All the graded cards I own

 

Often over the years I've read blog posts or, more likely, those on social media that invite a discussion on graded cards.

 

My standard response -- if I do respond -- is I don't believe in graded cards in almost all cases and that I have very few graded cards in my collection. Then I feel like I have to explain that -- if I don't believe in graded cards, why do I have some in my collection? And how many do I have? I've never known that part.

 

So this post is about figuring that out, getting to know my graded cards and why they have the gall to exist in my collection when 99.999998% of the cards in the collection are frolicking free in the breeze as is their constitutional right.

 

For starters, I have nine graded cards ... well, eight cards and one coin, as you can see here. Any other graded card that has come into my possession, I have broken out. All but two of the cards/coin were sent to me by others, because I have never specifically attempted to buy a graded card. But I have bought them, and I'll go through that as I review these rarities in my collection, from least notable to most notable. 

 

Let's see some imprisoned cards.

 

 

1982 Topps Burt Hooton

Grading company: PSA

Condition/Grade: NM/8

Do I have this card unslabbed?: Yes

Why haven't I freed this card?: I probably have 5 or 6 versions of this card in their natural state. There's no reason to add another one.

 

I wrote about this card when I received it because I was baffled that someone would grade a 1982 Burt Hooton. I was informed that people try to collect entire sets of graded cards and look for cards with the highest grades possible. That didn't make any more sense to me, but at least there's a reason, I guess.

 

 

 

1973 O-Pee-Chee Dodgers Checklist

Grading company: PSA

Condition/Grade: VG+/3.5

Do I have this card unslabbed?: Yes

Why haven't I freed this card?: I have it in free form and since I have no plans to collect the 1973 O-Pee-Chee set, there's no reason to go through the effort of the jail break. The checklist on this card is unchecked but so is the unslabbed version.

 

Seeing the "VG+" and the "3.5" reminds me of how subjective these labels are. I don't know what the difference between "VG" and "VG+" and "VG-EX" is. Creating subcategories is putting too much thought into condition. Also, I think a "3" or "4" would suffice.

 

 

1997 Score Hideo Nomo

Grading Company: Beckett

Condition/Grade: NM-Mt+/8.5

Do I have this card unslabbed?: Yes, but I suppose this card is different.
Why haven't I freed this card?: Because it has a difference.

 

This is the only non-PSA graded card in my collection. This item is different from the regular '97 Score Nomo because it comes with a bit of a jersey swatch. I don't know how something like this was acquired. Again, the grade and condition are very subjective with decimals and a plus sign. I already have an issue with someone randomly assigning a grade to a card without adding decimal points and symbols.

 

 

 

1969 Topps Dodgers Rookie Stars, Ted Sizemore/Bill Sudakis

Grading company: PSA

Condition/grade: NM/7

Do I have this card unslabbed?: Yes.

Why haven't I freed this card?: I have two versions of this card in their natural state, one with the Dodgers team set and one with the 1969 Topps set. No need to add a third.

 

Another issue with graded cards is with horizontals. The wording on the label at the top is perpendicular with the wording on the card. It's just not as pleasing to view. See: 1985 Topps Football, for example.

 

 

1971 Topps Coins Willie Davis

Grading company: PSA

Condition/grade: EX/5

Do I have this coin unslabbed?: Yes

Why haven't I freed this coin?: Because it amuses me in slabbed form.

 

I sort of see the point of slabbing a coin -- it will finally stay in one place. But it still looks weird to me. Also I generally know what a grader is looking for when examining a card -- sharp corners, centering, etc. I am less clear on coin standards.

 

 

1954 Topps Karl Spooner

Grading company: PSA
Condition/grade: VG-EX/4

Do I have this card unslabbed?: Yes

Why haven't I freed this card?: Same reason as the 1973 OPC checklist, I don't have plans to try to complete the 1954 Topps set. But the moment I do, I'm cracking out this card.

 

Another horizontal mind-bend with this one.

 

 

1966 Topps National League 1966 Rookie Stars, Bart Shirley and Grant Jackson

Grading company: PSA

Condition/grade: Good/2

Do I have this card unslabbed?: No

Why haven't I freed this card?: I ask myself this question a lot.

 

This card is one of the notorious high numbers in 1966 Topps. It was a pain to get. I bought a graded version because it was the only kind available, and it cost more money than almost any other card that I've bought that isn't from the 1956 Topps set.

 

Because of its reputation, I haven't broken it out. I shouldn't care about that and get it into a binder with all of its 1966 Topps Dodgers friends, but I can't get myself to do that with the price I paid and knowing the card's history. Maybe some day I'll cross that bridge.

 

 

1977 Kellogg's Mark Fidrych

Grading company: PSA

Condition/grade: Mint/9

Do I have this card unslabbed?: No.

Why haven't I freed this card?: I'm too scared.

 

Cracking a graded container is not easy on the card, in fact it's a traumatic experience. I've done pretty well busting cards out with no damage to the card, but there have been a couple times when I wasn't so lucky. Kellogg's cards are notorious for showing damage just because someone looked at it wrong. So I can't put a MINT Fidrych through that -- even though it's the only graded card in my complete 1977 Kellogg's set.

 

The thing to do is grab a Fidrych with cracks for the peace of mind. I may try that someday.

 

 

1953 Bowman Color Pee Wee Reese

Card company: PSA

Condition/grade: Poor/1

Do I have this card unslabbed?: No

Why haven't I freed this card?: This card is already a piece of art but I think adding a label that declares it "poor" and a "1" makes it an even more interesting piece. Shame on whoever considered this card "poor".

 

Maybe if I was collecting 1953 Bowman I would break this card out, but also part of me knows this could pull in some cash if I needed it some day.

 

There are lots of other reasons why I don't collect graded cards, I could make a whole list: I want to touch my cards, the plastic cases are ugly, paying to get your cards encased is nuts, the emphasis on condition over the card makes me sad, and a whole bunch of other things.

 

Graded cards are much better for sellers than buyers and I get that. But I am mostly a buyer still, which is why unless you own a card that has been known to be faked or are trying to sell a card and get more money (buyers: be more judicious!), I'm not going to understand the whole thing.

 

But that's coming from someone with nine graded cards, so, you know, what do I know?