Interesting Concept? Lowest graded set...

otwcards

With all of the talk about highest graded sets and premiums being paid for low pop PSA 9's and PSA 10's from modern issues, how much fun would it be to explore the option of building the lowest grade modern set? Sure, it is easy enough considering an example like the 1988 Donruss Mike LaValliere PSA 1 MK, but it would take dedication and someone to completely throw rationale and cost to the wind.

Obviously, building such would be a losing proposition, so the nay-sayers need not pipe in, but wouldn't that be an interesting way to go about building a PSA graded set?

I know that some people have collected certain players in every grade imaginable (Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer is a prime example), so why not a worthless set?

grote15

This concept has become very popular on the coin grading side (PCGS) of CU, and people will pay significant premiums for "low ball" grades. The difference with coins vs cards in this instance though, is that you can very quickly render a card to the lowest possible grade, while it takes quite a while for a coin to wear down to a PO01 or FR02 grade, as PCGS will only holder coins that are "naturally" worn down, i.e. you'd have to keep the coin as a "pocket piece" for a long time, even if the coin was already low grade in the first place.

3BoyzTrading

I can find better things to do with my money than have 800 cards graded at $4.50 each.

perkdog

I have always had a soft spot for beaters because of the character of them, now Im talking true wear and tear. Im not sure you could even do this with modern cards because most of the 1980 + generation didnt even play with these cards like the older pre 1970 generation did.

ChiSoxCardboard

I wouldn't go for the lowest graded set I could, but if I ever had the money, I always thought it would be fun to grade one of the overproduced sets I collected from scratch as a kid. For instance, I put together a 1991 Donruss set just by buying a trading when I was about 6-8 years old. The cards probably aren't worth the raw material they're printed on, and the conditions are probably generally in the PSA 8 range, with some outliers higher and lower. It would cost nearly $3,500 to get each card graded and would probably be essentially worthless at the end of it all. But if I had the money sitting around, I just might do it! Haha.

Brad

NVbaseball

<< <i> how much fun would it be to explore the option of building the lowest grade modern set? >>



Far less than than the cost, otherwise people would already be doing it

What about 1941 Play Ball which is only 72 cards?. Or 1950s Hall-of-Fame rookies which could be done for a profit?

MintMoondog

I have kept a small stash of some of the worst miscut cards I have run into. They are amusing to look at and to be honest I wouldn't mind holdering them because they have sharp corners and otherwise are minty. I wish I could share pics but wont be home for a spell

otwcards

<< <i>I can find better things to do with my money than have 800 cards graded at $4.50 each. >>



Comprehension:

"Obviously, building such would be a losing proposition, so the nay-sayers need not pipe in..."

ReggieCleveland

<< <i>I have kept a small stash of some of the worst miscut cards I have run into. They are amusing to look at and to be honest I wouldn't mind holdering them because they have sharp corners and otherwise are minty. I wish I could share pics but wont be home for a spell >>



This is actually a fascinating alternative to what Scott was talking about. Doing a cheap modern set all miscut. I bet it would be damn DAMN hard. You would have to actually find miscut examples of all the cards and you wouldn't be able to miscut a card yourself because then it would just be trimmed and only get an AUTH. But doing a modern set all with MC qualifiers would be quite an accomplishment.

CNote

<< <i>

<< <i>I can find better things to do with my money than have 800 cards graded at $4.50 each. >>



Comprehension:

"Obviously, building such would be a losing proposition, so the nay-sayers need not pipe in..." >>



He can't hear you over all the wrappers and blue gloves he's shuffling around.

mccardguy1

So how about a set such as a '68 or '69 Topps baseball set done all in 2,3,4 and even 5? I can only imagine that this type of set could be completed fairly inexpensively without subbing your own cards. It seems these types of cards are always on the Bay at minimal cost. This really might be an interesting idea.

detroitfan2

I know it's not completely in the spirit of this thread, but I am the proud owner of the lowest graded 1955 Topps set (of all the 100% complete sets on the registry), and it doesn't appear that anyone will be displacing me soon:

Tom's 1955 set (#69)

halfcentman

<< <i>This concept has become very popular on the coin grading side (PCGS) of CU, and people will pay significant premiums for "low ball" grades. The difference with coins vs cards in this instance though, is that you can very quickly render a card to the lowest possible grade, while it takes quite a while for a coin to wear down to a PO01 or FR02 grade, as PCGS will only holder coins that are "naturally" worn down, i.e. you'd have to keep the coin as a "pocket piece" for a long time, even if the coin was already low grade in the first place. >>



I can concur that these "low ball" sets are very popular. A late dealer friend of mine who passed away in 2007 kept a group of his coins in his pockets for years. At the time, I had never seen a 1964, 90% silver Kennedy Half Dollar in such a low grade.

NickM

PSA/DNA red flips with Authentic grade would count. I can think of several sets where auto'ed cards might be graded like that (e.g, 92 UD Heroes of Baseball).

Nick

PSASAP

Hey Scott, if you bankroll me on the cost of submissions, I'd be happy to start a set.