Beautiful card! Congrats. The '66 football are much like '67 football and '66 baseball. Most cards look like they were cut from sheets with dull scissors. So it's a lucky score when you find examples with sharp cuts.
Sometimes I wish the folks designing the modern ones would take time to remember how beautiful these older issues were without all the crazy colors, fifty colors, gradient colors, offset colors and weird action shots.
The way PSA is grading right now, I could see the Biletnikoff getting a 5/6/7/8/9. One of these grades for sure. PSA has been extremely hard on all grading, and I don't know the reason. I have heard that PSA is doing a pop control and have stopped grading cards in high grade. I sure hope this is a bad rumor and not reality.
I sent in 400 vintage cards last month and the grades were all PSA 7/8 with very little PSA 9's. I felt most of the cards were one grade low than they deserved.
Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
In this year, is the wood at the top of the TV supposed to be the same in the bottom of the TV? If so, think the card pulled from the pack in this thread has a lot more space at the bottom than the top. It still presents well and looks very nice. I know some issues the centering is not straightforward. But if top and bottom are supposed to be similar think the centering takes 9 off the table. Not necessarily 8 off the table by the grading standards but cant rely on those these days. Strictness may make 8 a challenge too.
Very cool and appealing card whatever the grade is and sounds as if the grade is not a serious concern.
I did get a PSA 9 on a Jim Palmer rookie late last year. I think if you get an experienced vintage grader, you can still get good results. But is that 1 in 2 subs? 1 in 4? I haven't sent enough submissions in over the past few years to get a feel for those odds.
I think there could be a grader performance evaluation policy that prolly rewards lower grades than if a grader gives out higher grades (I'm primarily referring to pre 1990 vintage cards)...It could be like they average out all the grades a specific grading employee gives to determine there skill where lower grades are considered to be a tough GOOD grader...This is the only likely reason I'm seeing batches 1-2 grades most always lower than the "real" grade. Think about this especially when you send in a highly selective batch of vintage cards and they get grades ranging from 4-8 averaging a 6...Been assessing card condition for 35+ years and there is definitely something inhibiting the "real" grade from being higher. never had this issue until about 2 years ago. Its some fundamental policy change. Pretty scary if you ask me ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH DOLLAR STARS....
Comments
No Namath - but a sweet HOF'er landed !!
FRESH from a 59 year old pack - 2nd year Fred Biletnikoff
Beautiful, the colour on pack fresh cards is awesome
Beautiful card! Congrats. The '66 football are much like '67 football and '66 baseball. Most cards look like they were cut from sheets with dull scissors. So it's a lucky score when you find examples with sharp cuts.
Looks like a definite 9, congrats Chris!
Congrats on a HOF!!!
Liberty Seated Half Dollars (lower circulated grades)
Sweeeet!!!!!!
Live long, and prosper.
Always such a huge Biletnikoff fan. He was so cool and I’ve always felt he never gets the respect he deserves.
How did the gum look?? !!!
Here are the rest of the cards. There were actually 6 cards in this pack.
Amazing that those beautiful cards came out of such a beater of a wax pack.
Very nice. Very happy for you.
Well centered for the most part congrats!!!
Liberty Seated Half Dollars (lower circulated grades)
The fuzz is awesome.
centering on the Graham looks nigh perfect
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
Sometimes I wish the folks designing the modern ones would take time to remember how beautiful these older issues were without all the crazy colors, fifty colors, gradient colors, offset colors and weird action shots.
Sometimes less IS more.
What was the funny ring in the pack?
As Ted Williams would advertise ; That took Moxey
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
I honestly didn't pay much attention. It was pretty stained and junky and I tossed it with the gum. I was definitely distracted by the Fred B.
It’s been a week… I’m still distracted by it!
Live long, and prosper.
Wow there's only 6 graded PSA 9 with none higher. Only 63 PSA 8's. In your opinion what grade do you think it will receive?
I subbed this one. Yep, old label. The backs are tough and my pictures suck.
I honestly don't even openly try to grade anymore. I just send in and hope for the best.
I got this over the weekend at a card show & wanted to post to see how it compares...
PSA would likely give it a "4" these days... to me, it looks more like a "6".
Erik
The way PSA is grading right now, I could see the Biletnikoff getting a 5/6/7/8/9. One of these grades for sure. PSA has been extremely hard on all grading, and I don't know the reason. I have heard that PSA is doing a pop control and have stopped grading cards in high grade. I sure hope this is a bad rumor and not reality.
I sent in 400 vintage cards last month and the grades were all PSA 7/8 with very little PSA 9's. I felt most of the cards were one grade low than they deserved.
In this year, is the wood at the top of the TV supposed to be the same in the bottom of the TV? If so, think the card pulled from the pack in this thread has a lot more space at the bottom than the top. It still presents well and looks very nice. I know some issues the centering is not straightforward. But if top and bottom are supposed to be similar think the centering takes 9 off the table. Not necessarily 8 off the table by the grading standards but cant rely on those these days. Strictness may make 8 a challenge too.
Very cool and appealing card whatever the grade is and sounds as if the grade is not a serious concern.
Grade is of course a concern. I just quit publicly discussing etc. because of what 1954 just outlined.
I will try to do some posts soon. In the thick of moving into the new house.... finally.
I did get a PSA 9 on a Jim Palmer rookie late last year. I think if you get an experienced vintage grader, you can still get good results. But is that 1 in 2 subs? 1 in 4? I haven't sent enough submissions in over the past few years to get a feel for those odds.
I think there could be a grader performance evaluation policy that prolly rewards lower grades than if a grader gives out higher grades (I'm primarily referring to pre 1990 vintage cards)...It could be like they average out all the grades a specific grading employee gives to determine there skill where lower grades are considered to be a tough GOOD grader...This is the only likely reason I'm seeing batches 1-2 grades most always lower than the "real" grade. Think about this especially when you send in a highly selective batch of vintage cards and they get grades ranging from 4-8 averaging a 6...Been assessing card condition for 35+ years and there is definitely something inhibiting the "real" grade from being higher. never had this issue until about 2 years ago. Its some fundamental policy change. Pretty scary if you ask me ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH DOLLAR STARS....
Recent add from a BBCE Auction.
Nice centering on the top card…
Let’s go!
Here's Johnny!
How many cards in the 1959 pack? Series 1 is card #1 to card #?
Liberty Seated Half Dollars (lower circulated grades)
I believe 1-88.
Oh man - that would be Sa-Weet!!
Is that a split on the wrapper front?
Great looking pack!
Yes it is.
Yikes. I guess I missed the "can include a complete split spanning the entire width of the pack" in the PSA 7 cello grading standards.
Perfect rip candidate!
I'm sure the split came later after grading. Some of the old cellophane is really fragile and susceptible to change.
Been up to my eyeballs with the new house unpacking, landscaping etc. but feel good about this new Rip Roost....
Gorgeous, Chris! Congrats! All you need now is a 1952 Topps wax pack…to christen it.
Awesome setup.
Amazing place!!!
Liberty Seated Half Dollars (lower circulated grades)
Very nice!!
For Sale
Good sir, I do not wish to complain, but that Jagermeister belongs in the freezer.
Beautiful!