At what year and what grade is slabbing no longer worth it?

Comments

• MeteoriteGuy Posts: 7,140 ✭✭

  December 26, 2009 1:25AM

  
  
  << <i>I'm trying to build high grade raw sets from 1971 through 1976. Eventually I will complete the sets with PSA graded stars, but at the moment I'm working on the high grade commons for the most part.
  
  Clearly, it still pays to have 1971 commons graded if they will get 8's. However, from 1972 up it seems like the expectation of an 8 no longer justifies slabbing, as everyone is pursuing 9's. I was able to buy a large lot of 1972 PSA 8 commons for less than the slabbing cost on average. I have also purchased 1973 8's and 8.5's recently for around the slabbing cost.
  
  Is it fair to say that from 1972 up, if one is satisfied with PSA 8 quality cards, that they should still be fairly plentiful un-slabbed? >>
  
  
  
  
  I would say depends on the cards. Personally, i pretty much only collect 80s and a few modern players.....nothing near the date you suggest.
  
  
  Edit to add: Your question in the topic is quite different then your question in the body. My answer was to the thread title.

  Collecting PSA graded Steve Young, Marcus Allen, Bret Saberhagen and 1980s Topps Cards.
  Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
  

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• PaulMaul Posts: 4,936 ✭✭✭✭✭

  December 26, 2009 2:56AM

  Maybe you misinterpreted my question in the topic. By the title of the post, I meant, for say, 1972 baseball, at what grade would the return on slabbing
  be insufficient to justify it, leading to more raw availability in that grade? I meant to ask that question in theory for any year, but in particular for the
  years 1971-1976. Sorry if my phrasing was awkward.
  
  My bottom line question is, for which years should I expect to be able to find PSA 8 quality cards available raw?
  

  My 1972 Baseball and Wacky Pack Registry Sets

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• MeteoriteGuy Posts: 7,140 ✭✭

  December 26, 2009 3:26AM

  
  
  << <i>Maybe you misinterpreted my question in the topic. By the title of the post, I meant, for say, 1972 baseball, at what grade would the return on slabbing
  be insufficient to justify it, leading to more raw availability in that grade? I meant to ask that question in theory for any year, but in particular for the
  years 1971-1976. Sorry if my phrasing was awkward.
  
  My bottom line question is, for which years should I expect to be able to find PSA 8 quality cards available raw? >>
  
  
  
  "Maybe you misinterpreted my question in the topic." or maybe you wrote it wrong...:^)
  
  1972 up sounds about right, meaning you can buy most cards in 8 from the 70s for grading fees or less, and finding PSA 8 quality ungraded should not be that hard. The 71s with the black border would not fit.

  Collecting PSA graded Steve Young, Marcus Allen, Bret Saberhagen and 1980s Topps Cards.
  Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
  

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• bking Posts: 3,095 ✭✭

  December 26, 2009 3:35AM

  I'd agree as well. Even 1970 is starting to fall into that category, as commons in 8 are starting to auction for $6-7. Of course, 1971 is always the exception.

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  Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
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  Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq

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