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Opinions on Red Heart Spahn
Chicago1976
Posts: 474 ✭✭✭✭✭
I've had this 1954 Red Heart PSA 4 in my collection for a few years. Love the card, but the crack in the case on the left edge drives me nuts. My eye is drawn to it...lol.
Question: Should I re-holder this card? Or crack it out and have it re-graded in hopes for a 5?
I've had several friends tell me this "looks better than a 4", but the back is way off centered. Not so sure.
Note: The black line on the right side is a scan shadow. The white dot on left is scanner glass debris - not on card.
Appreciate your opinions. Thank you!
1
Comments
I would just get it re-slabbed. I see very little chance it would grade a 5. Also that back might actually get a miscut (MC) qualifier if the grader sees the baseball on the back that is slightly missing.
Thanks JBrules! I agree, the back is a mess and the border staining is more prominent than I recall. Appreciate the feedback.
The back is always a mess on that Spahn. I say crack and grade. Looks like a 5 to me.
This is the back of the most recent 8 that sold (don’t think I have ever scene a remotely centered back)
Here is the back of the only 9 on VCP.
Looks more like a scratch are you sure that is a crack? OCD can make people see things that are just there. I know I have OCD.
Coin collecting interests: Latin American early pillar 1 reales
Sports: NFL & NHL
The ball is complete in those, where the OPs card it's cut off.
BUT, here is a PSA10 with a miscut back, so you really never know.
Reholder don't regrade. With the back of the card the way it is, you might get it back as a 4MC if you regrade.
I see what everyone is saying about the baseball being partially cut off - but with where the back centering always is on this particularly card a miscut designation would really surprise me. The front centering on that card is better than 75% or more of the Spahns. I think it has a good chance at a 5. But it is clear I am the minority opinion.
Attractive card- It has natural aging associated with the stock. 4 seems harsh given the overall appearance. But having said that, I have no confidence in the outcome of a crack out and resubmission. I could enjoy this card as it is.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered . Keep the 4 and re-holder.
It's definitely a deep crack that goes through the left raised edge of the holder. I tried buffing out with Meguiar's to no avail.
If a Red Heart Spahn is centered on the front it will always be off centered on the back. They are all like that. I had a PSA 9 MC that was just a tad off centered on the front. The baseball on the back was touching the border so PSA said it was MC. If I remember correctly, there are only 2 PSA9s with no qualifiers.
Thanks to all on the feedback...I will re-holder. It's staying in my collection, so I'll fix the crack, maintain the 4, and avoid any qualifiers.
There is the definitive answer! I thought they would give leniency due to the atrocious back centering but it appears they do not. I was clearly wrong on this one.
Brad, after I bought the card I had it reviewed by PSA and had took it to SGC for a possible crossover. This was at the National in Chicago several years ago. Neither one would change the grade.
There have been 6 Red Heart Spahns the PSA graded a 9. Only 2 had no qualifiers.
Here is the PSA 8 that I had in my set.
I bid on your 8 but didn’t win it. Thanks for chiming in, I know you are an expert on the set. I disagree with the handling of the miscut designation on this particular card but facts are facts. The OP has a beautiful 4 and the risk of a miscut far outweighs the chance of a bump. Great insight on SGC having the same opinion. This card and the 1973 All Time Home Run Leaders will never be centered on both the front and back!
Talking about back centering…I will add the 1966 Koufax. Centered on front, but back is almost always close to a mis-cut. Sorry about changing player discussion, but I wanted to add another card with difficult back centering.
1981 Fernando RC. no 10 s because of back centering. (and agree about 66 Koufax.)
looks like a crease on the right side opposite the scratch in the holder so you aren't going to get better than a 4
Thanks Beachbum. I looked at the card again...I think that line is actually a shadow or something on the scanner. Can't see with naked eye. Agree with the opinions on the board though, this is not going to be 5.