Question on grading 1980 Topps hockey

callsandputs

Hello.

Regarding grading of 1980 Topps hockey (Gretzky second year card, for example), does it matter if the player's name has been scratched off? I was looking at a Gretzky card today, and it was quite nice, but the name was scratched off. Does that count against the card's grade?

Thanks,

Jeff

Tomi

Yes. You will lose on grades with it missing. Get one with the black part still there.

LOTSOS

If you mean the actual writing then yes, that would be surface damage. If you mean the black puck that was made to be scratched off then no, It won’t impact the grade.

ahopkins

Topps issue came with black stuff over the name, and I've never seen a PSA 10 or 9 without the black stuff, but that means nothing since I've not seen them all. OPC issue does not have black stuff over the name.

LOTSOS

@ahopkins said:
Topps issue came with black stuff over the name, and I've never seen a PSA 10 or 9 without the black stuff, but that means nothing since I've not seen them all. OPC issue does not have black stuff over the name.

Ahhhh did not know that OPC came w/out the scratch off area. Learn something every day!

Tomi

The black scratch off looks ugly. I can see why people would want to scratch it off.

Desert_Ice_Sports

FYI - The black scratch off layer is only on Topps cards, not OPC... The OPC cards from that year were printed without it.

RedHeart54

I have nonetheless seen PSA graded '80 Topps with the scratched puck. I'm guessing they are few and far between but they do exist. Buyer beware.

DBesse27

@RedHeart54 said:
I have nonetheless seen PSA graded '80 Topps with the scratched puck. I'm guessing they are few and far between but they do exist. Buyer beware.

Graded, yes. But PSA 10 ? Show me.

MrHockey

I've never seen anything grade higher than a 6 with the scratched puck.

georgebailey2

There are 7s and 8s on Ebay. Did not look closely enough to determine whether they may have graded higher had they not been scratched.
It would be nice if PSA would reply within the thread, but I am sure customer service would reply to an email.

DBesse27

@georgebailey2 said:
There are 7s and 8s on Ebay. Did not look closely enough to determine whether they may have graded higher had they not been scratched.
It would be nice if PSA would reply within the thread, but I am sure customer service would reply to an email.

One PSA 7 and two PSA 8's, all of which are the same Gretzky All Star card. I wonder what that's about.

pizzathehut

Topps put the black over the puck to give Americans a guessing game on who the player is. Canadiens don't need such a game.

It does not matter to PSA whether the puck has been scratched or not.

DBesse27

@pizzathehut said:
Topps put the black over the puck to give Americans a guessing game on who the player is. Canadiens don't need such a game.

It does not matter to PSA whether the puck has been scratched or not.

If it doesn’t matter, show me a single PSA 10 with it scratched.

doubledragon

@pizzathehut said:
Topps put the black over the puck to give Americans a guessing game on who the player is. Canadiens don't need such a game.

It does not matter to PSA whether the puck has been scratched or not.

It's ok. Americans have this....

pizzathehut

@DBesse27 said:

@pizzathehut said:
Topps put the black over the puck to give Americans a guessing game on who the player is. Canadiens don't need such a game.

It does not matter to PSA whether the puck has been scratched or not.

If it doesn’t matter, show me a single PSA 10 with it scratched.

"Technically, PSA does not downgrade the card for having the box scratched off," noted Joe Orlando, PSA president. "What our graders will downgrade for is if the act of scratching has left any visible damage in the area."

pizzathehut

@doubledragon said:

@pizzathehut said:
Topps put the black over the puck to give Americans a guessing game on who the player is. Canadiens don't need such a game.

It does not matter to PSA whether the puck has been scratched or not.

It's ok. Americans have this....

Go Toronto!

DBesse27

@pizzathehut said:

@DBesse27 said:

@pizzathehut said:
Topps put the black over the puck to give Americans a guessing game on who the player is. Canadiens don't need such a game.

It does not matter to PSA whether the puck has been scratched or not.

If it doesn’t matter, show me a single PSA 10 with it scratched.

"Technically, PSA does not downgrade the card for having the box scratched off," noted Joe Orlando, PSA president. "What our graders will downgrade for is if the act of scratching has left any visible damage in the area."

That makes sense, thanks!

doubledragon

@pizzathehut said:

@doubledragon said:

@pizzathehut said:
Topps put the black over the puck to give Americans a guessing game on who the player is. Canadiens don't need such a game.

It does not matter to PSA whether the puck has been scratched or not.

It's ok. Americans have this....

Go Toronto!

We'll be back next year.

callsandputs

Thanks for the comments, everyone! Very helpful. I will probably try to get one that's already in a PSA holder.

Jeff