1973 OPC gray backs? Should PSA classify them as a set seperate from the Cream backs?

Mrcardsniper

I'm rather new to collecting the 1973 OPC PSA graded cards. I bought about 3/4 of the set from a guy who had some super nice cream back vending cards. I got almost all of his extras from the set he was putting together. All of the cards are cream backs in the PSA8 to PSA9 Range. I was going to send them in for grading. Then I read about the baseball guys wanting to seperate red and black back cards from each other on the discription header. Should we ask PSA to seperate the 1973 OPC cards into two different sets? What do you 1973 OPC PSA Registry people think? How common is a 1973 OPC in PSA8 or higher with a gray back? I only own one card graded PSA8 in a gray back.
Thanks Mrcardsniper

JusttheFacts

The cream backs came from vending. They do not have the typical OPC rough cut, and in my experience are much easier to find in high grade. The gray backs came from wax and have the rough cut that is common with OPC cards.

Had PSA distinguished the grey backs from the cream backs from the beginning, I think it would have been great. However, in order to do so now, all of the cards that were previously graded would need to be resubmitted to PSA to note the type of back. Even at $3 a card to reholder (let alone the $5 regular charge), this would be expensive for those who have already built a substantial portion of the set.

For the 1952 Topps baseball set, it made sense to note the red backs and black backs because: (1) those cards are very valuable making the cost of reholdering less significant as a percentage of the value of the card; (2) PSA offered to reholder for less than the normal $5; and (3) those cards are in great demand.

For the 1973 OPC hockey set, the cost of reholdering would be significant relative to the value of the cards (especially commons). It might make sense for PSA 9 and 10s, but probably not for any card graded lower (except perhaps Orr and Robinson).

Good luck with your set. Although the 73 OPC's are more plentiful than other OPC sets from the same period, the red and green borders make getting high grades more difficult than with many other sets (although the cream back vending make it slightly easier). Putting together a high grade gray back set would present quite a challenge.

John