What to do with my latest Hank Aaron purchase?!?!?!
epatmythes
Posts: 1,514 ✭✭✭
I'm working on the Hank Aaron Basic Set in the registry... trying to complete the set in PSA 8. Then I get this card in the mail the other day...
Reviewed it very carefully and checked it out under my loupe... very outside shot at a 9 upgrade under review. Even if not that lucky, it's in a old PSA case (pre .5 grading) and the T/B & L/R centering on both the front and back are well within PSA 9 standards... thus an almost certain bump to 8.5.
I don't have VCP, but the SMR swing from 8 to 9 is $600 to $4250. No clue what the economic gain would be bumping from an 8 to an 8.5. Either way, if it bumps I'd just be selling it anyway to pocket some coin and buy another 8 for my registry set.
Thoughts? Advice?
Cheers
Reviewed it very carefully and checked it out under my loupe... very outside shot at a 9 upgrade under review. Even if not that lucky, it's in a old PSA case (pre .5 grading) and the T/B & L/R centering on both the front and back are well within PSA 9 standards... thus an almost certain bump to 8.5.
I don't have VCP, but the SMR swing from 8 to 9 is $600 to $4250. No clue what the economic gain would be bumping from an 8 to an 8.5. Either way, if it bumps I'd just be selling it anyway to pocket some coin and buy another 8 for my registry set.
Thoughts? Advice?
Cheers
0
Comments
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<< <i>Either way, if it bumps I'd just be selling it anyway to pocket some coin and buy another 8 for my registry set. >>
That's precisely what I was thinking your should do. If you're only concerned with collecting 8s, send it in for a review. What I WOULD NOT do is crack it out if I were you. You run the risk of it coming back EOT or something else. Just send it in for review. Good luck!
But that's one of the nicer Aarons I've seen in any grade.
Very nice purchase.
<< <i>I thought centering was THE key for the half bump.... >>
Nope.
It has to be centered well enough for a 9, but that alone isn't going to make it an 8.5. If it were that easy, the percentage of successful bumps through review would be much higher and 8.5's would be worth a lot less.
VCP 8 675
8.5 1600
9 3950
<< <i>
<< <i>I thought centering was THE key for the half bump.... >>
Nope.
It has to be centered well enough for a 9, but that alone isn't going to make it an 8.5. If it were that easy, the percentage of successful bumps through review would be much higher and 8.5's would be worth a lot less. >>
I agree about the corners; I have submitted several for the bump. They are picky about print dots too, even ones you have to hunt for to find.
<< <i>It looks like an 8 to me because of the corner wear, but it doesn't hurt to try. Strong centering doesn't make a card a likely bump--the corners really have to be strong. >>
Per the published PSA grading standards... "Cards that exhibit high-end qualities within each particular grade, between PSA Good 2 and PSA Mint 9, may achieve a half-point increase. While PSA graders will evaluate all of the attributes possessed by a card in order to determine if the card may be eligible, there will be a clear focus on centering. Generally speaking, a card must exhibit centering that is 5-10% better, at minimum, than the lowest % allowed within a particular grade. It is important to note that there may be cases where the overall strength of the card, such as the quality of the corners and print, will give the card the edge it needs despite the fact that it may exhibit only marginal centering for the grade."
Per a unnamed PSA representative at the most recent Chicago Sun Times show... "On a 7 or 8, it pretty much boils down to whether or not the card has centering consistent with the standards for PSA 9"... thus my original statement about the centering within PSA 9 standards.
I really think it's a long shot at a 9, but I've seen stranger grades from PSA. I really think the touching seen on the top corners in the scan is from light, not actual touched corners. Under a loupe, the only real wear noticable is on the bottom right corner, and it's quite minor. Overall, under a loupe, the corners are consisent with other PSA 9 cards I own... except for the bottom right, which is why I assume it got an 8 originally. Then again, I have a number of PSA 9 cards that show more corner wear than this card... so I think it's an outside shot, and a lucky one if it did bump to a 9.
From all the .5 graded cards I've received from subs, read about, and or heard about from PSA reps... I have to believe this is an easy .5 bump card.
lol, I'd like to hear his explanation for the thousands of 7's and 8's with near perfect centering that have been graded since half point grading began. Not to mention all the threads on here where people did the same thing you're about to do with well centered cards only to have them sent back with the original grade.
Maybe the scan is making the colored bordered corners look worse...that sometimes happens...but if the corners are touched then it's an 8.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>Per a unnamed PSA representative at the most recent Chicago Sun Times show... "On a 7 or 8, it pretty much boils down to whether or not the card has centering consistent with the standards for PSA 9"... thus my original statement about the centering within PSA 9 standards.
lol, I'd like to hear his explanation for the thousands of 7's and 8's with near perfect centering that have been graded since half point grading began. Not to mention all the threads on here where people did the same thing you're about to do with well centered cards only to have them sent back with the original grade.
Maybe the scan is making the colored bordered corners look worse...that sometimes happens...but if the corners are touched then it's an 8. >>
You can't really compare 7's & 8's graded before the half-point system... to the thousands of 7's & 8's graded since. The focus shift from weak to strong within a grade completely shifted with the implementation of the half-point system.
For instance, the answer to what you say about the thousands of 7's and 8's with near perfect centering since then??? ANSWER: Your 7 would have been a 6.5, but it just warranted enough of the minimum qualifications to get a 7 instead... and your 8 would have been a 7.5, but it warranted enough of the minimum qualifications to get an 8 instead.
Now, on the flip side, when evaluating a pre-half-point system card... you have to consider whether or not the card is weak for the grade or strong for the grade. If it is very strong for the grade (which I believe this card is and equally believe I could be wrong), and has the centering to warrant a .5 bump... chances are extremely good that the bump will be received.
Then again, as I've learned sub after sub after sub after sub... it's all a crapshoot anyway
Great looking Aaron it may have a shot but it does look to have 3 touched?
The centering is nuts on too
Definitely worth a review but don't dare crack!
Also, it will depend on who's grading it
Thanks,
Mickey71
The card also should be free of PD and of course stains.
It has to be in the opinion of the grader (on that day) to be high end for the grade.
Of course I am talking about 7.5 and above.
Lower grades seem to have a different criteria.
Steve
BRADLEY
Wrigleybum's Henry Aaron Master Set - 4th
I would not crack , but if it were mine, I'd send it in for review.
GOOD LUCK.----- Sonny
Bosox1976
Most folks sent in their best centered 8s at the beginning of the bump phase and were very dissapointed in the results.
Your card has touches on the corner. I would wait until a major show and sub it for a same day show special. I have had the best luck that way, also be sure and sub a slightly worse 62 8 with it.