Question about 1973 Topps Baseball

grote15

I've been acquiring a number of PSA 9 1973 Topps cards in recent months (slowly building a set, the '73 is one of my favorite designs and it's the first card I can remember collecting as a kid), but I'm struck by how many PSA 9s have lots of white showing on the back corners. I realize that 73s are very tough to find in mint grade because of the black borders, but I'd expect better from a PSA 9 card. Does PSA take into account the black border issue and let it slide in these cases?

RonBurgundy

Yes they do and they also take into account print spots on the front much more than most years.

originalisbest

Nice design and very tough set for centering. Good luck!

Boopotts

I can't speak for 1973 baseball, but 1969 OPC hockey cards have a dark blue back and all of the 9's I've ever seen have at least some white showing.

Estil

<< <i>I've been acquiring a number of PSA 9 1973 Topps cards in recent months (slowly building a set, the '73 is one of my favorite designs and it's the first card I can remember collecting as a kid), but I'm struck by how many PSA 9s have lots of white showing on the back corners. I realize that 73s are very tough to find in mint grade because of the black borders, but I'd expect better from a PSA 9 card. Does PSA take into account the black border issue and let it slide in these cases? >>



The 1971 Topps set, not 1973, had the black borders. In fact, I was wondering why you were saying the 1973 is one of your favorite designs because IMO, it's kinda boring. Now the 1971 design, on the other hand, my second favorite only to 1975.

EDIT: Sorry, you were right, the 1973 set does have the black borders on the back. Still, not one of my favorite sets though, but hey, whatever turns ya on!

stevek

Well as we know it boils down to wear not what the corners and edges "look like" - these cards must have looked this way right off the cutting machine for whatever reason to receive a PSA 9.

I remember opening packs of Outer Limits cards in the mid-1960's as a young kid. I clearly remember a number of those cards, which had black borders, already had chipping on the edges and corners right out of the wax pack! There was no wear of course right out of the pack - just basically flaws in the cardboard/ink combination causing the chipping as they were being cut.

grote15

Well as we know it boils down to wear not what the corners and edges "look like" - these cards must have looked this way right off the cutting machine for whatever reason to receive a PSA 9.

A factory flaw like chipping should not be overlooked in the grading process IMO (and in fact it isn't in most cases--like 1980 Topps baseball for example), just like you shouldn't overlook an OC card just because it came from the factory that way. That's why it's so difficult to find mint cards from an issue like 1971 or 1986 baseball, and for me, that makes the set more appealing (some would say more frustrating) to collect. I guess I'm just more discrminating than the graders at PSA, lol!

Estil,

Don't be so fast to denigrate that 1973 design! I recall not long ago there was a poll on this forum about most popular card design by decade and the 1973 issue held its own! Of course, the 1971 & 1975 sets are the ones that get mentioned all the time, but I like to focus on something other than the obvious favorites, as each set has its own quirks and beauty of design, IMO, and the 1973 and 1972 sets are two of my favorites in that sense.

Blackborder

73 is one of the best designs and the action shots are second to none. The little league parking lot card is one of the best.

Bunker

I love the 73's! I like the action shots and it is the year I started collecting. I just recently started a registry set and I am slowly sending in cards I opened as a kid that are worthy.

This is my most recent addition just back from PSA a couple of weeks ago:

Blackborder

Here it is:

grote15

Very nice cards, guys! Thanks for posting!

Southerncards

Estil

<< <i>Here it is:

>>



Now that card looks interesting; I like interesting things like those cars in the background. I think one of the 1980 Topps commons has a few old cars in the background too (forget which though). Like remember the 1971 Nolan Ryan with the big RC sign in the background?