Why is this card in a GAI holder ?

[Frank A]

With all the expert graders on here, I think you should all apply for a job with a grading company. Grading from a picture is nonsense.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Frank A

With all the expert graders on here, I think you should all apply for a job with a grading company. Grading from a picture is nonsense.

Only if you're this guy..... who may just be the head grader at PSA

[Leon]

He is overqualified. I am always leery of cards in GAI holders.

Originally Posted by steve B

Only if you're this guy..... who may just be the head grader at PSA

.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Leon

He is overqualified. I am always leery of cards in GAI holders.


.

Me too Leon. I recently broke out a 1952 Bowman Musial and got an even cross into PSA. I guess you have to be the judge yourself of the card in the holder. And willing to roll the dice. IMHO, it HAS to be cracked out. I would never attempt a crossover in their case.

[1880nonsports]

GAI cards are just fine. It was a strange transitional period but when they first came around I decided to have them entomb my N29 cards and subsequently a few Sweet Caporal sealed packs. Quite a few of the cards were labeled "first graded" as a result. For what it's worth I no longer have any GAI cards :-) One of the packs however realized over 2000.00.

[Brian]

I cannot speak about this card, but I can say some (positive) things about the original incarnation of GAI.

When I first started collecting pre-war, I had a bunch of cards graded by GAI (over a decade ago). These were mostly Cracker Jacks, and all I wanted was the protection afforded by a holder. I really wasn't into grading or looking at grading companies under the microscope because I am a collector and had no intention of selling.

My cards were very stringently graded by someone there (I think his name was Baker?), and in fact, I thought they were very conservatively graded. So I took a handful of them over to SGC just for fun.

3 out of 6 actually graded higher than the GAI grade, one did not cross over to a higher grade, and 2 out of 6 remained at the same grade.

So I think that it is a mistake to assume that because it is in a GAI holder, it must have been "messed with." If fact, good deals can be had for this very same reason. Just my opinion.
B.rian D.ynlacht

[LOUCARDFAN]

Mike Baker was the grader and part owner of GAI. Mike used to be head grader at PSA prior to him leaving and starting GAI. The first couple of years their grades were spot on but then things started slipping after that. Not sure what happened. If you have a card that was graded within the first couple of years of their inception the grade should be considered correct.

[RedsFan1941]

Originally Posted by Brian

I cannot speak about this card, but I can say some (positive) things about the original incarnation of GAI.

When I first started collecting pre-war, I had a bunch of cards graded by GAI (over a decade ago). These were mostly Cracker Jacks, and all I wanted was the protection afforded by a holder. I really wasn't into grading or looking at grading companies under the microscope because I am a collector and had no intention of selling.

My cards were very stringently graded by someone there (I think his name was Baker?), and in fact, I thought they were very conservatively graded. So I took a handful of them over to SGC just for fun.

3 out of 6 actually graded higher than the GAI grade, one did not cross over to a higher grade, and 2 out of 6 remained at the same grade.

So I think that it is a mistake to assume that because it is in a GAI holder, it must have been "messed with." If fact, good deals can be had for this very same reason. Just my opinion.
B.rian D.ynlacht

well said. your opinion is held by the majority of collectors if i’m not mistaking.