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Define a "common"

Steve1124Steve1124 Posts: 198 ✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
When PSA offers these specials, for example, saying "1950s commons", how does one define a "common"? I know there are OBVIOUS examples, but can one reasonably argue that any NON Hall-of-Famer is a "common"? Or who's to say who a "Star" is (and thus NOT a "common")? I wouldn't try to send in a 'Mantle' or 'Mays' or 'Ted Williams' card under a "commons" special, but what about other marginal players that didn't make it to the HOF, but who are nevertheless very popular, and by many considered a "star", or "semi-star"? How does one draw the line at who is a "common"?

Comments

  • envoy98envoy98 Posts: 4,000 ✭✭
    ahh...that is the eternal question. I just pulled all my HOF'ers out of my 60's submission (33 cards) that will now wait until they allow them. They aren't worth $12+ to grade. So in my box they will sit. My 50+ card submission just turned into 23. PSA doesn't need the money I guess. image
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  • theczartheczar Posts: 1,590 ✭✭
    according to phone call i made to psa a while back, a common is anyone not listed by mane in the smr. normally they are called singles.
  • envoy98envoy98 Posts: 4,000 ✭✭
    Damn...well, I guess that just turned my 23 card submission into a 0 card submission. Ah well, I need the xmas money for other things anyway I suppose.
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  • dgbaseballdgbaseball Posts: 825 ✭
    I asked the question in Oct specifically about the 1959 Ted Williams Fleer set which obviously has a HOF on every card. Here is the response I got. I'd imagine, although never safe to assume, it applies generally and not just to that set..

    -----------------------------------
    They are all commons with the exception of the individual cards listed
    in the printed SMR. You can submit any of the cards not listed in the
    SMR for the special.


    Justin Mair
    Customer Service
    Collectors Universe
    Ph. 888-469-2646
    Fax 949-833-7955
    My Auctions
  • Steve1124Steve1124 Posts: 198 ✭
    Seems like it would be a good idea for PSA to INCLUDE that criteria in their verbage, when they offer their specials to include "commons", and clear up any possible confusion. But even with these guidelines, there can still be doubts. For example, if the "rule" is: "Anyone LISTED in the SMR is NOT a common", does that apply only for that year?? Suppose for example, that a player IS listed for say, 1957 and 1958 (their rookie and 2nd year), but then is NOT listed in 1959. If i then want to submit this player on a 1959 card, could it be done as a "common" (since he wasn't listed for THAT YEAR?). I'm thinking there is a lot of "grey area" here, and assume that PSA will normally give the benefit of the doubt.
  • envoy98envoy98 Posts: 4,000 ✭✭
    I've seen Mantle, Mays, Unitas, Elway all slid in on different "common" or bulk submissions where they were explicitly prohibited. I've also seen many posts where they were rejected and the submitter was phoned and told that xyz card(s) were not eligible for the special and an additional amount was neccessary to grade those cards. That is precisely what happened to me on my '50's submission and why every last card now sits in a box next to the 60's cards I just put back. <shrug> whad'ya do?
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  • HuskerDude15HuskerDude15 Posts: 14 ✭
    I have asked PSA as well. SAME RESPONSE>

    Although, I have submitted "commons" that were listed in the SMR.
    That includes; T206s , 50s and other nice cards from sets NOT listed in the book(don't know how that worked)

    It is an interpretive as a '8' versus '9' for PSA.

    I know that they do make the exception(most of the time) that if your card is in SMR and close to the same pricing as unnamed "singles" under the same year and maker, then you can usually get that through as a common.

    GOOD LUCK
    * Always looking for Pete Rose cards to improve my PSA Registered collection *

    Old School living in the Nu world !
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,435 ✭✭✭✭✭
    When I was a kid growing up in NYC - there were no commons on the Yanks roster. image

    mike
    Mike
  • DirtyHarryDirtyHarry Posts: 1,917 ✭✭✭
    What theczar said. Had the same dialogue with customer service. Rather unclear...had some discussion with other board members and their opinion is "send it in" and let them come back your way if something does not qualify under the special. Odds in your favor.

    Mike - Hahahahaha.... accurate for the most part. I think you can still slip through some singles. Gotta like guys like Hector Lopez, Johnny Blanchard, Jake Gibbs, Ruben Amoro, Hoss, Roy, et al....
    Proud of my 16x20 autographed and framed collection - all signed in person. Not big on modern - I'm stuck in the past!
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,435 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>What theczar said. Had the same dialogue with customer service. Rather unclear...had some discussion with other board members and their opinion is "send it in" and let them come back your way if something does not qualify under the special. Odds in your favor.

    Mike - Hahahahaha.... accurate for the most part. I think you can still slip through some singles. Gotta like guys like Hector Lopez, Johnny Blanchard, Jake Gibbs, Ruben Amoro, Hoss, Roy, et al.... >>


    Prime example Harry:

    image

    image
    Mike
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