this week's video. I'm sorry that I haven't used some of you questions, but I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to ask questions in the past.
Greg thanks for this channel it's excellent. I would spend way more on cards but get to live vicariously through this channel to satisfy that itch. I want to buy a Wilt Chamberlain rookie card but gee wiz it's pricey. My monthly card budget is $200 should I wait potentially a year or a year and a half to save up enough for one, living through these videos until then to not buy anything else, or should I consider some second year Wilt cards or autos instead? Curious what you think would be more valuable fifty years down the line the straight rookie card or something else from Mr Chamberlain? Would be buying to pass down to children and just curious what you think based on cards for other GOATS. Thanks for your time sir!
This is a really good question. If I'm not able to answer it this week, I'll try really hard to use it the following week.
I feel that the majority of the content providers act as if the cards have any defects. They are immediately a 1 or a 2. When a scale should have a spread across all grades and we are basicly forcing PSA to grade harder. Would PSA get more grief it they overgrade a card or undergrade a card? Seems to me everyone loves an undergraded card except the submitter. And everyone seems to hate an overgraded card except the seller.
I think you're absolutely correct in that summary.
Looks good for the grade and looks weak for the grade are not new phrases. Of course, those which look nicer will sell for a higher price. Keep in mind when looking at older graded 3s, 4s, and 5s, these grades have a wide eye appeal range, and PSA historically did not give many half grades. The grading companies will always run this thing.
You're probably right.
If dealers r upping the price when a card is undergraded which I have no problem with r they lowering the price on a card that is overgraded? I'm guessing they r not. Awesome show Graig
I think they aren't, but...they're probably not selling cards in that situation.
Another great video Graig! As for next weeks video, my question is what are some vintage cards that are popular cards within the hobby that you are not a huge fan of and why?
This is a fun question. I appreciate you taking the time to ask it.
@@MidLifeCards You’re welcome!
So much to say ....but I'll be "short winded "
I am looking for a 54 & 55 Kaline, both cards demand good eye appeal, due to the design .
I've looked at 100's of examples & so often the newer slabs are definitely graded more strictly.
I am starting to become suspicious of older flips and looking past the grade, drawn to the newer slabs.
So much more to say .... but I'm being "short winded"
LOL. Yeah....I wish I was short winded, but I'm just not.
Not sure if it is too late to post a question, but here goes: I have found that almost nobody collects Vintage Basketball cards or even talks about them. You have a little bit, but you are in the tiny minority. Is there a shortage of vintage basketball cards in the marketplace, or is there just not enough people collecting or even selling them? Is there a shortage of supply or demand or both? There are some very expensive rookie cards out there, but the majority of the lesser stars are quite cheap, especially raw. I love Vintage Basketball, but find it difficult to find the cards I want in decent slabbed condition. What is your opinion on the state of Vintage Basketball?
I really like this question. I'll share my thoughts on this tomorrow!!
As you've mentioned, the name of your channel reflects where you are in life currently and your card collecting journey at this stage of life. Question for your Wednesday show -- if you have the interest, energy, motivation and stamina to continue your (terrific!) channel for another 25+ years, will you change the name of your channel to LateLife Cards?
LOL. I guess you'll have to find out tomorrow!!
Since you began your RUclips channel, how has your life changed?
He has friends now. That pretend to listen when Graig, yaps away about cards. And the hobby. But occasionally...they do listen. Just occasionally, though.
I'll use this one this week.
Hey Graig, happy Friday! Question for you. Do you have any suggestions/advice for someone that has a friend spending too much of their income on cards? I understand if you wouldn't say anything by default, as it's not really your business, but isn't there a point where you should because they're close to you?
This person has openly admitted that every bit of "extra" income goes to them, and I'm noticing this spending habit impact other things in their life (home condition/car/etc). Like at what point would you say something and what would you say? There's a saying that too much of anything is bad. I don't want to come off as judgy, it's truly coming from a place of love. I feel like an intervention is way too dramatic, but have no clue how to approach it. Thanks for considering my question.
Tough question, but a great one. I'll try to use it tomorrow.
@@MidLifeCards Appreciate the well thought out response, Graig! It was very helpful, please keep up the great work.
@@MidLifeCards That was such a great response, Graig! Appreciate the time you spent to go through your thoughts/suggestions and provide reasoning for everything. I found it very helpful. Particularly the part about approaching the subject with love and making sure I'm the right messenger. Thanks so much man, you rock!
Graig, I continue to wonder who arbitrarily gave PSA the “keys to the car”…or better yet, the keys to the vault? Based on the current graders and their pay scale, the quality of grading has obviously changed rather dramatically…
Agree.
Would I sell 10 Clementes for 1 Clemente Never unless they were all off centered 😂😂😂😂.
Double D grading is where it's at.
The minimum wage professional "opinion givers" (otherwise known as PSA) have changed their standards by more than a full point. It's more like 2 points. The early '62 Mays should be a 2.5 at best, and the newer one should be a 5 (assuming no creases). Same can be said for the other cards you showed, but it's pointless to write a novel here. As for the "value" of Grading... I'll acknowledge the authenticity myself and protect the card with a One-Touch or Rigid Toploader. No need for someone else's erratic opinion, and no need to feed money to PSA (which could otherwise go towards bills or other cards). Thanks for a great video exposing PSA's ineptitude.
Fair points and well said.
Speak it brother lets use as Adam Vintage sanctuary says “lets use are own eye balls” . Comps can suck it !!! 😂😂
LOL.
When a seller has a grade 5 card with BAD eye appeal, why can't I buy that for the price of a 4? Oh, I see, the seller wants to eat cake too
Correct. But the card probably sits and doesn't sell in many cases.
The listed grading standards are the same. They are just not using their own standards anymore.
It would be nice if someone, from their company addressed those concerns in an interview, with a RUclipsr. I don't think PSA will grant, Graig an interview after the rant from yesterday, though, Darren still has a chance. ☺
Correct.
LOL.
I think what I’ve heard Nat Turner admit is that the grading standards haven’t been applied strictly and that they are now asking graders to stick more closely to their standards. This is how they can say “the standards haven’t changed” and not be lying. They’re now giving tickets for 56 in a 55mph when you used to be able to get away with 65mph
Yeah, well… I CAN’T DRIVE… 55!
Hey Mookie, it seems to me that they’ve gone from “defund the police” to hiring MP’s with tanks LOL
I’ve have a raw 66 Topps Hank Aaron There are a couple of creases across the middle of the card. The corners, edges, centering, and surface are decent. I’d be surprised if SGC grades it higher than a 1. A raw in poor shape sells for around $100 so do SGC 1’s. The card has decent eye appeal until you look close then the creases are noticeable. I’m considering sending it to SGC even though it doesn’t meet the estimated minimum $25 value added requirement I have to grade a card over buying one all ready in a slab. The other grading requirements I have are all met by the card. My process says no, but my mind says yes. What do you think?
@@chadholt1171 you trying to sell or keep?
@@brentrichards4699keep
Would you give a guy flipper burgers at McDonald's your cards to grade? Whey not? He makes three dollars more an hour than a PSA Grader... Think about it when you send your $1000 card to PSA...
Totally agree. It's insanity.