So With the silver and gold stickers. For a PSA 10 would a Silver sticker actually hurt the value? I would think 10 being perfect not getting a gold would be a negative for my perfect PSA 10. So a 10 would now have 3 levels is interesting. Regular 10 with perfect eye appeal. PSA 10 Silver then PSA 10 Gold/11. My head hurts already trying to understand the 10 grade.
You can get gold stickers on eBay and thoroughly review your own cards. Sticker them up. Mike Baker isn't special. If people are willing to pay for the sticker because of perception do take advantage of them.
I believe there is a black diamond for 10s…but it’s very difficult to receive…basically indicating it’s pristine. Those receiving a diamond are in the database based on PSA certification number….and the diamond sticker is tamper resistant.
Some collectors do not like the diamond sticker…and that’s okay…to each his or her own. Like PWCC labels back then…I have found the identifying label or diamond useful…and draws my attention…and not taking it literally…do my own eye appeal test…and almost always have agreed with the exceptional eye appeal for the assigned PSA or SGC grade.
@mintonlypls said:
I believe there is a black diamond for 10s…but it’s very difficult to receive…basically indicating it’s pristine. Those receiving a diamond are in the database based on PSA certification number….and the diamond sticker is tamper proof.
Does that then mean The Gold and Silver stickers are not Tamper Proof?
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)
That is quite a gorgeous PSA 8 indeed......I did manage to get this Rose PSA 6.5 in July of '23.... as soon I saw it I knew I was sending it to Mike....I send him a hardy order at least a couple times a year....enjoy this one here ... Cheers.
So I don’t know if I need Mike Baker to tell me it looks nice. But if I did see a card with a MBA sticker I would like to know why it was perceived as excellent for the grade. But when I look it up there’s nothing there. It just says he would have graded it a MBA 7. Is that good?
Again it looks like a nice card but maybe the only value I’m seeing is that usually when a card has one of these stickers - from any of them really - it means it’s worth a closer look. It’s not always better than the grade. I would be curious whether Mike acknowledged the stains.
Just like PWCC back then…an MBA diamond grabs my attention to take a close look at the card. And most of the time I agree that the card is exceptional (silver) for the assigned grade or undergraded (gold). In contrast to PWCC…Mike Baker has many years experience actually grading (dating back to the infancy of PSA in 1991). As with any “job”….experience is very valuable…in this case…grading more cards than almost anyone.
I asked this question in the other thread but perhaps it did not get noticed/seen? I will try it in this thread.
It seems to me, unless I am missing something that MBA is really only able to accurately review corners and centering. they cannot accurately review surface/edges/authenticity/recoloring/trimming/alteration while the card in encapsulated.
is the service predominantly to advise card owners to crack and resubmit in order to gain the higher grade?
Do they offer any type of guarantee to their reviews? As in, if they deem a card undergraded by 1 grade, do they have any type of guarantee that when resubmitted, it will increase? I am not so sure how they could do that short of a monetary payout if a card was rejected to to min grade or even worse trimmed/auth.
If the service is simply a second opinion on the quality of the centering/corners with no guarantee of any sort if a card is resubmitted, it seems a bit redundant, no? any seasoned collector/dealer can look at corners/centering to see which cards within a certain grade threshold are slightly better or worse than others.
I will try to answer some of your concerns. I think you can ascertain edges, surface, trimming, alterations even though a card is encapsulated. It is a second opinion by a grader who has many years of experience in the field having worked at PSA since its beginning in 1991…and also rising to senior grader at PSA for more than a decade. Having such experience….his opinion of a card seems that it would carry more weight than possibly most graders currently at PSA. No, if Mike Baker deems a card undergraded (MBA-Gold), it does not guarantee a bump increase in grade. For a given grade, there can be a significant number assigned that grade…but what Mike Baker provides is some separation within that grade. That is what you are paying for from a very experienced grader in the hobby to single out those cards within a given grade that are exceptional (MBA- Silver) for the grade or in his knowledgeable opinion undergraded ( MBA-Gold). I hope this helps…I like the service. Some major auction houses are now stating in a card’s description if a card has an MBA diamond: REA, Heritage, Goldin, etc.
@mintonlypls said:
I will try to answer some of your concerns. I think you can ascertain edges, surface, trimming, alterations even though a card is encapsulated. It is a second opinion by a grader who has many years of experience in the field having worked at PSA since its beginning in 1991…and also rising to senior grader at PSA for more than a decade. Having such experience….his opinion of a card seems that it would carry more weight than possibly most graders currently at PSA. No, if Mike Baker deems a card undergraded (MBA-Gold), it does not guarantee a bump increase in grade. For a given grade, there can be a significant number assigned that grade…but what Mike Baker provides is some separation within that grade. That is what you are paying for from a very experienced grader in the hobby to single out those cards within a given grade that are exceptional (MBA- Silver) for the grade or in his knowledgeable opinion undergraded ( MBA-Gold). I hope this helps…I like the service. Some major auction houses are now stating in a card’s description if a card has an MBA diamond: REA, Heritage, Goldin, etc.
@bgr said:
PSA cannot tell if a card is trimmed or not any better than Baker can. They can barely measure cards accurately.
Trimmed Raw cards have slipped through literally since cert #1 - including all the years Baker was a grader there and trimmed cards got by him.
Lets say Baker could definitively determine trimmed cards in a slab, if he did so it might very well destroy his business model. He has found what may be a rather profitable niche in the hobby, why would he risk that? Especially given PSA almost certainly would deny, deny, deny any and all of his claims of trimming.
mintonlypls, if Baker found that as little as 3 of your higher value PSA slabbed cards were trimmed - would you honestly then continue to pay to use his services?
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)
@mintonlypls said:
I will try to answer some of your concerns. I think you can ascertain edges, surface, trimming, alterations even though a card is encapsulated. It is a second opinion by a grader who has many years of experience in the field having worked at PSA since its beginning in 1991…and also rising to senior grader at PSA for more than a decade. Having such experience….his opinion of a card seems that it would carry more weight than possibly most graders currently at PSA. No, if Mike Baker deems a card undergraded (MBA-Gold), it does not guarantee a bump increase in grade. For a given grade, there can be a significant number assigned that grade…but what Mike Baker provides is some separation within that grade. That is what you are paying for from a very experienced grader in the hobby to single out those cards within a given grade that are exceptional (MBA- Silver) for the grade or in his knowledgeable opinion undergraded ( MBA-Gold). I hope this helps…I like the service. Some major auction houses are now stating in a card’s description if a card has an MBA diamond: REA, Heritage, Goldin, etc.
just seeing your reply now. I will possibly concede the edges, though i am still doubtful. I disagree that surface can be accurately ascertained through a slab. There are cards where very finite surface scratches/imperfections can make a HUGE difference to the overall grade. any 90s glossy insert/parallel/refractor would be a good example. I know these cards pretty intimately and the smallest surface imperfection will kill a grade. you really HAVE to hold the card in raw form in proper lighting to make an assessment. impossible through a slab (or any plastic holder for that matter) vintage also has its own surface imperfections like small wrinkles or bubbles that require the card to be held in raw form.
I will also disagree that trimming can be picked up through a slab. impossible to accurately measure a card through the slab. the measuring device has to be placed above the slab and even that very small amount of plastic will introduce some parallax into the measurement. when we are talking about /16" and /32" it just cannot be accurate enough.
I understand that some collectors want a 3rd opinion of their cards. but I wonder when it ends? will there be a 4th opinion sticker? a 5th?
where there is no guarantee of a grade bump, and important aspects of a card simply cannot be accurately examined, I personally am not seeing the value.
just seeing your reply now. I will possibly concede the edges, though i am still doubtful. I disagree that surface can be accurately ascertained through a slab. There are cards where very finite surface scratches/imperfections can make a HUGE difference to the overall grade. any 90s glossy insert/parallel/refractor would be a good example. I know these cards pretty intimately and the smallest surface imperfection will kill a grade. you really HAVE to hold the card in raw form in proper lighting to make an assessment. impossible through a slab (or any plastic holder for that matter) vintage also has its own surface imperfections like small wrinkles or bubbles that require the card to be held in raw form.
I will also disagree that trimming can be picked up through a slab. impossible to accurately measure a card through the slab. the measuring device has to be placed above the slab and even that very small amount of plastic will introduce some parallax into the measurement. when we are talking about /16" and /32" it just cannot be accurate enough.
I understand that some collectors want a 3rd opinion of their cards. but I wonder when it ends? will there be a 4th opinion sticker? a 5th?
where there is no guarantee of a grade bump, and important aspects of a card simply cannot be accurately examined, I personally am not seeing the value.
I agree with all points except the last sentence. Reason is you can never tell what type of thing will grab hold in a collectors mind.
I like many of mintonlypls' posts, but his continuing infomercial in multiple threads for MBA is becoming stale . But at least he's not trying to pump 1990 Leaf Frank Thomas' (one of my own stale references that I'm trying, and now failed, to avoid using)
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)
A good experiment for mintonlypls is to crack out the silver and gold stickered cards, and submit them raw to PSA. Let's see how accurate Mike is.
Not sure your bump success in holder with these stickers. I wonder if PSA has a natural bias to anything assess by Mike Baker. They sure do on GAI holdered cards. Es no beuno.
@mintonlypls said:
Stickers are your friend….Mike Baker or whoever! Not cracking out any cards…the beauty of diamonds.
So rather than having any success bumping stickered cards, your empirical evidence that Mike identifies cards that are undergraded is that stickers are my friend and diamonds are beautiful. I can't even begin to describe how compelling your sales pitch is. Add Brent Huigens in as the financier of this brilliant enterprise, and I'm hooked.
Have you ever considered selling vitamins & supplements for Amway?
You’re pathetic sore loser…I hate jealous people like yourself! You cannot accept when someone has a nice collection…evidence by nitpicking here and there. Sorry…but measurement in-hand b4 encapsulation does not lie using a 1/100 inch scale.
They keep attacking…and I am just defending myself ….all stemming from not liking MBA diamonds (content of this thread). I like the service…to each his own. Don’t come here bashing what I like!!!
If Mint likes and wants to use MBA, I think it's fine. I have no problem. I think reinforcing a grade should be a good thing. I see many PSA 10's out there that aren't 10's and many 7's that look 9's. In fact I had an 8 turn into a 10 several times. GRading is subjective, but when Mike looks at the card, i think he is really looking at the card, not necessarily trying to review as many cards as humanly possible. Plus he has no incentive to lower the grade of a card or not give a "sticker".
Now Craig mentioned the dude from PWCC with MBA, which is problematic. That dude does not have a very good reputation.
I think a card like the 1987 Topps Bonds is a interesting one. many psa 10's in the pop, but very few centered ones. most would get 9's today. i think a reinforced card like that could really be a good thing. and i am sure there are many more like that.
I just give him a bit of what he gives to other people... and he cracks. Baker is either a fraud or he's fraud-adjacent. No arguing that and no integrity with Mintbaby here.
I think Mike genuinely assigns stickers when a card separates from the pack within a given grade that looks nicer than the assigned grade. I had 44 cards which were diamond candidates based on digital review…but only 26 were diamond awarded during in-hand assessment. So…Mike Baker is not stickering every card he looks at in person. Using his vast experience in grading…Mike is giving his honest opinion those cards separating from the pack within a given grade.
You are the one that is cracking here…if you do not like the thread…don’t come here. I wont miss you…stop being trouble maker. No one asked you to come to this thread I started …if the subject title suggests something you don’t like…don’t visit. It’s that simple…
@mintonlypls said:
You are the one that is cracking here…if you do not like the thread…don’t come here. I wont miss you…stop being trouble maker. No one asked you to come to this thread I started …if the subject title suggests something you don’t like…don’t visit. It’s that simple…
Hey. It's OK. Settle down. I like the thread. Watching you pump Mike Baker is a guilty pleasure. I don't know why Nacho Neil is coming after you.
Your card measures small. See the gaps in the holder?
The PSA 8.5 Ryan Cert# 24470984 is min size.
Card width = 80mm * .785526 = 62.84208mm =~ 2.4740976 inches
I have seen the PSA 8.5 in person and it is not min size or trimmed and it is legit. I have seen several of Monte’s cards in person and they are all high end and well centered. Very few collections have the detail to centering and eye appeal.
In regards to MBA it is not for everyone and that is ok. I have always been taught to judge people by my interactions with them and not judging them by what others have said about them. Was skeptical of MBA stickers up until my visit with them at the National. Very approachable, excellent service, took the time to view and discuss my cards with me, and explained why cards received silver or gold labels and more importantly why they did not receive them. Did a great job of teaching, and I am by no means a super collector but I think people who know me and what I collect know I focus on centering and eye appeal and have a few decent cards. Tell me when have you ever gone to PSA or SGC and the owner took the time at the National to talk with a new customer for 10-15 minutes when they were busy.
As far as your comments on Monte’s cards and thread it is apparent you don’t like stickers from MBA or PWCC and that is completely your choice. No one is bashing you foe that, but you feel the need to disagree and offer disparaging and factually incorrect remarks telling people their cards are min sized or stickers don’t add value. I can tell you from experience and real world sales the MBA silver and gold stickers add a ton of value - especially the gold labels. The offers I have received on these two cards alone have been north of 40-50%+ over comps easily.
Add something positive to the discussion versus bashing would be a lot better for the hobby. Just my two cents - your mileage may vary.😉
True, you gotta have thick skin to be in this biz, and it's not for everyone where the usual suspects may be involved. I'm certainly enjoying the cards posted by obsessive centering freaks like me, though.
The PSA 8.5 Ryan Cert# 24470984 is min size.
Card width = 80mm * .785526 = 62.84208mm =~ 2.4740976 inches
I have seen the PSA 8.5 in person and it is not min size or trimmed and it is legit. I have seen several of Monte’s cards in person and they are all high end and well centered. Very few collections have the detail to centering and eye appeal.
In regards to MBA it is not for everyone and that is ok. I have always been taught to judge people by my interactions with them and not judging them by what others have said about them. Was skeptical of MBA stickers up until my visit with them at the National. Very approachable, excellent service, took the time to view and discuss my cards with me, and explained why cards received silver or gold labels and more importantly why they did not receive them. Did a great job of teaching, and I am by no means a super collector but I think people who know me and what I collect know I focus on centering and eye appeal and have a few decent cards. Tell me when have you ever gone to PSA or SGC and the owner took the time at the National to talk with a new customer for 10-15 minutes when they were busy.
As far as your comments on Monte’s cards and thread it is apparent you don’t like stickers from MBA or PWCC and that is completely your choice. No one is bashing you foe that, but you feel the need to disagree and offer disparaging and factually incorrect remarks telling people their cards are min sized or stickers don’t add value. I can tell you from experience and real world sales the MBA silver and gold stickers add a ton of value - especially the gold labels. The offers I have received on these two cards alone have been north of 40-50%+ over comps easily.
Add something positive to the discussion versus bashing would be a lot better for the hobby. Just my two cents - your mileage may vary.😉
You make fair points. I have also used MBA's service. I have spoken to Mike on many occasions.
Monte told someone to "grow up" and that's why I responded. The measurement of that card. It's 100% accurate. I assume you know how I did it, but if you don't ask and I will share. It's indisputable.
@mintonlypls said:
Goodbye 1-star…come back when you grow up!
Other bumps: ‘69 Reggie RC 8.5>9.0
‘86 Fleer Jordan RC 9.0>10.0
Mike Baker has graded more cards than anyone! He’s been at it since the infancy of grading! Diamonds are your friend… don’t forget it!
I'll post whenever and wherever I want. Your ad hominem attacks on others reinforce the weakness of your argument.
Those bumps are impressive. I'm genuninely happy for you. Good on you. Unfortunately, neither one has anything to do with the stickers and service you so gratuitously peddle.
I honestly couldn't care less whether collectors use the MBA service or not. I was simply asking if you had any evidence of bumps (either in holder or crackouts), and you have failed to provide any.
Thread locked:
Discussion has moved from the topic (MBA/stickers) into personal back-and-forth between members.
Everyone’s welcome to debate services, grading, and business models here, but leave the personal attacks out of it.
Feel free to start a new thread on MBA or eye-appeal if you want to continue the topic — just keep it on the cards, not each other.
SportsModerator2
Comments
Diamonds are forever(great slogan) because of the history. I hope mba last longer than his last project. You know for the money.
I am scouring EBAY for all of them right now.
So With the silver and gold stickers. For a PSA 10 would a Silver sticker actually hurt the value? I would think 10 being perfect not getting a gold would be a negative for my perfect PSA 10. So a 10 would now have 3 levels is interesting. Regular 10 with perfect eye appeal. PSA 10 Silver then PSA 10 Gold/11. My head hurts already trying to understand the 10 grade.
You can get gold stickers on eBay and thoroughly review your own cards. Sticker them up. Mike Baker isn't special. If people are willing to pay for the sticker because of perception do take advantage of them.
I believe there is a black diamond for 10s…but it’s very difficult to receive…basically indicating it’s pristine. Those receiving a diamond are in the database based on PSA certification number….and the diamond sticker is tamper resistant.
Some collectors do not like the diamond sticker…and that’s okay…to each his or her own. Like PWCC labels back then…I have found the identifying label or diamond useful…and draws my attention…and not taking it literally…do my own eye appeal test…and almost always have agreed with the exceptional eye appeal for the assigned PSA or SGC grade.
Does that then mean The Gold and Silver stickers are not Tamper Proof?
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)
My bad…tamper resistant. Thanks for proofreading!
That is quite a gorgeous PSA 8 indeed......I did manage to get this Rose PSA 6.5 in July of '23.... as soon I saw it I knew I was sending it to Mike....I send him a hardy order at least a couple times a year....enjoy this one here ... Cheers.
PopSmoke99…
Absolutely beautiful 6.5 Rose RC. I can see why the MBA-Gold…undergraded!
So I don’t know if I need Mike Baker to tell me it looks nice. But if I did see a card with a MBA sticker I would like to know why it was perceived as excellent for the grade. But when I look it up there’s nothing there. It just says he would have graded it a MBA 7. Is that good?
Again it looks like a nice card but maybe the only value I’m seeing is that usually when a card has one of these stickers - from any of them really - it means it’s worth a closer look. It’s not always better than the grade. I would be curious whether Mike acknowledged the stains.
Just like PWCC back then…an MBA diamond grabs my attention to take a close look at the card. And most of the time I agree that the card is exceptional (silver) for the assigned grade or undergraded (gold). In contrast to PWCC…Mike Baker has many years experience actually grading (dating back to the infancy of PSA in 1991). As with any “job”….experience is very valuable…in this case…grading more cards than almost anyone.
I asked this question in the other thread but perhaps it did not get noticed/seen? I will try it in this thread.
It seems to me, unless I am missing something that MBA is really only able to accurately review corners and centering. they cannot accurately review surface/edges/authenticity/recoloring/trimming/alteration while the card in encapsulated.
is the service predominantly to advise card owners to crack and resubmit in order to gain the higher grade?
Do they offer any type of guarantee to their reviews? As in, if they deem a card undergraded by 1 grade, do they have any type of guarantee that when resubmitted, it will increase? I am not so sure how they could do that short of a monetary payout if a card was rejected to to min grade or even worse trimmed/auth.
If the service is simply a second opinion on the quality of the centering/corners with no guarantee of any sort if a card is resubmitted, it seems a bit redundant, no? any seasoned collector/dealer can look at corners/centering to see which cards within a certain grade threshold are slightly better or worse than others.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I will try to answer some of your concerns. I think you can ascertain edges, surface, trimming, alterations even though a card is encapsulated. It is a second opinion by a grader who has many years of experience in the field having worked at PSA since its beginning in 1991…and also rising to senior grader at PSA for more than a decade. Having such experience….his opinion of a card seems that it would carry more weight than possibly most graders currently at PSA. No, if Mike Baker deems a card undergraded (MBA-Gold), it does not guarantee a bump increase in grade. For a given grade, there can be a significant number assigned that grade…but what Mike Baker provides is some separation within that grade. That is what you are paying for from a very experienced grader in the hobby to single out those cards within a given grade that are exceptional (MBA- Silver) for the grade or in his knowledgeable opinion undergraded ( MBA-Gold). I hope this helps…I like the service. Some major auction houses are now stating in a card’s description if a card has an MBA diamond: REA, Heritage, Goldin, etc.
As soon as they stop coming back from PSA reviews as having evidence of trimming.
PSA cannot tell if a card is trimmed or not any better than Baker can. They can barely measure cards accurately.
Trimmed Raw cards have slipped through literally since cert #1 - including all the years Baker was a grader there and trimmed cards got by him.
Lets say Baker could definitively determine trimmed cards in a slab, if he did so it might very well destroy his business model. He has found what may be a rather profitable niche in the hobby, why would he risk that? Especially given PSA almost certainly would deny, deny, deny any and all of his claims of trimming.
mintonlypls, if Baker found that as little as 3 of your higher value PSA slabbed cards were trimmed - would you honestly then continue to pay to use his services?
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)
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After all, Diamonds are mintonlypls' best friend (with Rick Probstein coming in a close second)
Man Nacho makes his 7 posts count doesn't he.
just seeing your reply now. I will possibly concede the edges, though i am still doubtful. I disagree that surface can be accurately ascertained through a slab. There are cards where very finite surface scratches/imperfections can make a HUGE difference to the overall grade. any 90s glossy insert/parallel/refractor would be a good example. I know these cards pretty intimately and the smallest surface imperfection will kill a grade. you really HAVE to hold the card in raw form in proper lighting to make an assessment. impossible through a slab (or any plastic holder for that matter) vintage also has its own surface imperfections like small wrinkles or bubbles that require the card to be held in raw form.
I will also disagree that trimming can be picked up through a slab. impossible to accurately measure a card through the slab. the measuring device has to be placed above the slab and even that very small amount of plastic will introduce some parallax into the measurement. when we are talking about /16" and /32" it just cannot be accurate enough.
I understand that some collectors want a 3rd opinion of their cards. but I wonder when it ends? will there be a 4th opinion sticker? a 5th?
where there is no guarantee of a grade bump, and important aspects of a card simply cannot be accurately examined, I personally am not seeing the value.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Politely, agree to disagree…to each his or her own.
I agree with all points except the last sentence. Reason is you can never tell what type of thing will grab hold in a collectors mind.
I like many of mintonlypls' posts, but his continuing infomercial in multiple threads for MBA is becoming stale
. But at least he's not trying to pump 1990 Leaf Frank Thomas' (one of my own stale references that I'm trying, and now failed, to avoid using)
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)
hey 1982 -- "EXCITEMENT BREWING"
A good experiment for mintonlypls is to crack out the silver and gold stickered cards, and submit them raw to PSA. Let's see how accurate Mike is.
Not sure your bump success in holder with these stickers. I wonder if PSA has a natural bias to anything assess by Mike Baker. They sure do on GAI holdered cards. Es no beuno.
My 1968 Nolan Ryan RC PSA-8.5 was a PSA-8 PWCC-E submitted as such in the holder for review. Darn, I lost the PWCC
sticker…
That's not Mike Baker MBA. Have you had any MBAs reviewed in holder that bumped? Or cracked any out that bumped.
I mean, that's what he's peddling with the gold sticker especially. Why not put it to the test?
Stickers are your friend….Mike Baker or whoever! Not cracking out any cards…the beauty of diamonds.
So rather than having any success bumping stickered cards, your empirical evidence that Mike identifies cards that are undergraded is that stickers are my friend and diamonds are beautiful. I can't even begin to describe how compelling your sales pitch is. Add Brent Huigens in as the financier of this brilliant enterprise, and I'm hooked.
Have you ever considered selling vitamins & supplements for Amway?
Xango Mangosteen
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)
Goodbye 1-star…come back when you grow up!
Other bumps: ‘69 Reggie RC 8.5>9.0
‘86 Fleer Jordan RC 9.0>10.0
Mike Baker has graded more cards than anyone! He’s been at it since the infancy of grading! Diamonds are your friend… don’t forget it!
OK. too much pumping.
The PSA 8.5 Ryan Cert# 24470984 is min size.
Card width = 80mm * .785526 = 62.84208mm =~ 2.4740976 inches
Sorry
Goodbye, measured in hand b4 encapsulated with 1/100 inch scale
2.5000000 x 3.500000
You’re a sorry low life!
There are high-resolution pictures on PSA for the card. It's certainly not 2.5000000 x 3.5000000. Stop acting so pathetic. It's embarrassing.
You’re pathetic sore loser…I hate jealous people like yourself! You cannot accept when someone has a nice collection…evidence by nitpicking here and there. Sorry…but measurement in-hand b4 encapsulation does not lie using a 1/100 inch scale.
2.500000000000000000000000000000x
3.5000000000000000000000000000000
come on guys, can't we all just get along..
They keep attacking…and I am just defending myself ….all stemming from not liking MBA diamonds (content of this thread). I like the service…to each his own. Don’t come here bashing what I like!!!
If Mint likes and wants to use MBA, I think it's fine. I have no problem. I think reinforcing a grade should be a good thing. I see many PSA 10's out there that aren't 10's and many 7's that look 9's. In fact I had an 8 turn into a 10 several times. GRading is subjective, but when Mike looks at the card, i think he is really looking at the card, not necessarily trying to review as many cards as humanly possible. Plus he has no incentive to lower the grade of a card or not give a "sticker".
Now Craig mentioned the dude from PWCC with MBA, which is problematic. That dude does not have a very good reputation.
I think a card like the 1987 Topps Bonds is a interesting one. many psa 10's in the pop, but very few centered ones. most would get 9's today. i think a reinforced card like that could really be a good thing. and i am sure there are many more like that.
I just give him a bit of what he gives to other people... and he cracks. Baker is either a fraud or he's fraud-adjacent. No arguing that and no integrity with Mintbaby here.
I think Mike genuinely assigns stickers when a card separates from the pack within a given grade that looks nicer than the assigned grade. I had 44 cards which were diamond candidates based on digital review…but only 26 were diamond awarded during in-hand assessment. So…Mike Baker is not stickering every card he looks at in person. Using his vast experience in grading…Mike is giving his honest opinion those cards separating from the pack within a given grade.
You are the one that is cracking here…if you do not like the thread…don’t come here. I wont miss you…stop being trouble maker. No one asked you to come to this thread I started …if the subject title suggests something you don’t like…don’t visit. It’s that simple…
I rarely get involved, however, please have the personal attacks cease. See Forum Rules.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Hey. It's OK. Settle down. I like the thread. Watching you pump Mike Baker is a guilty pleasure. I don't know why Nacho Neil is coming after you.
Your card measures small. See the gaps in the holder?
Please refrain from posting here. It’s not your subject matter you like…
I have seen the PSA 8.5 in person and it is not min size or trimmed and it is legit. I have seen several of Monte’s cards in person and they are all high end and well centered. Very few collections have the detail to centering and eye appeal.
In regards to MBA it is not for everyone and that is ok. I have always been taught to judge people by my interactions with them and not judging them by what others have said about them. Was skeptical of MBA stickers up until my visit with them at the National. Very approachable, excellent service, took the time to view and discuss my cards with me, and explained why cards received silver or gold labels and more importantly why they did not receive them. Did a great job of teaching, and I am by no means a super collector but I think people who know me and what I collect know I focus on centering and eye appeal and have a few decent cards. Tell me when have you ever gone to PSA or SGC and the owner took the time at the National to talk with a new customer for 10-15 minutes when they were busy.
As far as your comments on Monte’s cards and thread it is apparent you don’t like stickers from MBA or PWCC and that is completely your choice. No one is bashing you foe that, but you feel the need to disagree and offer disparaging and factually incorrect remarks telling people their cards are min sized or stickers don’t add value. I can tell you from experience and real world sales the MBA silver and gold stickers add a ton of value - especially the gold labels. The offers I have received on these two cards alone have been north of 40-50%+ over comps easily.
Add something positive to the discussion versus bashing would be a lot better for the hobby. Just my two cents - your mileage may vary.😉
True, you gotta have thick skin to be in this biz, and it's not for everyone where the usual suspects may be involved. I'm certainly enjoying the cards posted by obsessive centering freaks like me, though.
You make fair points. I have also used MBA's service. I have spoken to Mike on many occasions.
Monte told someone to "grow up" and that's why I responded. The measurement of that card. It's 100% accurate. I assume you know how I did it, but if you don't ask and I will share. It's indisputable.
I'll post whenever and wherever I want. Your ad hominem attacks on others reinforce the weakness of your argument.
Those bumps are impressive. I'm genuninely happy for you. Good on you. Unfortunately, neither one has anything to do with the stickers and service you so gratuitously peddle.
I honestly couldn't care less whether collectors use the MBA service or not. I was simply asking if you had any evidence of bumps (either in holder or crackouts), and you have failed to provide any.
Thread locked:
Discussion has moved from the topic (MBA/stickers) into personal back-and-forth between members.
Everyone’s welcome to debate services, grading, and business models here, but leave the personal attacks out of it.
Feel free to start a new thread on MBA or eye-appeal if you want to continue the topic — just keep it on the cards, not each other.
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