My first National and a pre-grading quiz (w/scans)

paleocards

Returned Saturday evening from the National in Cleveland and we had a wonderful time. I was up there with my son and a friend for two days at the convention sandwiched around a ball game at the Jake (which the Tribe won in 10 on Broussard's walk-off homer!)

The National itself was nearly overwhelming for a first-timer like myself, so many tables selling beautiful vintage cards I hardly knew where to begin. Luckily, I found 14 cards from 5 different dealers that will fit very nicely into my collection -- I'll post images of them after I've scanned them all.

There was some amazing stuff to see there: the McNall-Gretzky T206 PSA8 Wagner was on display at the PSA booth, 9 other PSA-graded T206 Wagners were lined-up at Mastronets display and the bat that Ruth used to hit the first homer in Yankee Stadium in 1923 was behind glass at another big-time auction house booth.

I brought seven of my best condition cards to the National to get them "pre-graded" at Global Authentication -- for $5 each they'll grade them and tell you the number but won't encapsulate them unless you would like them to. Since I collect raw Topps HOFers in NrMT or better condition, I wanted to use GAI's pre-grading service to verify that the cards I buy would "make-the-grade" if I ever decide to get them slabbed. All-in-all, I was pretty happy with the GAI pre-grades (although I kept all of them raw anyway...)

So here's the quiz: the following 7 images are the cards I gave to GAI to pre-grade. They are presented in chronological order. Please take a look and assign one of the following grades to each of the cards: 7.0, 7.0, 7.0, 7.5, 7.5, 8.5 & 8.5. Good luck!

Card #1 - 1959 Topps #514 Bob Gibson RC


Card #2 - 1959 Topps #559 Ernie Banks AS


Card #3 - 1961 Topps #578 Mickey Mantle AS


Card #4 - 1962 Topps #320 Hank Aaron


Card #5 - 1966 Topps Willie Mays #1


Card #6 - 1966 Topps Mickey Mantle #50


Card #7 - 1967 Topps Willie Mays #200

jrinck

This is too tough! They all look like 10's to me!

bobsbbcards

OK, I'll play.

#1 - 7.5
#2 - 8.5
#3 - 7
#4 - 7.5
#5 - 7
#6 - 7
#7 - 8.5

BugOnTheRug

me too......

7.5
8.5
7.0
7.0
7.0
8.5
7.5

RG58

Corners are impossible to discern in 2 dimensions but:

8.5
8.5
7.0
7.5
7.0
7.0
7.5

... and it didn't cost me 50$

Mantlefan

Great cards! Vintage raw is getting very scarce in this condition. My guesses:

59 Gibson 7.5
59 Banks AS 8.5
61 Mantle AS 7.0
62 Aaron 7.5
66 Mays 7.0
66 Mantle 7.0
67 Mays 8.5

wolfbear

7.0
7.5
7.0
7.0
7.5
8.5
8.5

but they all have nice eye appeal

Spahnfan

You hooked me. Very, very nice cards. I will take a S.W.A.G (Scientific Wild A$$ Gestimate) at your cards.

7.0
8.5
7.0
7.5
8.5
7.0
7.5

BugOnTheRug

Ok....timeout........time for stats at this point.

Of the first 6 'contestants' here's what we've got:

#1: 2-7.0, 3-7.5, 1-8.5
#2: 1-7.5, 5-8.5
#3: 6-7.0 !!!
#4: 2-7.0, 4-7.5
#5: 4-7.0, 1-7.5, 1-8.5
#6: 4-7.0, 2-8.5
#7: 3-7.5, 3-8.5

Interesting to see how it continues..........

But anyway, here's where we are now; Bill James' Abstract gone wild!!!

shouldabeena10

7.5
8.5
7.0
7.5
7.0
7.0
8.5

1954

Boy those all look great .
Here is my thoughts

7.5, 8.5, 7, 7.5,7,7,8.5

paleocards

Any other quiz-takers? If not, I'll post the actual pre-grades in about an hour.

ZodiacMindwarp

1. 7.0
2. 8.5
3. 7.0
4. 7.0
5. 7.5
6. 7.5
7. 8.5

spacktrack

1 7.5
2 8.5
3 7.0
4 7.0
5 7.5
6 7.0
7 8.5

paleocards

Thanks to everyone who participated -- here are the pre-grades I received from GAI:

Card #1 - 1959 Topps #514 Bob Gibson RC -- 7.0 (I was a bit surprised by this one, but on close inspection there's a lot of what I'd call "micro-print" all over Gibby, perhaps that knocked it down a peg...)

Card #2 - 1959 Topps #559 Ernie Banks AS -- 8.5 (Most everyone nailed this one -- it's a beauty.)

Card #3 - 1961 Topps #578 Mickey Mantle AS -- 7.5 (I'm happy with this grade...)

Card #4 - 1962 Topps #320 Hank Aaron -- 7.0 (Boy those '62s are tough...)

Card #5 - 1966 Topps Willie Mays #1 -- 7.5 (I love this card and I'm happy with the 7.5)

Card #6 - 1966 Topps Mickey Mantle #50 -- 8.5 (I thought this was the best of the lot and I'm glad the grader agreed...)

Card #7 - 1967 Topps Willie Mays #200 -- 7.0 (Disappointed by this one. Most of you graded this Mays much higher and it's just as gorgeous in person!)

Thanks again!

Andy

BugOnTheRug

I technically assessed the 66 mantle correctly..............may I have the mantle as a reward???

Please,............

please!..........

PLEASE !!!!!!!

BOTR

Buccaneer

As long as you are passing out cards, I really, really would love to have the 61 Mantle AS.

paleocards

Sorry Bug, no '66 Mantle for you. But you can bask in the glory of making the correct call on both 8.5's -- so you've got that going for you, which is nice...

Cubfan

Paleo - If you ever do submit them, please let us know how they turn out. I would be curious to see how different the final grades are (even if they are submitted back to GAI).

Thanks,

Keith

Spahnfan

Paleo, Those scans you posted are very sharp and crisp. What type of scanner are you using? Any particular software that you use?