OK, I'm sending my Babe Ruth to PSA for a crossover
plifter
Posts: 361
I put down a minimum grade of 4. I submitted it once before with a minimum grade of 5 and it didn't make the cut. This card has so much more eye appeal than every other PSA 4 that I've seen. Maybe I'll get a 4.5 this time around. I'm just anxious being without my Babe for 2 weeks. I'll be sending it registered mail with insurance and I also have my collection insured by Collectibles Insurance Service. I just love my Babe so much that I would be devastated if something bad happened. What do you guys think of it? I don't have a scan of the back but it's just as good as the front. I honestly feel that it is better than a 4.
0
Comments
just my .02
John
nice looking card.
Steve
Mike
PSA 4 or PSA 4.5? Yeah, I can see that, as long as GAI did not grade another card that was doctored. I sure hope not, for your sake..
It's a beauty, plifter.
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
Should get a 4.5 grade though I am not sure about a straight 5, but you never know.
Good luck. Eyebone
Steve
<< <i>I'm too scared to crack it out. I just wish I could trust PSA to evaluate it fairly even though it's in another company's holder. I have multiple reasons for wanting it in a PSA holder. First, PSA fetches the most money in case I ever need to sell it. Second, I keep it in a display case that holds 18 cards. Right now, 17 of those cards are in PSA slabs. The display will look better with all of the cards in PSA holders. I paid top dollar for that card as I felt the card was undergraded by GAI. When I was shopping for that card, this one was the best I found that was within my budget. I passed up two PSA 5's because they didn't look as good as this one. >>
Sometimes the risk is worth the reward. I say you have absolutely no chance of an upgrade to a PSA 5 if you don't crack it. So if that's your goal, it needs to be sent in raw. I'm relatively clumsy and I can crack out cards with a little patience. If I can do it, you can do it. Probably even worth your while to buy some cheap graded cards to practice on.
Mike
I would crack that bad boy and send it to PSA right away, it looks to be at least a 5, but I wouldn't be surprised if it got a 5.5 or even a 6. If that .5 scale wasen't I would say a 6, but I don't know how they will grade it, but shouldn't come back less than a 5, Nice!
Giovanni
They will crack it and grade it for you.
Afterall that is what you want?
That is what i would do.
Steve
<< <i>I would crack it out as well and submit raw. When they review in another company's holder, I don't believe they look at it objectively.
Mike >>
Unfortunately you're right. They surely don't want to be known as a softer grading company especially when looking at a card from a company like GAI.
Crack it if you want a fair grade.
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
I nip a corner on the slab. Then working over a bed I take a screwdriver and simply pry.
I have also used a hacksaw and sawed across the top with the slab in a vise.
Steve
<< <i>If you want it in a PSA holder and want a PSA opinion then leave the min grade blank.
They will crack it and grade it for you.
Afterall that is what you want?
That is what i would do.
Steve >>
I honestly didn't think of doing that. It's all boxed up at the moment waiting to go to the post office. I'm going to give it one more shot setting a minimum grade. I might go that route if it doesn't make the cut this time.
I would not do a single thing. Its only going to be one other person's opinion.
If everyone agrees here its at least a 4.5 then why risk spending or sending it to get a 4 from PSA ?
Why risk cracking yourself and ruining your gem ?
I've got a DRYDEN rookie that looks like a 10 but it was given a 7. So what ?
I know its beautiful and unless I plan to sell it, it will stay a 7.
just my 2 lincolns.
If everyone agrees here its at least a 4.5 then why risk spending or sending it to get a 4 from PSA ?
Because the holder it is in now has little to no marketability. (in general)
Crossing it to a PSA holder (even if it drops to a 4) will enhance it.
Plus PSA would like to have that card in its holder don't think that they do not.
I have seen some cards get a bump while in the GAI holder, some cross at the same
and some cross 1 grade below. The bottom line is the OP wants it in a PSA holder
and wants the PSA opinion. I agree with him!
The only problem I see with sending it in slabbed is having to pay 30.00 + again.
If the OP feels that it should have been graded higher then the 4 he know will accept.
If the card is not altered, (which I don't think it is) I see no reason why it shouldn't grade
between 4 and 5. I personally think it is much nicer then some tof the echnical net graded 4's and 5's that
I have seen. This example appears true to its grade.
JMO
Steve
Steve
honestly that would be your best approach since it's in a GAI holder.
<< <i>That is one awesome looking card.
I would not do a single thing. Its only going to be one other person's opinion.
If everyone agrees here its at least a 4.5 then why risk spending or sending it to get a 4 from PSA ?
Why risk cracking yourself and ruining your gem ?
I've got a DRYDEN rookie that looks like a 10 but it was given a 7. So what ?
I know its beautiful and unless I plan to sell it, it will stay a 7.
just my 2 lincolns. >>
I'll explain some reasoning behind the bolded sentence, above.^^
1. What little bit of good reputation GAI had, went down the dumpster with their latest incident.
2. PSA or SGC holdering that card will bring more $$, anyday, even if the grade on the label stays a 4 or 4.5.
3. I do not trust GAI due to trimmed and doctored stuff that seems to get by them more frequently. They are not as keen on this as PSA or SGC, in my opinion, and others probably agree with this.
4. I have trust in PSA and SGC, but none in GAI. I am not the only one in this circumstance.
Sweet Morsels Toffee and Chocolates
Good luck. I agree with you - send it in the GAI slab as a crossover!
But yes that is a risk
Steve
<< <i>If you crack it, remember the real RISK.....you could get it back from PSA as altered, etc...and HAVE NO HOLDER.......
Good luck. I agree with you - send it in the GAI slab as a crossover! >>
That's another thing I'm worried about. I have examined every angstrom of that card with a 10X magnifying glass and have found no signs of tampering. However, even if it hasn't been altered, you never know when the grader might make an error.
<< <i>
<< <i>If you crack it, remember the real RISK.....you could get it back from PSA as altered, etc...and HAVE NO HOLDER.......
Good luck. I agree with you - send it in the GAI slab as a crossover! >>
That's another thing I'm worried about. I have examined every angstrom of that card with a 10X magnifying glass and have found no signs of tampering. However, even if it hasn't been altered, you never know when the grader might make an error. >>
Anyone who would use "angstrom" in a sentence is too anal to take the crack risk - am I right?
How about if you sell it to me, I crack it, submit it, and you buy it back (for an appropriate price) if it grades?
I know this is a buttwad post, but I have had too many beers tonight - I apologize.
John
I don't see that card as trimmed as it has 4 soft corners.
was it recolored? I would need the card in hand to see.
The OP has minimal risk IMO of that card grading RAW.
The best scenario (IMO) is for them to crack it and grade it, have them grade it with NO minimum, it is what it is.
Then at least it would be in a stronger holder, have you considered SGC for this card?
They too are strong graders for that issue.
Steve
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>If you crack it, remember the real RISK.....you could get it back from PSA as altered, etc...and HAVE NO HOLDER.......
Good luck. I agree with you - send it in the GAI slab as a crossover! >>
That's another thing I'm worried about. I have examined every angstrom of that card with a 10X magnifying glass and have found no signs of tampering. However, even if it hasn't been altered, you never know when the grader might make an error. >>
Anyone who would use "angstrom" in a sentence is too anal to take the crack risk - am I right?
How about if you sell it to me, I crack it, submit it, and you buy it back (for an appropriate price) if it grades?
I know this is a buttwad post, but I have had too many beers tonight - I apologize.
John >>
+1 for angstrom
-1 for buttwad
Snorto~
I rescanned this 5 - and I believe the corners are a bit stronger - they're soft under a 10X.
I stink at this!
mike
Very nice card.
PS best bet for a 4.5 is to crack it and send it raw. There is no way PSA or SGC would purposely slab a card with a higher grade than what GAI decided on. Thats would look bad, I dont see it ever happening.
FWIW your card would have been an oldschool EX+ in 1985. Wish those more accurate (realistic) grading days were still around. Its laughable seeing sharp NRMT+ cards rated a 5 out of 10, or a VG card with 2-3 creases rated Poor.
Your Russell looks like a 6 to me.
Steve
Is there anything else that is being missed? It's possible that this card may have had a few unsuccessful trips through the PSA grading room and eventually ended up at GAI (I'm not suggesting that the owner is the original submitter).
Stone's Russell example may not be an equal comparison. From my observation, the Russell, while presenting significantly stronger corners, appears to have a surface flaw or wrinkle on the near the midpoint of the left edge extending into the background at a level that mateches between the nose and the eyes. This could be justification for the grade of PSA 5 when the card initially presents as a strong PSA 6 or weak PSA 7.
My advice and first plan of action would be (if one is certain that the card is unaltered -- a risky assumption) to crack it out and send it to PSA.
A bit safer and a little more expensive alternative would be to send the GAI holder to SGC for review. If the card is legit and meets the minimum, I am extremely confident that Derek will be objective and the GAI holder will not dissuade him. Even a straight SGC 4.5 crossover would net you a more sellable card. If it does come back in an SGC holder, you can also be much more confident in cracking it out and not having it rejected by PSA.
In any respect, as has previously been mentioned, the card would have more "market" value and greater liquidity in either a PSA or SGC holder given the same grade.
Editted for grammar...
I think that is my favorite card
Jeff
I am terrible with scans, and images, so if this doesn't help I am sorry!
I hope it works out for you because the card is very nice.
Shane
<< <i>I have a really sharp PSA 5 '33 Goudey 181, here's a picture for comparison's sake for you. You've got a beautiful card! A Ruth is a Ruth, way to be! What's the story behind it?
Jeff
I am terrible with scans, and images, so if this doesn't help I am sorry! >>
Your Babe is beautiful. It looks more like a 6 or 7 to me. There's not much of a story behind mine. I bought it already slabbed in the GAI holder. I made up my mind that I was going to buy a Ruth card. Everyone wants a card of the most famous player of all time. I shopped for several months with a budget of $3K-$4K. I went on a search for the best condition I could find within that price range. I even looked at two PSA 5's but they weren't in as good condition as this one. So, I found this one on e-bay listed for $3500. I offered $2750 hoping that the seller would make a counter offer of $3000. He declined my offer and flat out told me that he paid $2800 for it a few years back and wanted to make a profit on it. We eventually settled on a price of $3,300 provided we took the transaction off of e-bay and I purchased from him directly. That way he avoided the e-bay fees. I agreed and sent a cashiers check and got the card a week later. It's been my most prized card ever since. After buying that card, I realized that I needed to buy an insurance policy for my collection. Card collecting is quite a hobby!
I remember that, you even scanned the 2 inferior PSA 5's that time.
Steve