Mid-Grade Collectors

[jb67]

[QUOTE=DeanH3;2038685]I haven't sold any vintage lately. I did move a few modern cards this summer to fund vintage buys and I have no regrets on those. I certainly could make a few bucks from the vintage I bought just a couple years ago. But, I don't have any plans to sell.

It's really nice to see these mid grade gems get the attention they deserve. I expect the trend to continue as more people recognize the value offered. Thanks to all for sharing.

[IMG]https://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=813&pictureid=28223[/IMG

Love that Mays!!! Not to mention the rest of the 57’s you posted.

[DeanH3]

Thanks David. You posted some beauties as well. Awesome stuff!

[Chicosbailbonds]

That is a great 57 Mays.

[BillP]

I consider myself a mid grade collector. What I look for in a card is good focus of the picture, decent centering but not diamond cut, and reasonable corners. Generally between a 4 and 6. With my 57's and 58's it's more about focus on the card.

[IgnatiusJReilly]

Originally Posted by jb67

I sold some of my vintage basketball (profits too good to pass on) during the big upswing in prices and redirected some of the profits to cards in the mid to lower grade with nice eye-appeal. Trying to refocus my collection on rookie cards.

I believe mid-grade is not a bad way to go in the future as high-grade prices of some cards are going to be too expensive for most. I believe the demand for mid-grade cards will be strong as more collectors jump on the band wagon.

What an amazing group of cards. That 1.5 Mantle is insane! Definitely one of the nicest I’ve ever seen in that grade.

While we are in a very heated market, I have been unwilling to part with any of my cards. My 1956 Topps set was built around the idea that mid grade cards were affordable but that boat seems to have left the dock these days. I’m taking a wait and see approach before adding more vintage. I really really want a 54 Banks in a 5 or 6 but I don’t think I can swing it at these prices.


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[jchcollins]

I got out of the prewar business for the most part earlier this year, and reinvested some of those proceeds into random cards that have been on my list in one way or another for years. Probably the biggest thing was upgrading my '56 Mantle gray back (from an SGC A to a SGC 4) but the rest were just things I had never gotten done: Reggie Jackson RC. '55 Bowman Banks. '71 Clemente. '72 Hank Aaron...

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by 71buc

Adam the 1955 Mays is my favorite Mays card. It’s a thing of beauty. I have one in a SGC 6 slab I purchased long ago. I collect raw cards when I can inspect them in hand unless I win them from Cleansweep. Otherwise I buy PSA/SGC 6s on line. Cards in those slabs have become pricey, at least for me, lately. I settled for a nice centered 1954 Banks PSA 4 last year that was nicer and cheaper than many PSA 5 and 6s I’ve seen. That 4 now sells for a similar amount that a 5 or 6 would have cost me last year. I don’t think that rookie cards of Banks, Clemente, Gibson and their ilk will return to pre-pandemic prices so I maybe lowering my standards and start buyin nice 4s and 5s.

A 3 worked just fine for me.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

A 3 worked just fine for me.

Great, great card! Nothing wrong with that at all. The last year or so, I have been going this direction, too.

[wdwfan]

I probably posted way earlier in this thread saying that I strictly collect raw stuff in the Ex range. Well, well. My how times have changed.

I sold off a bunch of my newer, modern stuff and picked up my first graded cards about a week ago. Now I'm hooked. I find that it's so much easier to move vintage graded. Heck, I'm having trouble moving my ungraded Ex or better stuff (want to move it and buy vintage graded).

I find that I like the 5-6 range with focus on eye appeal. This was my first pickup. I paid a whole lot for it ($375 including tax) at the LCS, but I've been able to pick up a few other random vintage graded, and now I have 6 graded cards.

When considering graded, I always thought I'd like the look of SGC with the black frames. But I got one in hand, and I don't like it. Plus, I'm very CDO. So I want everything the same (PSA).

Anyway, I love vintage and collecting mid-grade stuff.

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

I probably posted way earlier in this thread saying that I strictly collect raw stuff in the Ex range. Well, well. My how times have changed.

I sold off a bunch of my newer, modern stuff and picked up my first graded cards about a week ago. Now I'm hooked. I find that it's so much easier to move vintage graded. Heck, I'm having trouble moving my ungraded Ex or better stuff (want to move it and buy vintage graded).

I find that I like the 5-6 range with focus on eye appeal. This was my first pickup. I paid a whole lot for it ($375 including tax) at the LCS, but I've been able to pick up a few other random vintage graded, and now I have 6 graded cards.

When considering graded, I always thought I'd like the look of SGC with the black frames. But I got one in hand, and I don't like it. Plus, I'm very CDO. So I want everything the same (PSA).

Anyway, I love vintage and collecting mid-grade stuff.

Nice Splendid Splinter. One that is on my watch list to eventually add. Congrats!

[thecomebacker]

Got the J-Rob from another member here:
.

[Exhibitman]

That 52 Robinson, and I say this with an unblemished record of staunch heterosexuality, is fabulous.

[DeanH3]

I agree with Adam. Amazing Jackie. That '51 Bowman Williams is no slouch either. Thanks for sharing.

[IgnatiusJReilly]

Originally Posted by thecomebacker

Got the J-Rob from another member here:
.

Wow, that’s a strong group of cards. Nice job!


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[irv]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

I agree with Adam. Amazing Jackie. That '51 Bowman Williams is no slouch either. Thanks for sharing.

X3. Beautiful looking Jackie, and the centering/condition of the other 2 are also something to behold.

Great cards!

[jchcollins]

Oh are we showing off cards again? Here are some more “mid-grade” pickups from this year. Reggie and the '65 Mantle were liberated from graded slabs. Anyone care to venture what they were?
















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[DeanH3]

Fantastic cards John. Can never get enough eye candy!

I'd guess Reggie and Mick were both 5's that have much better eye appeal than the grade.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

Fantastic cards John. Can never get enough eye candy!

I'd guess Reggie and Mick were both 5's that have much better eye appeal than the grade.

Close. Reggie was a PSA 6, and the Mantle was the nicest SGC 5 I've ever seen.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Oh are we showing off cards again? Here are some more “mid-grade” pickups from this year. Reggie and the '65 Mantle were liberated from graded slabs. Anyone care to venture what they were?
















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nice eye candy, John. I forgot you had some of those ('63 Banks for one).

[jb67]

[QUOTE=thecomebacker;2040856]Got the J-Rob from another member here:

Those are some stunning cards. The eye-appeal J-Rob, Willie and Ted are tremendous.

[thecomebacker]

[QUOTE=jb67;2041340]

Originally Posted by thecomebacker

Got the J-Rob from another member here:

Those are some stunning cards. The eye-appeal J-Rob, Willie and Ted are tremendous.

Thank you jb67! Your cards are amazing as well! All great centering and tremendous eye appeal. The Mantle RC is Insane for the grade! And I need your 52 Mays 3.5 desperately, lol. If ever available, please let me know : )


A couple more RC that I think looks better than the grade.
The Ryan I bought from another member here less than a year ago.
The Bench I bought on eBay around the same time for less than $100!

[Exhibitman]

That is too funny, Ed, I have the same PSA 2.5 version of a Bench RC:



I got mine raw out of a collection I bought several years ago and sent it in myself.

Wish there'd been a Ryan in there...But I did find a few other mid-grade gems:




Not that I'd call the all star mid-grade but it was in the same collection.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

A few of my favorite mid-grade cards that I've picked up over the years.

[GasHouseGang]

Robert, that 57 Mantle looks amazing for the grade. I picked up this beauty off of the board's B/S/T.

[tonyo]

I've enjoyed scanning this thread. I'm a low grade collector so most of the cards shown here look practically perfect to me.

Just for fun, I once decided to self-grade all my t206's.
I assigned a 1,2,3,or 4 to each of 5 categories then averaged for my overall grade.

here are the categories :
Creases,
border,
front clean,
front paper loss,
back overall.

Here is the scale I used:
4-good
3-minor
2-tolerable
1-distracting

thought you all may find that amusing!

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Robert, that 57 Mantle looks amazing for the grade. I picked up this beauty off of the board's B/S/T.

Thank you very much, David! That Campy is smoking! I had one of those many years ago. Seeing yours makes me think I need one again.

[thecomebacker]

Very Nice Bench 2.5 Adam, LOL!
Love your 69 Jackson and Benches as well.
Soooo tough to get a centered Jackson RC like yours!

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Thank you very much, David! That Campy is smoking! I had one of those many years ago. Seeing yours makes me think I need one again.

Yeah, I just couldn't pass it up. 1951 was the first of his three MVP years.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by thecomebacker

Very Nice Bench 2.5 Adam, LOL!
Love your 69 Jackson and Benches as well.
Soooo tough to get a centered Jackson RC like yours!

That's true. My raw one is slightly OC

[gustomania]

Love this thread, just added a mid-grade

[IgnatiusJReilly]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

A few of my favorite mid-grade cards that I've picked up over the years.

Love the borders on that 57! Also, that 48 Williams is an underrated card. Such an iconic image! Nice job.


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[smellthegum]

Great cards fellas, I'm really enjoying this thread! jb67's 4.5 Aaron in particular is just fantastic! (so are many others, but that one just jumps out at me). I'm finding that mid-grade looks better and better as I age and my eyesight diminishes...it's getting harder to see with the naked eye those minute flaws that used to drive me nuts!

I collect mostly ungraded but here are a few encased mid-grade favorites that I've picked up along the way.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by smellthegum

Great cards fellas, I'm really enjoying this thread! jb67's 4.5 Aaron in particular is just fantastic! (so are many others, but that one just jumps out at me). I'm finding that mid-grade looks better and better as I age and my eyesight diminishes...it's getting harder to see with the naked eye those minute flaws that used to drive me nuts!

I collect mostly ungraded but here are a few encased mid-grade favorites that I've picked up along the way.

Great cards, I especially like that Pafko!

[gustomania]

Sold some duplicates and picked up this beauty

[IgnatiusJReilly]

Originally Posted by gustomania

Sold some duplicates and picked up this beauty

That’s a sharp 4.5. Nice work!


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[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by gustomania

Sold some duplicates and picked up this beauty

Beauty! I have the '56 Clemente in a gray back 4.5. I really love the half grades. In many cases they aren't terribly more expensive than VCP for the full grade, and they are usually fantastic looking cards.

[gustomania]

Thanks guys, really appreciate it.

Chad

[Tere1071]

Delete, had problems uploading images.

[jb67]

[QUOTE=gustomania;2047014]Sold some duplicates and picked up this beauty

Great looking Koufax. Well done!!!

[Clemaz]

Hera are some mid grade cards that came in the mail this week


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[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by gustomania

Sold some duplicates and picked up this beauty

Nice grab! I had that one on my watchlist. It's a beauty!

[Exhibitman]

Dead centered and slightly soft corners is a nice presentation.

[gustomania]

Thanks, I was watching it for a while....in the end just such a nice mid grade example.

[Tere1071]

My 53 Bowman set ranges from a few cards in vg to near mint, with the majority in either vg/ex to excellent condition. I'm trying to upgrade my vg/ex cards to excellent but as the gap price-wise seems to be widening, my major stars will have to remain untouched unless I can either sell other parts of my collection and try to wrangle some trades.

[gustomania]

Finally found a nicely centered copy, and honestly could care less on grade.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by gustomania

Finally found a nicely centered copy, and honestly could care less on grade.

Congrats! That one is very difficult to find nicely centered. I used to have a 6, but it was off about as much as a 6 could be off left to right.

[gustomania]

Thanks, I’ve been looking for about 18 months, ran across a few but either I missed them or they seemed to be trimmed so passed on them. But in terms of anything a PSA 4 or lower I think this has been one of the only I’ve seen so couldn’t pass up. Plus the last one need for his basic topps run which is nice!

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by gustomania

Thanks, I’ve been looking for about 18 months, ran across a few but either I missed them or they seemed to be trimmed so passed on them. But in terms of anything a PSA 4 or lower I think this has been one of the only I’ve seen so couldn’t pass up. Plus the last one need for his basic topps run which is nice!

Congrats on finishing the run, that's neat. Yeah the conformities of professional grading aside, eye appeal can be different things to different people. In fact - that is mainly what this thread is about. That's a beautiful card!

[pcelli]

I love your kind of collecting , its collecting in its purest form. Slab collecting can be adapted to any range of condition or pricing. I buy both..Great stuff out there in lower range. I believe most people are focused on centering over all other attributes ( my view ) but old fashioned eye appeal works for me best..

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by pcelli

I believe most people are focused on centering over all other attributes ( my view ) but old fashioned eye appeal works for me best..

Centering went from a preferences thing to a hard hobby condition judgment point in the early 2000's with the rise of TPG popularity. In the 80's and early 90's before grading, most collectors looked for cards with sharp corners over and above centering unless a card was just badly OC or miscut. Funny how times have changed. I'm not a centering freak, I guess in part because this is the era I came up in. I will generally go for a card with a better surface and image and coloring that's mildly OC, over one that is perfectly centered but lesser in those areas.

You are right though, sometimes you just have to eyeball a particular card and see how you feel about it. This is what too many slab-only collectors today seem to have lost the ability to do, in some cases it seems to me.