1959 Bob Gibson help
Jayhock
Posts: 27 ✭
I recently submitted my rookie Bob Gibson card for grading. When the grade popped this week I was very disappointed in the grade. It was a 4. I am wondering if I could get some help on what I should do. The card is in great condition in terms of surface, edges, and corners but it is significantly off center. I am new to this and read a lot about how the OC qualifier really drops the value of the card so I requested no qualifiers. I feel very confident this is the reason it got a 4. What I would love help with is deciding if I should re submit and allow qualifiers. If it got an 8(OC) or maybe even a 9(OC) would that be better then the 4. Or is it too risky that it might get a 7(OC) or a 6(OC) and then it isn't worth it. I don't have the card back yet to scan but here is the pictures I have of the front and back. Thanks so much everyone. I am really trying to learn about this process.
Comments
Looks like it might have a stain on the back under the black box with the card number.
I am surprised this isn't miscut it is so askew, but sgc might be of service on this one due to their centering not destroying a grade, or you can try PSA with a qualifier. I would honestly crack it out and try again. You may not get the result hoping for, but you surely are not happy currently either.
8OC or 9OC?
You a started out with unrealistic expectations. I am surprised that this card was even holdered, given the cut being off-center both ways and miscut.
This card is accurately graded.
The card would look great in a low to mid-grade raw set.
I thought that when they did the qualifier it meant they graded all other attributes of the card and then assigned a qualifier of either OC or MC. So for example if the card has no surface issues, the edges are clean, and the corners are sharp and with perfect centering would be an 8 or 9 then with the OC or MC it would be an 8OC or 9OC. Is that not how this works? I am brand new to this so I am really just trying to learn. I don't appreciate the snarky comment either. I am not attacking anyone and if I made a mistake getting the card graded that is for me to live with. These cards were my dad's love and collection that he left to me. I don't collect cards and have 2 daughters with no interest in them so I am trying my hardest to get the most value for the cards so I can leave my daughters with some college money from their grandfather.
You may get some different answers, but this is my understanding: That's true for OC, which is off-center. Your card is Mis-cut. I don't think they grade a MC card like that. I believe the cut of the card automatically drops it to a 5 or 6. Most people don't submit those "wonky" cut cards as I call them because they aren't getting a high grade. Again, I may be wrong as PSA isn't 100% consistent as you will see by reading most any thread here that is about a poster getting their cards back.
I actively collect Kirby Puckett. I have collections of Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith, Roberto Clemente, Dwight Gooden, Tom Seaver, Errict Rhett and Evan Longoria.
Your card does not meet the centering requirement for an 8 or 9. It would probably get a 5(OC) but if you instructed no qualifiers, it was probably down graded to 4 for less eye-appeal due to being so askew. Just my opinion (without the snark!)
Michael
Welcome to your nightmare! Only kidding.
First, in response to one of the posts, your card is NOT miscut, just way off-center with a bad "tilt". That does not mean it's miscut. PSA doesn't holder miscuts.
Second, your scan is better than most, but still not good enough to judge "mint" corners for me.
Third, that is a nice card, in the past people would not have judged it harshly, but now centering is a HUGE factor. Being off center as it is, will reduce the grade by AT LEAST 2 grades, I am guessing they dropped it three (or four?) because of lack of eye appeal. Card could potentially get an 7 (OC), but again, I cant see the corners well enough.
Finally, I have found that PSA doesn't always even agree with itself, cards sent in for review sometimes get a "bump" to a higher grade, you can also take it out of the holder and resubmit. 9's are VERY difficult to get, many of the cards I sent in that I hoped for 9's on, came back 8's (some lower) and I have only submitted well centered cards, so OC not a factor.
It's common for all of us to be confused about the grades assigned from time to time. I have a "7" that I posted pictures of on a different thread that looks like a "9" to me and I have been doing this for years.
Don't let it get you down, or the remarks that people leave. Remember you asked for opinions. It might be a better idea to post scans on the boards first, and see if it's worthwhile to spend the time and money on grading. Even though that's a rookie card of an all-time great, I would have advised not to send it in for grading.
Have fun collecting and enjoying your fathers treasures!
Eh, from my vantage point, the back scan clearly shows it is a trapezoid card rather than simply having a "picture tilt", and thus it is miscut. PSA states "Cards that exhibit an atypical cut for the issue or ones that contain portions of more than one card will be designated 'MC'." Based upon their definition, that fits MC rather than OC.
I actively collect Kirby Puckett. I have collections of Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith, Roberto Clemente, Dwight Gooden, Tom Seaver, Errict Rhett and Evan Longoria.
I do appreciate the advice. I submitted this card because I felt like with it being such a high value card I should get it graded no matter what. That might have been a mistake but too late now. I am ok making some mistakes as I learn. I have 2 complete sets of cards. 1959 and 1962. So it is going to be a long process. It is not miss cut so that they would not grade it because they did grade it. They graded it a 4 and I requested no qualifiers. I done have scans yet but will have them as soon as I get the card back. My only question now do I re submit it for a review and say I am ok with the qualifier? Is there a chance this would increase the value of the card. If it wont increase it I will just live with the 4 and sell it that way.
I haven't started selling any yet and I am really nervous about that. I don't want to waste dad's hard work and love. While I am not interested in keeping the cards I do want to do right by him and get the best value to pass on to his granddaughters. Can I ask about another card? This one I have not grade and I am on the fence about. It is the 1959 Sandy Koufax. Again off center but in great shape otherwise. Do get it graded and except a qualifier? I worry I cant sell raw cards of HOFers for very much. Here is the scan of that card. It isn't as bad as the Gibson.
If you request no qualifiers on the Koufax it will be a 5 or a 6. With that having been said, you might not achieve a full 5 or 6 price because of the centering.
For you as a non-collector, I imagine the hardest thing to get used to is the fact that a card that looks so nice (like this Koufax) really is not ultra high grade even without the poor centering. It appears to have minor wear at all four corners, and would likely only be a PSA 6/7 even if perfectly centered. It will likely grade a 7OC or straight 5 at best. But it does look very nice!
Well a 7OC is the best I would think this would get. I see the corner wear on this card and agree it is a 6 maybe a 7. What I cant figure out is from a selling point of view would it be better to:
a. Not grade it and sell raw
b. Grade with NQ and get the 5 or 4
c. Grade with Q and get a 7OC or 6OC
I don't have any facts to back it up, but my guess would be that a 9OC would bring more money than a straight 7 when it is seriously OC. But I doubt a 7OC would bring more than a straight 5.
However, it may be a tough sell as a straight 5 also because many collectors would prefer a centered 5 with a little more corner wear.
Any chance this hobby could grow on you, jayhock? Having a complete 1959 and 1962 set is a incredibly nice start. It may be a nice testament to your Dad to keep the collecting bug in the family. Maybe your future grandkids could find interest at some point.
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
Another beautiful card!
Again, you will not get a very high grade, however getting it graded also offers authentication. The buyer should be very certain the card has not been tampered with.
Many buyers don't like qualifiers, so I would have it graded without. Most buyers should be able to decide for themselves what it's worth whether it's a 7OC or a 5
I would grade it.