A genie offers you one of two Mantles to choose from ...

jrdolan · December 17, 2004 12:39PM

Suppose you trip over an empty bottle of Bud Light at the beach one day. You pick it up and rub the sand off -- a genie pops out. Between burps he offers you a choice:

1) 1952 Topps Mantle PSA 5 perfectly centered.

2) 1952 Topps Mantle PSA 6 a bit off center, not enough for a qualifier at the grade, maybe 68/32 top to bottom.

Taking into account your personal feelings about centering AND resale value should the need arise ... which do you choose?

JackWESQ · December 17, 2004 1:27PM

I never underestimate the value of eye appeal. Accordingly, I would go with
the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 5 perfectly centered.

/s/ JackWESQ

metalmike20 · December 17, 2004 1:31PM

Give me the centered 5 anyday! Buy the card not the grade. My question is do I get a cold Bud Light from the Genie since I took the lower grade?!?!

Mike

Stone193 · December 17, 2004 1:41PM

<< <i> A genie offers you one of two Mantles to choose from ... >>

What the hell kind of genie doesn't offer you a PSA 10?

Seriously, centering seems to win out on ebay. And since the grades are so close...take the 5 and run.

your friend
Mike

NickM · December 17, 2004 2:20PM

What makes the 5 a 5? Edge wear? Corner wear? A wrinkle?

68-32 centering is within bounds for a PSA 7, so it's not all that bad.

I'm less of a stickler on centering than many. I expect I'd go with the PSA 6.

Nick

SDSportsFan · December 17, 2004 2:40PM

To me, it's a no-brainer...I go with the 5. Centering is paramount with me.

Steve

WarHoundR69 · December 17, 2004 3:29PM

Depends on which genie you get. Barbra Eden or Robin Williams from Aladdin.

jrdolan · December 17, 2004 10:23PM

Since it's doesn't cost anything, people are taking the centered 5. But suppose you really want 7 or higher (or you hate Mantle), and you know you will sell this one. Does that change the equation?

stevek · December 17, 2004 11:48PM

My 52 Topps set (not close to completion yet) consists of all perfect or near perfect centered cards - just my preference in collecting.

<<< Since it's doesn't cost anything, people are taking the centered 5. But suppose you really want 7 or higher (or you hate Mantle), and you know you will sell this one. Does that change the equation? >>>

Interesting question - I think the PSA 6 would "generally" maybe not always, sell for more on ebay despite not being centered. I would have to take the PSA 6 for resale.

1420sports · December 18, 2004 12:04AM

The PSA 5 - I have wanted a Mantle for as long as I can remember, and a PSA 5 centered is my number one wishlist (within some reason) type of card.

WinPitcher · December 18, 2004 12:24AM

y does the genie have to be a he?

id take the 5

Knuckles · December 18, 2004 12:24AM

I would say stick those in your ear genie and hook me up with a 1911 PSA 8 Vezina

AlanAllen · December 18, 2004 1:44AM

68/32 top-bottom is not distracting to me. I wouldn't be too happy about a PSA 8 with that centering, but a 6, no problem. I'd take the 6, unless the 5 was one of those 5's that looks like a 9 but has a spidervein on the back.

Joe

ydsotter · December 18, 2004 2:03AM

if the 5 has more eye appeal, I'd take that one.

frankhardy · December 18, 2004 3:54AM

Let's see...

SMR PSA 6 = $10,000
SMR PSA 5 = $8,250

I'm taking the PSA 6, and here's why.

IF i ever did decide to sell, the PSA 6 would bring more, in my opinion. Even if the 5 had better eye appeal, people would probably still pay more for the six. The reason....they never met the genie who showed them BOTH the 5 and 6. Therefore, they wouldn't have the perfectly centered 5 to compare it to! Plus, if people are stupid enough to buy an UNGRADED, "no gurantee's it's real", raw Mantle, then they would be stupid enough to pay more for the 6!

By the way, I am not living in poverty, but I'm not rich either. I said above "IF" I ever did sell...I would eventually have to sell, because if I didn't, it would still be like me buying it because I could get thousands out of it.

Now, if I were very wealthy, I would probably prefer the perfectly centered 5, because I would be keeping it... Then on the other hand, if I were wealthy, I would just go buy the next PSA 9 or 10 that came up for sale, and tell the genie to.... well, you know!

MorrellMan · December 18, 2004 4:43AM

Buy the card. not the holder - but, in this case, all we know is the grade and centering. Since general overall condition is more important to me than centering, I'd take the 6. That might change if I knew more about the card other than what holder it was in.

Tabe · December 20, 2004 2:15AM

Centering is a huge deal for me on stuff like that, so I'd take the 5 for sure.

Tabe

bobsbbcards · December 20, 2004 2:23AM

I'd take the PSA 6. Unless the centering is grossly out of whack, it doesn't bother me in the least. Corners, edges, and surface are what I look for in a card.

Stone193 · December 20, 2004 3:09AM

<< <i>I'd take the PSA 6. Unless the centering is grossly out of whack, it doesn't bother me in the least. Corners, edges, and surface are what I look for in a card. >>

Bob
From a resale point of view, centering is very important to a lot of people but I am in agreement with you and also Mark - MorrellMan...from a personal collector point of view...I'll take the gloss, corners etc.!

This sums up how I feel...also these can be obtained at bargain basement prices!
your friend
Mike

bobsbbcards · December 20, 2004 3:36AM

Mike,
Beautiful card (even if Yogi does look like a primate).
Bob

Stone193 · December 20, 2004 3:38AM

<< <i>Mike,
Beautiful card (even if Yogi does look like a primate).
Bob >>

A genie offers you one of two Mantles to choose from ...

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