Just picked this up Gretzky rookie chance at 8.5 ??

ezyshooter · September 13, 2010 12:54PM

Been a very long time (years) since i found one worthy of grading. Usually looking for older cards 1972 or older but got an e-mail with descent pics asking if i would be interested. A person recommended me to this person. Anyways the card as you can see has rough cut all around and has the extra fluff of card all around. No wear is on the corners. Any white you see around card and near corners is extra card that didn't get cut properly. Also this is obviously the first print run as well.
I paid 560.00 for this card and have been offered 1000.00 for it. Should i take the offer of 1000.00 or should i get it graded and hope for better then a PSA 8 ? I really cannot see this card getting a lower grade then 8. What do all the Gretzky collectors think ? Any opinions are welcome. Again i have not had a Gretzky rookie graded in a long time so am i far of base here ??
Anyways here's the pics.
Cheers, Steve

ezyshooter · September 13, 2010 12:57PM

Before somebody mentions the bottom right corner, that is not wear but extra card.
Steve

SDSportsFan · September 13, 2010 1:00PM

The only thing I see is a possible very light touch to the top-right corner. I think this has a good shot at an 8.5 or maybe even a 9.

Good luck!

Steve

mtcards · September 13, 2010 1:01PM

Did all the OPC from that set have that much "fur" around the edges?

ezyshooter · September 13, 2010 1:07PM

Did all the OPC from that set have that much "fur" around the edges?

Only if you were lucky !! lol

Like usual if you don't have a rough cut it's not OPC !! Some had more then others.
Steve

Hallco · September 13, 2010 1:12PM

<< Did all the OPC from that set have that much "fur" around the edges? >>

OPC had a guy that cut the each of the cards one by one with used wire brushes back in 79!

Nah....Seriously, it's referred to as rough cut. Some people love it, some hate it. It was just the way they made em. LOTS of OPC (hockey especially) has that same...."fur"

hammered · September 13, 2010 1:16PM

Send it to PSA
If it only comes back an 8, crack it open and take his offer

Mickey71 · September 13, 2010 1:20PM

Let's forget the edges for a moment. Is it out of focus?

itzagoner · September 13, 2010 1:27PM

<< Let's forget the edges for a moment. Is it out of focus? >>

yup, registration seems a liitle bit oot of whack.

i'd take the grand, eh?

HeritageAddict · September 13, 2010 1:37PM

I tend to agree with taking the offer....that whole bird in the hand thing.

RedHeart54 · September 13, 2010 1:41PM

It's a tough call. The centering is as good as you could hope for on ANY '79 OPC. The registration, assuming it's not a scanning issue, is another story. (The rough cut is probably not as much of an issue.)

I guess it just depends on what you want to do with it. Take the $1000 if you need the money. Grade it if you want to keep it for a while.

Just my 2 pennies. But keep us posted!

chaz43 · September 13, 2010 1:51PM

PSA 7. chaz

BABERUTHJOEDIMAGGIO · September 13, 2010 1:52PM

Sell
Won't get 8.5
top right corner

MULLINS5 · September 13, 2010 1:52PM

I would not take the offer personally. I think that card deserves to be in an 8.5 and possibly a 9 holder. The person who offered you 1,000 knows this too. I've seen this card in similar condition with the excess cut in a 9. I owned a 9 with that little hook on the bottom right of the front of the card.

The ONLY thing I see wrong with the card is that it is slightly out of focus. The later of the early print runs tend to be a bit out of focus (don't know why). I think this would be the only thing keeping you out of an 8 holder.

If it gets an 8 you can do a 1299-1499/obo and take no less than $1000 - and it's worth every penny as it has great eye-appeal for either a collector or investor looking for that bump. Not worth selling raw IMO.

Absolutely stunning card, congrats on the pick-up. PM me when you get it graded, might be out of my price range but maybe I could make it happen.

Boopotts · September 13, 2010 1:53PM

Nobody's asked the most important question, which is how many offers the OP fielded before he was offered $1000. The more offers he received before he was offered $1000, the greater the chances that $1K is the ceiling for this (raw) card. If that was the FIRST offer he's received, then the chances that an even better offer for this raw card is out there somewhere are quite good.

As others have said, it's obvious that this card has to make at least one trip to a major grading company. I'd probably give it five trips or so, and if it didn't grade a 9 by then I'd put it on Ebay for $2200 or so BIN/BO and automatically accept anything over $1200.

MULLINS5 · September 13, 2010 1:55PM

<< I'd probably give it five trips or so. >>

jimrad · September 13, 2010 1:59PM

Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 8 - Average Price: $890.36
Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 9 - Average Price: $4,710.19

Get that sucker graded. The centering is beautiful and rough cut is normal.

MULLINS5 · September 13, 2010 2:02PM

<< Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 8 - Average Price: $890.36
Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 9 - Average Price: $4,710.19

Get that sucker graded. The centering is beautiful and rough cut is normal. >>

Is there any info on 8.5s?

jimrad · September 13, 2010 2:07PM

<< Is there any info on 8.5s? >>

no 8.5's

thunderdan · September 13, 2010 2:08PM

Nice card. The fish eye on Wayne's shoulder bugs the hell out of me, but overall a very nice card. Given this and the registration, I think it's an 8 at best. Hope I'm wrong, though.

ezyshooter · September 13, 2010 2:11PM

I just bought it today and the offer came today. Haven't even owned for 12 hours. The person who offered me 1000.00 has been looking for a Gretzky so i sent him pics and then met with him. I've dealt with him before. He's a dealer slash collector. So basically everything in his collection has a price i'm sure.
Think i''ll go with the grading. I cannot see this card in anything less then a 8 so i'll take my chances and keep you posted.
Thanks for all the comments.
Cheers, Steve

Mickey71 · September 13, 2010 2:17PM

It's an 8....I just don't think any higher because of the focus. Either way that is a great card.

itzagoner · September 13, 2010 2:31PM

there's a handful of OPC Wayne 7's & 8's on eBay right now, go take a look.....one factor that ties them all together is that coloring is within the lines, even though the focus isn't always tidy.

i'd stand by my contention that a cash offer in 80% excess of the price paid for this particular card is an invitation to sell and seek a nicer looking PSA 8 which might be capable of a .5 bump, i think it would be money well spent.

dizzle · September 13, 2010 3:04PM

<< Sell
Won't get 8.5
top right corner >>

says the notorious lowballer....

If it were me I'd send it in...

mike22y2k · September 13, 2010 11:24PM

Steve, I only collect 79T hockey so I'm not too familiar with how OPC get graded but the one thing that really sticks out and should be looked into is the Oilers logo in the circle. The logo is so off centered that you should look at other 8 and 9's and see if this is a common occurance. Good luck. Mike

Garabaldi · September 13, 2010 11:39PM

I would roll the dice and send it in.

mikeschmidt · September 13, 2010 11:52PM

doesn't seem to me like that card has any chance at an 8.5. The cut is too rough all around to warrant that high a grade. I've seen rough cut cards in high-grade holders, but that seems extreme. I would take the $1,000-

Statman · September 14, 2010 1:36AM

I agree with one of the early posters who said get it graded and if comes back lower than what you want, crack it out and take the $1000 offer. The registration of the blue color bothers me, but I like the rough cut. Roll the dice and grade it.

mlbfan2 · September 14, 2010 1:47AM

I say shave it first, and then send it in.

Blacklabelsociety · September 14, 2010 7:56AM

I would send to SGC. I have had good luck with them sending OPC cards.

Tabe · September 14, 2010 8:38AM

Personally, I would see if I could get the guy to go to $1200 or so but would take the $1000. The registration and off-center Oilers logo keep it from a 9, IMHO.

Tabe

eyebone · September 14, 2010 11:11AM

A very nice card with excellent centering. Fish eye on shoulder and the focus are a bit off putting but the card must surely be NM-MT at a minumum. I would take a shot (or two) in hopes of the 8.5 or 9 that you want. Good luck either way.

Eyebone

itzagoner · September 25, 2010 12:49AM

i.............

wrong.

ezyshooter · September 25, 2010 2:21AM

And the verdict is in. Sorry for the poor scan but my good scanner ran out of ink so it doesn't work to do anything.
Took 2 days to grade and 2 days to have it shipped and only 17.00 plus shipping on the grading. Can't beat that. As for the fish eye what was mentioned. There are 2 different prints of a Gretzky rookie. Anybody who collects OPC should no this. This is a first print run and apparently all first print runs have this issue. They corrected it at the second print run. So that fish eye is supposed to be there on a first print run.

Garabaldi · September 25, 2010 2:22AM

Congrats

HeritageAddict · September 25, 2010 2:24AM

WOW! Congratulations on the grade, what is the card worth in an SGC 9?

jimrad · September 25, 2010 2:29AM

<< WOW! Congratulations on the grade, what is the card worth in an SGC 9? >>

Latest Auction Prices for: SGC 96 - Average Price: $4,763.45

1/21/10 MH $4,763.45
2/24/08 eBay Image rose-city-sports aokahu 26 $4,550.00

ezyshooter · September 25, 2010 2:30AM

The last one sold at auction this year for just over 4700 with the juice.
Before somebody asks, it is for sale and or trade for ? I don't own a graded 9 Topps gretzky but i own a few OPC so that could be an option
No i don't expect 4700.00 for mine. Would rather trade.
Cheers, Steve

PS. Forgot to mention that there are only 6 SGC 96 and 1 SGC 98

itzagoner · September 25, 2010 2:31AM

if nothing else, a good learning experience for those of us who don't have as much knowledge of that card.....looks like MULLINS5 offered a very solid opinion.

enjoy it if you keep it or look forward to a nice payday.

beef316 · September 25, 2010 2:42AM

Congrats on the deal and the grade. Thats quite a return on investment. I would definitely sell.

shagrotn77 · September 25, 2010 2:54AM

Simply awesome. Congrats! Just curious, why did you choose SGC over PSA? Oh, and don't tell the person you bought it from that he left $4,000 on the table. I know I wouldn't want to know.

ezyshooter · September 25, 2010 3:10AM

I chose SGC over PSA on this one for a few things. SGC knows more about the 2 different print runs then PSA does. PSA would probably consider it a (PD) print defect when it is not. There were 2 different print runs so quality of card should be based on that print run. It's like Mickey Mantle variations. Name in white or yellow. Then i didn't want to pay the grading fee just have to break it out again and again. Everybody seems to be doing this more and more lately.
So i had more faith in SGC on this card for grading correctly. Also 17.00 dollars for grading was very fair unlike 35.00 dollars or more with PSA.
Cheers, Steve

ezyshooter · September 25, 2010 3:17AM

Oh, and don't tell the person you bought it from that he left $4,000 on the table. I know I wouldn't want to know.

Would never in a million years do that !!

Especially !!
Well the person who i bought the Gretzky from has more cards for sale. Just needed some extra $$ quick and is going to pull his other stuff out for me to look at. At 560.00 for his Gretzky i was the only one that came close to want he wanted so he has already told me once he has some time for us to make arrangements to see what i will offer for the rest. All i know he says he has cards older so how much older i don't know yet. Hopefully it happens soon so i'll keep you posted when it happens.
Cheers, Steve

larryallen73 · September 25, 2010 3:28AM

Shows how much I know. I was going to guess a PSA 7.

BunchOBull · September 25, 2010 4:04AM

<< Did all the OPC from that set have that much "fur" around the edges? >>

Lest we forget that OPC cards come from Canada. Canadians have French heritage. French women do not shave their pits.

Conclusion: it's only natural that OPC cards should be so furry.

Though, I must have a little Frenchie in me because I like the rough cut myself.

hhmag70 · September 25, 2010 4:34AM

<< 

<< Did all the OPC from that set have that much "fur" around the edges? >>

Lest we forget that OPC cards come from Canada. Canadians have French heritage. French women do not shave their pits.

Conclusion: it's only natural that OPC cards should be so furry.

Though, I must have a little Frenchie in me because I like the rough cut myself. >>

Just plain wrong!

samspop · September 25, 2010 4:35AM

Steve:

Congrats!!

thunderdan · September 25, 2010 5:03AM

<< 

<< Did all the OPC from that set have that much "fur" around the edges? >>

Lest we forget that OPC cards come from Canada. Canadians have French heritage. French women do not shave their pits.

Conclusion: it's only natural that OPC cards should be so furry.

Though, I must have a little Frenchie in me because I like the rough cut myself. >>

Just threw up in my mouth. That ain't right. LMAO.

thunderdan · September 25, 2010 5:06AM

<< Nice card. The fish eye on Wayne's shoulder bugs the hell out of me, but overall a very nice card. Given this and the registration, I think it's an 8 at best. Hope I'm wrong, though. >>

Man was I wrong. Congrats, Steve.

MULLINS5 · September 25, 2010 5:07AM

Steve, you're right, every Gretzky first-print run (that I've seen) has that fish-eye.

As far as the first-print Gretzky rookies there are two variations:

the first have razor sharp corners and are not out of focus - these are the earliest Gretzky rookies.

the second are the later of the first-print runs - these have the OPC edges and are out of focus (but not terribly out of focus). Looking at your card I would guess it was one of the last from the first-prints.

In this case I think you were probably right in going with SGC as PSA is more strict on the fish-eye and edges, and generally accept the blue line on the back. Some collectors see these as flaws on the card, others like myself, prefer these marks.

Also, I LOVE seeing these cards make it from their raw state to high graded - preserved and saved from destruction.

itzagoner · September 25, 2010 5:14AM

<< Man was I wrong. >>

there were guesses wronger.

Just picked this up Gretzky rookie chance at 8.5 ??

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