Anyone else here search specifically for centered cards ?
1970s
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I spend morning and night searching ebay for centered O-Pee-Chee hockey cards from 1968 to 1974.
There are some impossible ones in those years. I'll take a centered PSA 6 over a 65-35 PSA 9 any day of
the week when it comes to cards that are impossible to find centered.
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Comments
Absolutely.
I build 1972 Topps Baseball in 9 and now 10 - tilt can be a major problem with this set. For a well-centered 9 of a card that's hard to find centered (or is a super-star card), I'll sometimes pay 2x VCP or more.
Example: Just bought #150 Norm Cash in PSA 9 - relatively tough card, and centering is generally poor... Normal price range has been $60-80 for a couple years; I paid $168.
Centering is my number one priority for the whole set; it's hard to think of a factor that contributes more to eye appeal. Some of the tilted 9s are just hideous.
That 1972 Cash you paid $168 is about as nice as it gets. Shocked that card is only $60-80 in a 9, but a few of the more recent lower dollar sales are atrocious looking. Now go find a Schaal IA centered like the Cash
Great thread and discuss this all the time. Early in my collecting career I was all about the grade and sharp corners, and looking back at some cards I used to have I shudder at them. Today the first thing I look at is centering and work my way to corners, focus, color.... I agree that a PSA 6 centered can be more appealing than an 8/9 with 70/30 centering and can cost 1/10 the price.
Would you rather pay $4-5k for a PSA 8 Ryan rookie or spend under $1000 for one with centering like this?
I don't agree with most here. I much prefer a non-tilted 60/40 card with nice corners to a perfectly centered PSA 6. There's a home for every card!
So tilted 50/50 exists?
Kevin
Kevin
I still don't see how this card isn't at least a 7. Is there a wrinkle I'm missing?
Brian
Brian - don't know either. Was looking to buy an 8 when I was offered this one a year or so ago, and honestly have no desire for an 8 after picking this one up. Can't find anything wrong with it nor can others, and with the 1968 issue that can sometimes be the beauty of this issue - Ryan rookie, Bench rookie... With say a 1971 or 1975 card it is so apparent with the flaw(s) but with the texture/design of a 1968 card if there is a flaw it can get hidden in the pattern. Plus with an 8/8.5 unless the corner ding is very apparent it is hard to pick up, so if I can find a lower grade that looks like an 8 for 1/5 the price IMO I will grab it all day. Thank you for the note.
KC
Yes, first thing I look at to separate interest or not. This one, however I did not bid on, is pack fresh beauty. I might have made an exception for $63
I think in some ways the registry has skewed what is most important to us collectors. Many of us strive for completion of registry sets in the highest grade possible. Some of us stick to our roots and would rather keep a 4 with great eye appeal, versus an 8 or 9 with very visible flaws. I have fallen to the high grade bug and then look at the card and ask myself why I didn't go for a better appealing one in a lower grade.
For me and my Yaz set, some of my favorites are my 64 and 68 base cards, both 9s. I love the centering and look on them. I have no desire to go after 10s, because my 9s look almost as good.
Correct on those Yaz cards. Those don't look like 9's - they look like 11's! Omg on the 64
I completely agree I'd rather have a nice 9 than pay for a 10 that rarely looks any better.
What I don't agree with is preferring a perfectly centered PSA 2 over a nice 9 with 60/40 centering.
The perfectly centered 2 (or 3, or 4) business comes into play when I generally can't swing higher grades (early Mantles are an easy example, or fill in the key rookie of your choice.) Then, I try to find the very best card I can at a given grade level, and centering's eye-appeal will carry a lot of weight in making a decision of this card vs that.
I agree on those Yaz cards. 9s looks like a 10. Wow!
http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/
Ralph
Agree wholeheartedly. That's the way to do it when you're on a budget.
Holy fill in the blank is that a sight nicer than my reasonably centered Clemente in VG! What an amazing card!
Color me envious!
There is a fellow I know who goes by the moniker "hepcat" who has really amazing collections over a wide swath of 50's-60's era everything -- cards, models, toys, board games, comics and milk bottles. In a word, ephemera of that era. He has reaffirmed many times (hockey and CFL cards of the '50s and '60s are his thing) that high-grade corners and fresh out of packness matters most, and o/c is just fine by him. Different strokes!
Centering! Sorry - meant to include picture below in this post. See below - specks on the case, not the card.
Super card in all respects, centering and superlative grade!
Nice Clemente IA! I am fond of mine also:
I agree on going after centered cards!
Well, more than 99/100 copies of a given vintage card have damaged corners. I would wager there are few vintage cards where a 60/40 PSA 9 is more common than a well centered low grade copy. But if that's what pleases you esthetically, by all means rock on!
Depends on the issue and the card I guess. For example, I was thrilled to acquire this item for my Mel Renfro player set:
The important thing to understand about this item is:
PSA 10's - 0
PSA 9's - 0
PSA 9 w/ qualifier - 2
PSA 8.5's - 0
PSA 8's - 2
PSA 7.5's - 0
PSA 7's - 13
Additionally, almost all of these I see have vertical print / roller marks on the front bottom, just off center to the right. This one does not have that visual defect either.
The Doomsday Collection
Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor | All-Time Dallas Cowboys | Bob Lilly Master | Pro Football HOF Dallas Cowboys
Chuck - That '55 Clemente is unreal. IMHO, Chuck has one of the best eyes for outstanding cardboard that I have seen. His collection is off the charts.
Edited to add - That Ryan rookie is outstanding. What a great card.
Centering is the utmost importance to me unless it's a rare card then I take what I can get.
Some great looking cards being posted. My first criteria is to try and find centered examples regardless of the grade. For me the sweet spot would be a PSA 7-8 with great centering and clear focus/registration. I have no problem with low grade centered cards and have many in my collection. Below are a couple of my favorites that are PSA 7-8. Not sure I have seen a 57 Mays with any sharper of an image.
Only regret I have about truly centered cards is that I wasn't more watchful at pursuing them years before; but live and learn! I'm happy with those I have, and will have to hunt a bit to scan some to share.
Some great cards shared!! Love that 55 Clemente!
Here is a nice centered 48' Ruth
I've been buying Pre-1970 HOFers in PSA 5 or better perfect centering only. So far no regrets, something to leave for my kids.
Awesome job on the Ruth - hard to improve on that one!
Great looking cards everybody! I'm definitely a centering and image guy. Here are a few examples...
Definitely payed a premium on the card. Don't regret it one bit. Love centered low grade cards with great eye appeal.
Great cards everyone! That 54 Mays PSA 3 looks amazing as do all the
other cards posted!
The T206 Cobb card is amazing!! Not to mention the 56 Mantle - my favorite card and the 6.5 listed is outstanding. Not sure how I missed buying that one
Great looking Card. I owned that exact card at one time. Sure do miss it.
Thanks for the kind words. Bought the '56 Mick a little over a year ago on eBay on a BIN. Originally it was a PSA 6. Thought it deserved a bump with the centering and nice eye-appeal. Eventually, had it reviewed and got the half grade bump.
1970's --- here is the back of my Ruth
I wish I could find myself at a show where all these cards were for sale. Some very, very rare cards on display here, when one factors in eye appeal for the grade.
Here are some cards that could be called centering-challenged, based on how the majority of examples came off the press:
Instagram: mattyc_collection
Yes, I love centering too. Most of my Ernie Banks cards have nice centering.
This is probably the toughest wacky pack to find well-centered. It is almost always borderline miscut. Took me literally years to find one of each backing type with nice centering.
Absolutely I would buy the Tuna 8, although in reality the Tuna 8 probably costs five times what the Boo Hoo 10 would. But yes, I see your point and value the fact that it's very tough to find centered. Just for me personally, a perfectly centered but creased PSA 3 just doesn't excite.