Has Anyone Ever Seen This?

ChasMan

I wanted to get some feedback on this. Yesterday, I opened a package of cards that I had won on auction. There were a dozen PSA 9 1970 Topps Baseball. When going through the cards to store in my collection, I noticed something very starnge with one of the cards (Gary Nolan).

It looked as if the card was in a soft sleeve, inside the PSA plastic holder. Yes, you heard right, a regular plastic sleeve. Upon closer examination, I could see that the outter perimeter of the plastic holder was the right specification; it stacked with all of the others. However, looking at the interior make-up, I could see that the four long plastic prongs that hold the card in place were off. They were wider/higher than usual in their location. In other words, if the card had been palced in there withoout the sleeve, then it would have moved around significantly, due to the extra space. The plastic sleeve made it fit almost perfect. Do not know why the edmbosser would not have caught this. It takes more effort to get a sleeve and put the card into it, than just getting a new plastic case, presumebly if they work in an assembly line format with multiple submissions.

Now, I am not a real big expert on PSA cards, having only been into graded material for a couple of years, but this is a first for me. Can I get some feedback from you guys that have submitted and/or purchased hundreds or even thousands of PSA graded items over the years?
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Virtualizard

I had one about a year ago (coincidentally ? it was also a 1970 Topps Baseball card). It was a PSA 7 or 8 that I upgraded to PSA 8 or 9, so I don't have it anymore. I also wondered about this when I first received the card and had forgotten about it until you mentioned it. Maybe someone here knows the answer.

JEB.

murcerfan

I've seen this a few times before. and i believe your card was actually oversized enough that
it would not fit between the "bumpers" without damaging the card, so they went bigger and used the mylar sleeve that is common to most "tall boy" and undersized issues.

ChasMan

Thanks Virtualizard.
I want to also point out that the card does not appear to be shaved or smaller than an original. I measured it, and it is still the standard 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". The card is correct. It is the holder than is beyond standard.

GATOR5

I myself have received a few also actually I like the sleeve the cards don't move
around as much...

PlayBall

I agree with Murcerfan. In the set I collect, I have quite a few in the mylar sleeves. The cards are perfectly fine, but they were originally cut slightly bigger, and don't fit in the prescribed holder. For anal-retentive display purposes, these can be annoying as the cards tend to fall toward the bottom of the holder, and when stood up next to others in a regular holder, it gives a rollercoaster effect.

Bernie

murcerfan

posts: 195
people agreeing with me: 1

Griffins

Actually, the majority of cards I have graded are in mylar sleeves. They are really ugly this way, flopping around. The ironic thing is that I will submit 20 cards of the same set and 12 will come back in sleeves and 8 in the fitted holders. When I've questioned it the response was that some fit, and some don't, but all the cards measure exactly the same. My best guess is that they run out of the fitted holders for some sets (the ones in question that I have are '16 Tango Eggs, '15 Cracker Jacks, '39 & '41 Play Ball, '49 Leaf, etc) and just give you whatever is laying around. When I've sent them in for reholdering and requested a specific holder they've accomodated the request, but you have to pay the reholder fee. In the end I just learned to accept it.
If PSA ever decided to go to SGC style black mattes I would gladly reholder most of my cards.

Fabfrank

I can understand the difference in holders from one issue to another depending on size. I have some 2001 SP Authentic cards and some or in the fitted holder, others are in the plastic "baggy" sleeve. I've even had cards of the same player in the different holders. One thing I did notice is that with this issue, the PSA 10's are always in the "sleeve" holder. While PSA 9's vary between the sleev and fitted holders.

theBobs

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