I hope so but based on what’s in that picture, no. Those two ‘57 Mantles look well centered but can’t tell condition otherwise. Assuming they’d grade out around a PSA 6 they may fetch $2k each.
Maybe there will be room for to add it yourself?I nabbed one of the 34 signed HoF baseballs from fanatics. I was late on 34 and 1, but I did get 4. I asked them to number it 04/34, but alas it’s against their policy.
Also, anyone here collect video games, by chance? That’s my thing, changed my life during covid collectibles boom, etc., but it’s a smaller contingent than the insanity that is sports cards.
So that's a real card they're going to ship you? Topps Now isn't some NFT thing, is it?Scored this card from Topps Now. I was too late to get anything with lower numbers. But /49 and I will love this card forever.View attachment 53605
No, they are real actual cardsSo that's a real card they're going to ship you? Topps Now isn't some NFT thing, is it?
You can buy the base card for the next few hours on Topps. I bought a base one as well. The print only however many cards are ordered in a 24 hour window.So that's a real card they're going to ship you? Topps Now isn't some NFT thing, is it?
Yup. Just the code and the picture.Just pulled a SP Stanton from a Topps Series 2 pack. The only way I knew it was a SP, is because I had just pulled the base card from the previous pack.
Other than a coincidence like that, how would someone know if a given card is a base or SP/SSP/USP? Do collectors really check the tiny serial numbers of every card? My great fear is pulling a SSP/USP and never knowing it!
Ooooh can you post a pic?Yes I think that is the case. I got a Julio Rodriguez SP the other day and it was backwards
Also check Beckett - a retired player is often an SP of some sort as well. My guess is many people throw these cards away as they don't know they've pulled something valuable.Yup. Just the code and the picture.
For Topps 22 series 2:
- Base cards end #847
- SP Short Print Variations end #865
- SSP Super Short Print Variations end #866
- SSSP/USP Ultra Short Print Variations end #867
- Advanced Stats Parallel (#/300) end #868
This wouldn't surprise me, Fanatics is an awful company.I am wondering if this is a Fanatics QA issue. There were videos in the Topps era of players signing remotely and signing an affadavit, so the risk of this is there (maybe a COVID concession) but that Meadows should have been caught on a QA for sure.
This is great advice. I've used CC for most of the set building, but didnt know they had images/etc as well.For image variants, I think Cardboard Connection and other sites often have images of the variations as well, so if you already sorted cards and don't want to strain your eyes, you can eliminate a ton of players who don't have SP/SSP/USP/etc. cards off the bat and then, if you're a visual person, might be able to recognize off of that. The image variations are fun for sure though. Only really ever hit one big one (Ohtani SSP from Series 2 last year), and found a Chavis Rookie (oh well) SP when sorting, as well as AJ Puk in Stadium Club), I think they're at their best when it's a great photo choice though - Series 2 has some really good ones in there at the SSP/Legends type cuts.
I tried but the file is too large? Looks like this though.Ooooh can you post a pic?
I pulled the #1 out of 300 advanced stats of Jake Cronenworth yesterday. Wonder if the fact it's #1 will matter.Yup. Just the code and the picture.
For Topps 22 series 2:
- Base cards end #847
- SP Short Print Variations end #865
- SSP Super Short Print Variations end #866
- SSSP/USP Ultra Short Print Variations end #867
- Advanced Stats Parallel (#/300) end #868
A 9.5 grade 1952. Jesus, that seems impossible.
Good god, that card is spectacular looking. It really blows my mind that it even exists.A 9.5 grade 1952. Jesus, that seems impossible.
Enough to pitch 14 straight complete games.
The lack of any sort or transparency with PSA really sucks. I sent a card that multiple card shop guys looked at under a microscope and with measurement tools and conclude a likely 10 but certainly a 9. And it came back an 8. For the life of me, I have no clue.I’ve sent in numerous large orders to PSA, usually been quite happy and the grading variation makes sense, but today was a nightmare. I sent in 55 cards pulled straight from well-kept packs and put into top loaders…ONE FUCKING TEN and 39 nines. I must have gotten the Eor of graders, JFC.
That's really cool. I don't even see any sold signed 1992 Bowman rookies on eBay.Pedro doing a signing.
https://powerssportsmemorabilia.com/products/pedro-martinez-autograph-signing
I thought the prices were pretty reasonable too, as far as these things go. Debating between a regular MLB ball, WS, or ASG.That's really cool. I don't even see any sold signed 1992 Bowman rookies on eBay.
I know a lot of companies are recruiting (begging) for graders – guessing they're trying to work through their backlogs with suboptimal staffing, just like the rest of us.The lack of any sort or transparency with PSA really sucks. I sent a card that multiple card shop guys looked at under a microscope and with measurement tools and conclude a likely 10 but certainly a 9. And it came back an 8. For the life of me, I have no clue.
I have a Pedro leaf rookie that came back a 10 that’s just not. It has an obviously dinged corner.
For anything in my personal collection, I just one touch and will until one of these companies is transparent in what they are doing.
In the meantime, I will continue to buy 9s for my collection that are perfect to my eyes and sell for fractions of a 10.
What were the sets? Modern US cards quality control has been atrocious the last few years. Especially Panini.I’ve sent in numerous large orders to PSA, usually been quite happy and the grading variation makes sense, but today was a nightmare. I sent in 55 cards pulled straight from well-kept packs and put into top loaders…ONE FUCKING TEN and 39 nines. I must have gotten the Eor of graders, JFC.
BGS is Dallas, right? Where does PSA grade? (Where would I have to move to)I know a lot of companies are recruiting (begging) for graders – guessing they're trying to work through their backlogs with suboptimal staffing, just like the rest of us.
I have a few friends that grade.BGS is Dallas, right? Where does PSA grade? (Where would I have to move to)
That sounds kinda fun. Is it? Can you shed a little more light on this? What exactly they do--how long per card, etc?I have a few friends that grade.
They're struggling finding graders because they barely get paid. Plenty of people with the skill to grade.
Thank you for saving me time and effort to find out. With the costs of the service, I would have thought otherwise.I have a few friends that grade.
They're struggling finding graders because they barely get paid. Plenty of people with the skill to grade.
Here's a shock: most of it is subjective.That sounds kinda fun. Is it? Can you shed a little more light on this? What exactly they do--how long per card, etc?
Prices are coming down slowly. And don't forget what prices used to be.Thank you for saving me time and effort to find out. With the costs of the service, I would have thought otherwise.
Oh, it’s Panini, but I’ve sent in many hundreds of cards from the very same packs and gotten a far more normal grade distribution. My concern is they might have started using computers mixed in with humans. I am hearing from other people the same, some orders coming in normal, others with militant grading. Moreso than in the past.What were the sets? Modern US cards quality control has been atrocious the last few years. Especially Panini.
It’s also in CA, so CoL is high.I have a few friends that grade.
They're struggling finding graders because they barely get paid. Plenty of people with the skill to grade.
You'd think this could be a work from home type of job no?It’s also in CA, so CoL is high.
Can’t imagine they’d want people taking cards home where they could be swapped out, damaged, etc etc.You'd think this could be a work from home type of job no?
Can't hurt.Oh, it’s Panini, but I’ve sent in many hundreds of cards from the very same packs and gotten a far more normal grade distribution. My concern is they might have started using computers mixed in with humans. I am hearing from other people the same, some orders coming in normal, others with militant grading. Moreso than in the past.
I’m going to crack the 9s and resub them in smaller batches, see what happens.
It’s also in CA, so CoL is high.
I don't think the ROI for that process would come close to being worth it. Being short on graders increases turnaround time, but the market has shown a willingness to (A) pay for super jacked up pricing and (B) wait a year+ for their grades.I feel like at a certain point or tier they could do it but the cards wouldn't go home with the grader. The PSA grading criteria is centering, corners, edges, and surface - they could have staff in the physical location to take very high quality photos of the card and then those photos are provided to remote graders who judge on the photos. I certainly imagine it's less precise and it'd probably make more sense to pair it with some sort of AI Grading to check for severe discrepancies (or use multiple graders) but it seems viable.
They would probably reserve on-site grading for higher tiers or higher value cards but with how opaque PSA is anyway, I doubt this makes it much less consistent. With that said, it'd make more sense to invest in some sort of scanning AI/software that can grade based off of said image and maybe just have a human sign off on it as opposed to having a human grade it at this point.
Not sure I understand how images would work for non-numbered cards.Those are all very good points. One (tiny) clarification on my idea would be that the cards don't need to be shipped to remote graders - they'd just get images (live or not). I don't think it makes any sense, to your point, to actually ship physical cards to remote grading parties for every reason you said - and ideally the photos would include numerous angles in light for surface checks.
With that said I think you're right and this really would have only made sense if someone like PSA was trying to mitigate the creation and growth of a CSG or SGC by keeping turnaround times and costs reasonable - now that the cat's out of the bag it makes less sense to rush that issue given the customer base that remained is okay with the pricing and wait.
Not sure how much less sense it makes. A PSA 9 or 10 is going to fetch a lot more money than a CSG or SGC graded card will. Maybe that will change in the future, but we're certainly not there yet. PSA (and Beckett/BGS) are the true holy grail of card grading. Let's take a few examples.Those are all very good points. One (tiny) clarification on my idea would be that the cards don't need to be shipped to remote graders - they'd just get images (live or not). I don't think it makes any sense, to your point, to actually ship physical cards to remote grading parties for every reason you said - and ideally the photos would include numerous angles in light for surface checks.
With that said I think you're right and this really would have only made sense if someone like PSA was trying to mitigate the creation and growth of a CSG or SGC by keeping turnaround times and costs reasonable - now that the cat's out of the bag it makes less sense to rush that issue given the customer base that remained is okay with the pricing and wait.