Common card bashing
Sideplate
Posts: 141
I am fairly new to this forum, but ever since I began reading the posts a few months ago, I have noticed several off hand comments belittling the collecting of common cards that don’t have high values. Comments that imply that putting $1.00 cards in $8.00 holders is somehow stupid or even embarrassing, are really starting to gripe my butt! I, along with a bunch of other people, are SET collectors. How in the heck are you going to complete a set without all the commons? As a matter of fact, the little common cards are always harder to get in high grade than the star cards. HOF and star cards always come along sooner or later, but try finding that little $1.00 card in PSA 9 and you might be waiting and digging for years. This not to say that the really old HOF cards are not tough. I realize and appreciate the difficulties in collecting pre war cards, star or common. But mid seventies Topps sets are vary challenging in their own right, mainly due to the commons. This is what makes the chase interesting for me. You so called big time collectors who thumb their nose at common cards probably don’t know who George Theodore is. But let me tell you, when I finally got the 1974 #8 in PSA 8, I would not have traded it for 10 Mantle cards.(well, maybe I would, but I pulled a good drunk that day celebrating!) My whole point is, these $1.00 cards may not have book value, but they are the most important part of complete set collecting. This gives them a subjective value that goes far beyond the SMR.
Ken
Ken
0
Comments
Most of the set builders will tell you that the hardest cards in their set aren't the HOFers - they're the common card that always managed to get placed at the edge of a sheet and get cut improperly. Or a common card that you never see without printing problems. To me, this is what makes building a set so much fun - you gain an intimate knowledge of ALL the cards in the set.
Mike
Plenty of people have said it before and I'll say it again... If we were in this for the money then we should all have our heads examined!!! But you're right - many of us are SET collectors and you can't build sets without the commons. I've been a set collector all of my life and to me - its the only way to go.
So, if it isn't cost efficient to slab a few $.75 commons - then so be it - anybody who doesn't like it doesn't have to do it!
Nice job on completing the 74!!!!
Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!
lynnfrank@earthlink.net
outerbankyank on eBay!
No opposite here. I agree. I came to Jeb's defense and will defend my stance on this with vigor when the name calling begins. Other than that your points are well stated. I also have paid the high dollar for that common and without them there is no set. They help make up the teams that make up the history and culture od baseball cards. The people who ridicule are usally the ones that strugle with the hobby and most likely feel the hobby owes them something instead of trying to make it a better place for all.
Dave
I'm sure most everyone here will agree with you. I think that what happens is that a few people will visit this forum under various user id's just to stir things up and then they disappear. That may or may not be the case this time but I wouldn't worry about their comments.
The Theodore card was the last card Scott Wetzel needed to go psa 8 or better - it is very tough to find. I still need it in a 9 - I believe it is pop 1 now so at least it exists. I'm glad to see you posting here!
Wayne
I've premised my whole business pretty much on commons and minor stars, both raw and graded, so bashing commons would be pretty senseless. The economics of the grading of commons from certain years at certain periods of time, however, I think (as a seller, not a collector) is open to discussion (and likely to bashing if your stuck with a bunch of commons from a year that's not selling).
Setbuilders Sports Cards
Ebay: set-builders & set-builders2
I am a supporter of set collecting via graded cards and desire to nearly complete some larger sets. I simply can't afford to submit or buy every single in the sets at this time, and will have to settle for perhaps something like one-third raw in nice "probable" 8 or better shape.
I do wonder what others feel about the future for graded commons from about post 1975. I realize there are some big collections from 1976 to 1990, and a few later years also, but what about those sets not yet heavily pursued ?? Might they be possible decent investments ?? Grading fees will most likely go up from inflation alone, in say ten years. The adult status and corresponding finances for those younger collectors should make those eras more popular in ten years. Some established collectors might enjoy a few newer sets. Because there is some quality unopened product from 1983 Topps, 1986 Donruss, 1989 Fleer, and such, would it be fun and reasonably speculative to grade some top-quality commons for the future ?? Perhaps foolish, but about five years ago grading 71 Topps commons was economic insanity. None of us can know for sure, but I think it would be interesting to hear others views on these more recent but not current commons.
Whoever bashed commons collectors surely weren't Set Registry guys. We all grade low dollar cards for our sets whenever necessary. But I will say, I do think of the "value" of a high grade common before I decide to collect a set. That's why I stay with vintage sets so that I limit the extent to which I spen big $ on commons that may be tough to re-coup.
Just my 2 cents.
GoSoxBoSox
Here are a couple of reasons big dealers submitt truck loads of cards!
Text
Text
I bought a lot of 100 graded 1981-82 topps basketball from Joe Tuttle for .81 a card $81.00 + shipping. under $1.00 a card. All psa 8's. McHale rook. and many stars in 8. Bird/Magic/Alcindor er that was his name when we played against him in high school.
I'm sure JT will make the difference up on something else.
mx'er
______________
1961 topps 100%
That second link is unbelievable.
Why would he auction a group of 314 psa 10's all at once???????
I wouldn't grade them out to sell as a single lot - it seems he will take a beating. I could understand it if they were 9's or less.
Wayne
major dealers are able to submit mass quantities to PSA at super-duper discounts -- and only having the 9s or 10s ultimately slabbed. I guarantee you that Tuttle will be selling at a profit -- even if it is simply a marginal one.
Tuttle has been selling hoardes of 89 UD lately -- and I think he may have realized that the Ebay market is saturated -- and he is now just selling multiples of cards he already sold a few weeks back.
I love dealers like this as it gives me an opportunity to pick up modern 10s on the cheap.
<< <i>major dealers are able to submit mass quantities to PSA at super-duper discounts -- and only having the 9s or 10s ultimately slabbed >>
He currently has 327 PSA 8 1982 Topps ending tonight...so it looks like the 8's get slabbed as well.
Wayne...Marc has the answer!
I also love delers like Tuttle...I follow his auctions religiously. I pick up 10's for my MVP & Cy young sets all the time.
After I bought the 100 basketball cards cheap, he put up the 9's in groups of 50-75 at a time. 3 weeks in a row. Many were dups. of the cards I got. He was getting over $12.00 for many 9's. I bet in the end he made money.
Marc, I see you on many of his auctions.
mx'er
________________
1961 topps 100%
______________
1961 topps 100%
To all of those not ashamed "if 95% of it consisted of $0.50 - $2.00 commons inside of $6.00 - $8.00 holders.", keep collecting your sets and congratulations, in advance, for completing a very difficult task, no matter which idiot on a message board thinks less of you for it.
And if you really want one of those "Best of the Registry" certificates, take my previous advice and start a new set. It can be done and I will do it again with a few next year, hopefully. But that is not the reason I collect. I'm trying to complete sets that are interesting to me (and quite possibly, not as interesting to the majority of other collectors). If this gets me a certificate next year, great, if not, oh well. It's all in fun.
JEB.
Graded commons are uncommonly good. Oh man, I've said the word "commons" in my head so many times now it is losing its meaning. commons commons commons commons
Scott
1963T Dodgers in 8s
Pre-war Brooklyn 5s or higher
61 PSA 8 common over $500
Without the second level bidding war, that '61 Repulski runs you a cheap $60.
Buckwheat, where were you on that one? I thought you needed it. I recall something about a first born child in trade...
Very common for a low pop 61 common...about 10 cards will sell like the Repulski. Buck and I know (we've paid it) for sure.
mx'er
______________
1961 topps 100%
1951-present MVP 100%
1956-present Cy Young 100%
BTW..........I just received my first 10. Small submission just under the wire for the Oct. cc special. A 1984 topps#97 Lamarr Hoyt for my Cy Young set. I also got a few 9's if you 84 guys are interested.
______________
1961 topps 100%
TG...I think you're correct about the 2nd leval bidding war. When does that war end? It's been going for about 3+ years now!
mx'er
______________
1961 topps 100%