Looking to grade and sell 1969 baseball cards
Mookie1986
Posts: 40 ✭✭
I have a nice 1969 Jackson, Mantle and Ryan. I want to grade and sell them. I know PSA fetches higher prices, but will they grade my cards fairly? Who should I send them to?
3
Comments
Beauties! You should send them to me 😎
Yep, PSA will fetch the most grade-for-grade. However, if you want a faster turn around, lower grading fee, but at a slightly lower return, then SCG is you best alternative.
I know PSA will sell for more grade-for-grade, but people have mentioned that they are grading vintage cards lower recently. I don't mind waiting, I just want objective grades, not influenced by populations, quota's, or if the grader is subconsciously comparing to modern. Or will these stand out, and get good grades from PSA?
Those cards are very nice. In the images I can see a few issues. Perhaps there is a shop in your area that does reviews? You might consider that. As PSA charges based on the grades most recent value it’s a risky endeavor to submit to them if you’re trying to maximize value.
They look like strong 7s or 8s based on a cursory review of the images. You’ll get better opinions on that than mine though.
Good luck.
Thanks for your feedback. I was thinking 7, hope for 8, and worst case 6. I just don't want a PSA 6, if it's objectively a 7 or possibly 8 from another reputable grading company.
The pics are a bit blurry, but assuming no wrinkles you are likely looking at a 7, 6, 7.
They look real nice.... I'd say at least a 7 by PSA.
Why rush ?
Pay a little extra and get the premium $ that PSA commands. (maybe 20-30 %)
Let us know how you make out.
I'm guessing 8-7-7 hehehehe
Go with PSA, if they grade too harshly, you can try someone else.
That’s my guess too. Centering on the Mantle will definitely ding it.
That Ryan and Jackson are pretty sweet. Good luck.
From SGC I think you get an 8 on the Jackson and 7's on the mantle and ryan, without closer inspection. The jackson might get an 8.5, no lower than a 7.5.
Any surface issues won't be seen in theses pics, all it takes is a slight dimple or 2 and you are looking at 5-6 for a grade. I think centering alone of Mickey gets it a 6, and down from there if there are any other issues. I would say send them in valued at 6s and hope that they call you to send them more $$ if the grades warrant it. $999 and under service for each, and hope that they call you looking for more $$.
Update: send them to SGC, 5-10 business days for $15 a card up to $1500 value. I used them for my 54 Bowman Willie Mays, Berra, and Campanella cards and they were spot on with the grades.
I have 2 psa 6 mantle's that may have a little worse centering left to right.
Nice cards. Get them PSA graded ASAP!
Thanks everyone, I sent them and a 68 Superstars card to PSA. I'll post the results and photos of them when I get them back.
If PSA grades them a 4, is it worth sending them to SGC or some other place for grading ?
I may be wrong, but I think PSA's grading has been a little biased on older cards leaning towards lower grades... any one agree with me?
Anyone ever send a PSA card to some other reputable grading company and get it back a few grades higher .. just curious. ?
Interesting article:
https://goldcardauctions.com/psagrading-or-beckettgrading/
Aside from well wishes to the OP, particularly on the Reggie RC, I'm wondering about the multi-colored dots in the name circle of the Ryan card. Is this a '69 Topps "Cupcake With Sprinkles" variation?
Enjoy the go.
Article published before PSA purchased SGC.
Op, those are nice cards and hope you do well. The pics make it difficult do give a good assessment but based on what I can see, they should get 6's or 7's. I just can't tell if there are a couple of soft corners.
Either way, the centering is pretty good. Really nice on the Reggie. That alone should bring a premium.
I guess I'll find out. I've heard that PSA was grading vintage more harshly, but I have also heard that SGC was historically tougher graders. If they come back anything less than 6, I'll send them to SGC.
Can you take them out the holder and resubmit io PSA ..chances of coming back graded the same???
hummmmm
They are currently in the grading stage at PSA. Attached are PSA's clearer images without the card savers, but still sleeved. I am almost positive they have zero surface damage or wear. Am I still looking at 7's?
My guess Mantle 6, Ryan 7, Jackson 6. Hope I am wrong and you get better grades than that. Good luck.
I agree with Brad31. good luck also
Good luck. Those are all nice cards no matter the grade.
i think that the jackson is a five or a six at best. the other two are grade six at best. great cards for a high grade raw set.
Hard to accurately guesstimate from scans, too, as PSA pays close attention to surface issues now, also, which are not evident in scans.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I believe the surfaces are the best quality of all three. If they were graded based on surface damage/wear, they would all be 10's. These cards had minimal handling. Unfortunately they were stored as a set back to back in a binder, so the corners probably aren't as good as they could have been.
Not so much wear or damage but the occasional dimple or surface wrinkle can mean the difference between a 5 and an 8.
Good luck. They are nice looking cards.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Tha backs look amazing!
hoping for 7's and 8's for you...beautiful cards!
I submitted them at the $500 max value level, and just noticed this message. I haven't gotten contacted yet (checked my junk mail), and customer service said to wait for an email. I figured that as long as they graded 6, or 7 in Ryan's case that I would have to pay more. The suspense is killing me.
Don't panic or sweat. The way they value these are subjective and may not reflect grades.
I've gotten upcharged on grades that probably shouldn't have been and not on grades that definitely should have been.
You're in Assembly (I have 2 orders that entered that this week too!) so you're on the home stretch. I can't wait to see how they end up.
I’ve never seen the on hold message for an upcharge so that must be newish in the app updates recently. Would be nice if they could handle the communication right in the app. But then there’s the PSA set registry app which makes the PSA app like a professional project.
Anyways. If there’s betting my money is on the Mantle.
I’m guessing Jackson
Dont discount surface issues so easily. PSA hammers them. I see multiple fish eyes, possible EOT on one bit that could just be a trick of the photo light, plus excess ink plainly visible on the Jackson. I see some possibility 1 is up-charged and your hammered on one other. 3rd one graders / AI systems either gonna see the surface flaw, or their eyes will skip it.
Hope you do well 🙏 but don't be disappointed. Those are still gonna be high quality for the grades. Great cards 👍
The suspense is killing me…that’s why I stick to non-sports.
Live long, and prosper.
I so want the term "artificial intelligence" to disappear. It means nothing.
I got the email today, and the card they want to upcharge is the Mantle, which they have on the updated invoice as a 7. They also have the Ryan as a 7, and the Jackson as a 5. I also sent in a 68 Superstars card that has a bad tilt, and that's listed as a 6. I know there subject to change, so I'll update when the grades are official.
Congrats. Those are solid grades for '69s.
Nice grades!
Here are the PSA provided photos.
Reggie a half grade higher would have been nice. I can't believe this 68 Superstars got a 6, and Reggie got a 5. It has a bad tilt, plus it seems to be encased crooked.
That Ryan looks great.
A PSA 5 on a card that looks that good has always, at least in the cards I have submitted, meant there was a tiny wrinkle that I missed. Nice looking group and congrats on the grades.
**Congrats on those 3 1969's. 2 7's and a near dead centered presenting above its grade 5. **
I'd be even happier for you if you were keeping them rather than as treating them solely as commodity.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
I > @82FootballWaxMemorys said:
I'm really torn. I hate selling any of my cards, and these come from a complete set, all in comparable condition. I could use the money, but maybe I'll change my mind when I have them in my hands.
Congrats, nice sub. Aaron, Mays, Clemente, Bench comparable? Might be worth it to try your luck again.
Agree with this. And I get if it is for profit you want to approach it a certain way. Personal collection could be a little different. I'd say if you can appreciate them at all and the money is not urgent delay it a little while. When its time to sell you can make money close to immediately.
In addition to those others mentioned which are incredible potential cards (Bench, Aaron Rose, Clemente) I think you want to look at any that may be good grading candidates when you look at post grade value - cost to grade.
I personally would probably overdo it cause it would be fun for me but think pure business, there is a ton of opportunity. I'd take a look at eBay Sold items for 69 Topps PSA 7. Then look at which ones make sense to submit at a lower fee with lower insured value. Possibly do separate orders if insured value is high. Aaron Mays Clemente Bench Rose Banks maybe in one category. But then just a huge list of worthy grading candidates, HOFers, if you feel they look like 7s, Brock Seaver Carlton Kaline Killebrew both Robinsons Carew McCovey Ted Williams Fingers RC Yaz Stargell. But obviously on some, if you think it will be $40 value and you pay 20, do you feel its worth your time. Also makes sense to look at it as if it was 1 to 2 grades lower would you at least break even or be close enough to make it worth the try.
I would also look at this as a situation where you can try PSA first and if it feels undergraded send those to SGC for a graded card review leaving it in the PSA holder. A lot of people on these boards have had success with nice bumps there. Myself modest success. It would just have to be a case by case thing. The Jackson, I thought was maybe an 8. I feel its ideal centering and corners surface edges look reasonably nice.
So I 100% would send that Jackson to SGC to see if they would give me one grade higher maybe 1.5 or two. It would be a case by case basis. If your Tommy John grade feels low you probably dont want to pay $15 to see if it could be a higher grade. But if you feel a grade is low on Rose Aaron Clemente Banks Bench where a PSA 7 or SGC can sell for 100 to 300 dollars, probably worth another $15 investment per card to see if you can gain 75 100 200 in value.
Would also say get something that magnifies like a loupe, magnifying glass to see if you can detect wrinkles creases surface issues that could help you decide to not submit in some cases. Best of luck whichever path you choose and thanks for sharing. Congrats on 3 incredible cards so far.
In addition to the post above, IMO it is helpful to think of the investment into the sub/order as more of a whole rather than per card, where 1 good hit can dramatically offset a couple misses or break-evens.