Cracking PRO and GEM Holders
MooseDog
Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
I had a couple of overgraded PRO and GEM graded cards (55T Clemente and 53T Paige) I obtained in a big collection purchased last year. After asking on these boards about cracking those holders I was told that they were very difficult to crack without messing up the card. I put them in my TO DO pile and basically forgot about them as I didn't want to deal with the trouble of cracking and possibly damaging the cards.
Not wanting to invest in power tools just to get those cards out of their holders. I tried slipping a knife (too fat), razor blade (too flimsy) and screwdriver (also too fat) to pry the dam things apart. Was about to go to Home Depot and buy a dremel tool with the saw blades when I thought of one last thing. One poster had suggested using a hammer and chisel to take off the corners, then pry the slab open with the chisel.
Found a small chisel with a very sharp 1" edge and lined it up between the crack in the slabs. Without even using the hammer I got the chisel inserted ever so slightly at an angle and carefully pushed the top up and to my surprise the corners popped right up! The card didn't even flinch! Did the same with the GEM card with the same results. Measured the cards and they seem to be sized correctly, they were WAY overgraded. The Clemente has an outside chance at a PSA 5 (was PRO 9) and the Paige is no better than a PSA 3-4 (was GEM 8).
I'm sending them off to PSA, we'll see what happens.
Not wanting to invest in power tools just to get those cards out of their holders. I tried slipping a knife (too fat), razor blade (too flimsy) and screwdriver (also too fat) to pry the dam things apart. Was about to go to Home Depot and buy a dremel tool with the saw blades when I thought of one last thing. One poster had suggested using a hammer and chisel to take off the corners, then pry the slab open with the chisel.
Found a small chisel with a very sharp 1" edge and lined it up between the crack in the slabs. Without even using the hammer I got the chisel inserted ever so slightly at an angle and carefully pushed the top up and to my surprise the corners popped right up! The card didn't even flinch! Did the same with the GEM card with the same results. Measured the cards and they seem to be sized correctly, they were WAY overgraded. The Clemente has an outside chance at a PSA 5 (was PRO 9) and the Paige is no better than a PSA 3-4 (was GEM 8).
I'm sending them off to PSA, we'll see what happens.
0
Comments
(If you want peace, prepare for War).........Semper Fi
matt
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
Dodged a bullet.
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
I hope that's what you have.
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
<< <i>Once upon a time, some people submitted unaltered cards to PRO because they heard PRO gave easy grades and they figured they could get more for the card in a PRO holder than raw (and back then, they were right).
I hope that's what you have.
Nick >>
PRO was the first company I submitted to way back when. All the cards I sent to them were unaltered and I would love to have some of them back. There was a 9.5 Dr. J rc that I think would have a shot at a PSA 9.
My Auctions
1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better
Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
<< <i>An experiment with PRO >>
Thanks Anthony, I briefly looked for that to post.
My Auctions
I did a search (again) and couldn't come up with anything on this company. Has anyone heard of it? This may be desirable to someone collecting the really obscure card-grading companies!
FYI, I did find a webpage dedicated to some third-party grading companies at this link. I sent an email to the address given and it immediately bounced back as undeliverable...
<< <i>...in a holder labeled "Premium Sports Grading" under a PSG logo... >>
Where's Stone? He started a different PSG company. I think he called it "Pogo Stick Grading."
My Auctions
<< <i>
<< <i>...in a holder labeled "Premium Sports Grading" under a PSG logo... >>
Where's Stone? He started a different PSG company. I think he called it "Pogo Stick Grading."
Oh! You're right, zef! The light from my monitor was shining on the casing -- that's the name of the company -- Pogo Stick Grading!
Calling Stone193!!
<< <i>An experiment with PRO >>
Wow. That is remarkable. How can a business like that continue to exist? I have always been under the impression that PRO and GEM severely upgrades cards....and cards not blatantly trimmed likely get grades. But that experiment...especially the two obviously trimmed cards...shows how PRO and GEM go even beyond questionable grading practices. I dont mean to judge, but do these people even realize what they're doing when they're flooding crap trimmed cards like that in the market?
And its not like people dont buy this stuff. Unsuspecting collectors...on ebay and at card shows...buy these cards thinking they've got a pretty nice bargain.
An interesting experiment would be to trim 10 cards and see what percentage comes back graded. Do this for SGC, PSA, GAI, GEM, SCD and PRO and see what the rates are.
If you have the money and time, you can replicate this maybe 5 or 6 times to get bigger sample sizes.
<< <i> I dont mean to judge, but do these people even realize what they're doing when they're flooding crap trimmed cards like that in the market? >>
They figure "hey Beckett does it, why cant we"?
matt
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.