Grading question - chipping on back...

burke23

I have some '92 fleer basketball inserts that I am trying to put together in a graded set - the all star cards. Very prone to chipping and bad centering. I pulled a beauty Jordan, but the back has chipping on the edge (front is borderline 10). Anyone have thoughts on how much the shape of the back affects the grade?
Pete

hammered

Depends on the extent of the chipping. If it is an issue that typically has lots of reverse chipping, graders tend to accept it as part of the card and will let a little chipping slide, even toward a 9.
If the chipping is out of the ordinary for the issue, they will downgrade it, again based on extent, maybe to a 7.
Lots of those Fleer 80s inserts (rookie sensations, team leaders etc) had real glossy fronts but not backs. I remember reverse chipping was common, but don't expect a 10 if there's any at all.

ElToroLoco

So there is money to be made on 10's of the 90's inserts? I have a few of the early nineties stuff, I just don't see how there can be any tens with pack pulled cards.

hammered

On some, sure.
The 92 bask team leaders are real tough (mostly centering) so 10s should be real desirable to player collectors. 92 rookie sensations is another one (baseball)
I'm currently working on certain tougher insert sets from that era in PSA 10, and I'm subbing them all myself because it is so cheap to do so.
I pick up 91 Leaf gold rookie sets for about $1-3 apiece (complete 26-card sets), and find some that are sub-worthy.
I've already got half that set in PSA 10, and it cost me not much more than the grading fees.
Not that they're worth anything right now.
But I think small, manageable, tougher 90s insert sets like these will be a real nice alternative to the mass-produced regular sets down the road (maybe way down the road).
Collectors who collected during that era (like myself) will want to revisit it and those inserts will gain back a lot of value in high grade.
We all criticize that era for its worthless junk, but there's good stuff out there that people are almost giving away right now.

burke23

I did check the few 9's I have from the subset and they seem to have similar chipping - a 9 on the Jordan would be sweet and very realistic if my other 9's are an indication. I am guessing it would keep it from a 10 which is too bad.

Eltoroloco - you can make money on the right inserts like Hammered said. I coughed up $130 for a PSA 10 David Robinson from this set, but its a 1/1. I also paid like $7.50 for a 1/1 Joe Dumars, so obviously it can depend on the player.

Hammered - any idea what series/pack type the Team Leader cards are in from '92 basketball?

nam812

Calling Lee, calling Lee. CDsNuts please report to a 1990s basketball insert discussion.

CDsNuts

PSA will usually let some chipping on the back borders, but not if it's on the corners.

The 92 Team leaders came in series 1 rack packs which are impossible to find. PSA 10 Jordan's sell for around $700-$800, about the same price as the All Star Jordan.

hammered

I remember seeing rows and rows of those fleer racks at KMART in 92.
I should have picked them all up

The FB team leaders from the same year are also nice and equally tough - some of the nicer FB cards from that period.

burke23

FB team leaders too? I will have to check those out. The Fleer All-Pro cards from that year are fantastic looking, but I can't start on those until I get further along in my NBA All-Star set.
Thanks for the info on Team Leaders, Lee. I may have to scour the web for some rack packs - have found series II before I think, but not series I. Fingers crossed the Jordan comes back a 9 - nice addition to the set if it does.