Am I crazy for liking...
 

raw cards??? In my vintage baseball card collection most of my stars are slabbed, and most of my commons are raw. However, when shopping for cards, '57 Topps for example, I find myself looking at and liking raw cards, even the stars. I know that if I had to sell, graded would be better, and sometimes I see the same card--one graded, one slabbed--for about the same money. I feel nuts for wanting to buy the raw card.

Example: 1957 Topps Berra #2. I see a PSA 7 (not centered all that well L/R) for $136. At the same time, I see a raw Berra that looks pretty sharp and centered much better for $148. It is called EXMT by the seller.

I know we are all mortal and someday my wife and daughters might want to sell and a largely graded collection would make that easier. But the fact remains, I like them in their natural state.

I know threads like this have been done...a lot, but I can never quite make a decision. I just can't quite shake the feeling I am making a bad decision buying raw when, for a little more, I could have a card slabbed. But it isn't about the money for me...I am a collector not a dealer. I have no reason to think I would have to sell, but you never know.

Thoughts???

I am 62 and recently (last year) fought off cancer. It did make me realize my mortality and I have since been selling off raw and downsizing my collection to graded cards, as my heir doesn't know or care about baseball. :) Dave. ps I hope to enjoy my cards well into my 80's or better.

Dave, I am glad you won out over cancer. My dad is a survivor, too. Happy collecting.

Robert

Cards
 

Robert-- I have been collecting Topps baseball cards since 1957. I have a full set run ,1948 and 1951 to 2013, and am happy to say that with one or two exceptions, all of my cards are ungraded and displayed in easy to access binders.

And my cards are not "raw". They are cards in their natural free state, rather than imprisoned in plastic and stamped with an opinion about them by someone who knows less about them than me. :-)

Dave-- I am also 62 and had cancer in 2005. Keep on trucking. I am thinking of having my cards cremated with me.

Al, hats off to you too for overcoming cancer.

Regarding your collection, how would you characterize your approach? I mean is most of your stuff high, mid, or lower grade? Either way, very impressive! Point taken regarding "raw" vs "natural". Thanks

Robert

To each his own, and I certainly can't criticize anyone's personal point of view on it, but if a classic car dealer offered me a choice of a 1957 Chevy in good running condition and another encased in a giant plastic cube at the same price, I would have to go with the unslabbed car.

Haha!! Good stuff!!

I realize that grading cards is becoming more and more the wave of the future. Unfortunately, you can't get around it and if I ever plan on selling my collection, I'm going to have to get the big guys graded.

With that said, all my sets--1957 to 1979, in varying degrees of completeness--are ungraded (I freakin' hate the term 'raw'!!!! Drives me bananas!!!!!). If I find a graded card that fits what I need at the right price, I'll sometimes buy it and add it to my trade bait, not including it as a hit to my need list.

As others have said before, I love feeling my cards, sniffing that aroma of cardboard and everything that goes with it...and enjoying them! Having a card in a slab is like visiting your uncle in prison. There's something very unnatural and uncomfortable about it.

Plus, if I see a card in great shape and it looks awesome to me, why does it suddenly increase in value and prestige when the very same card is entombed in a slab??? Nothing has changed with said card. It's still the exact same card it was before it was graded.

Sub $100
 

For cards worth under $100, yes I prefer raw. But over that, I like (more) safety/security that a trained eye has determined the card is authentic/unaltered. For example, would rather pay $20 for this raw Aparicio (raw) than a graded a 6 or 7 that costs atleast that much.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images.../5180/aparicio

90% of my collection is natural. Im mostly into 50s 60s 70s Topps, Bowman. Im in my 30s, and had to learn and study about those issued cards for a few years, and I pretty much know how, when, and if to let go of my money for those cards. Over the past couple years, I have dabbled in pre war, obviously a different beast. I am still learning, and thanks largely to net54, I have vastly increased my knowledge on pre war type issues, their value, scarcity, etc.

But for collecting, buying early 20th century cardboard, I do often seek refuge in the slabs. Especially if I am considering dropping a couple hundred bucks. I dont value the grade, I value authenticity for my purchase. At least until (God willing) I learn enough to be as comfortable buying natural pre war as I currently do with post war.

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Occasionally I'll buy a graded card, but as soon as it arrives I free it!

I'm putting together a '57 set and LOVE the 'raw' nature of it!