What's the highest-graded card you've cracked out of a slab?

[trdcrdkid]

As I've mentioned on here before, I'm basically a raw card guy. I have more options for displaying them, including plastic pages; I'm much more concerned with eye appeal than with technical grades; raw cards tend to be cheaper (sometimes significantly so), which is good from my perspective because I don't plan to sell any of my cards in the foreseeable future, though I know that I can always get cards graded if I do eventually want to sell them.

Nevertheless, like any active collector of vintage cards, I have accumulated some graded cards, and like many of you, I've cracked a few cards out of their slabs. These have mostly been low-grade (SGC 10 or A) T206s that bought graded but wanted to integrate into all my raw T206s. I figure being in a slab isn't going to do such cards much good anyway, in terms of either protecting them physically or enhancing their value. My most valuable T206s, including some in pretty decent condition, are all raw, mostly bought years ago when graded cards weren't quite so ubiquitous. If I got a really valuable T206 (or other T card) today, I assume it would probably be slabbed, and I'm pretty sure I would keep it there for protection.

I know there are other aficionados of raw T and E cards on this board, and I know some of you have posted about cracking graded cards to put them in plastic sheets or otherwise add them to your other raw cards. For those of you who fit that description, what is the highest-graded card you've cracked out of a slab? Is there some grade above which you would never crack a card? Similarly, what is the most valuable card you've cracked out? I remember seeing a post a while back where somebody mentioned cracking out a Cobb and putting it in his plastic pages.

[Leon]

I generally wouldn't crack a card out of a higher grade holder. I would probably not crack out a 5 or better but it depends on the card too.

[ksabet]

I cracked a PSA 10 once...PSA didn't give me a 10.5...I was upset and vowed never to use PSA again...I think I will start a thread.


Never cracked prewar card. I have taken modern and cracked PSA 9s in order to submit to BGS for the 9.5.

[Luke]

I only collect a few sets. I like slabs for my t206 because they denote the back on the flip. However, my low grade e120 set is all raw. I've cracked a few 4s, which I think is my highest.

There's a member here (can't remember his name) with a really cool raw t206 set, which includes a PSA 7 Cy Young and a signed Larry Doyle that he cracked out.

[ullmandds]

my green cobby was a sgc 50...i cracked it because I thought it deserved a 60...now it's a 45 in a psa holder.

[packs]

I've only cracked once. It was a Gehrig Goudey graded an SGC 10. Second time around it came back SGC 20.

I've got a Koufax rookie in a PSA 5 holder that I keep thinking about cracking out and taking with me to spring training. But I can't get myself to do it.

[Bliggity]

I'm a set builder, and I buy raw and graded. I usually crack the graded ones and keep the cards in pages/binders. I actually just popped a SGC 86/7.5 high-number '53 Bowman today, which I'll crack out when it gets back. I think that will be the highest I've ever cracked out. I've cracked out some SGC 70/5.5 1934 Goudey commons. Most expensive was probably a T205 Mathewson that I cracked out of a SGC 30 holder to submit to PSA. Worked out in my favor that time.

So, a couple cards in the ~$300 range, but nothing more. I'd have to think long and hard before cracking out a big card, but I like to tell myself that I would!

[Sean1125]

I cracked out an SBC 98 T206 Revelle, it received an SGC 96.

[bbcard1]

I probably have cracked a 4 but I have cracked a lot of 1s and 2s. One of the 2s I cracked was marginal. I usually keep the flips and they will reholder it if you sell…I had a chance to sell it at auction (I upgraded…it was a cobb) so I got it reholdered. No problem. just sent it in with the flip and explained the holder had broken. Which is had. With the help of a screw driver.

[Jason]

I have cracked a few SGC 60's but cant see myself going higher than that. Some cards look so good in the holder its hard.

[shernan30]

I crack the majority of my cards especially with my '56 Topps set and my OJs. I do have an Orange Border Chase, PSA 4.5 1952 Topps Feller, and another rarer card on its was that will stay slabbed.

I guess based on the OP I should state I've cracked a PSA 4.5 OJ and SGC 84 (7) 1956 Topps.

[travrosty]

its the same card whether its in the holder or not.

[LuckyLarry]

This one:

Larry

[wolf441]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I probably have cracked a 4 but I have cracked a lot of 1s and 2s. One of the 2s I cracked was marginal. I usually keep the flips and they will reholder it if you sell…I had a chance to sell it at auction (I upgraded…it was a cobb) so I got it reholdered. No problem. just sent it in with the flip and explained the holder had broken. Which is had. With the help of a screw driver.

LOL, this reminds me of the old George Carlin joke:

"I've never banged a 10, but one night I banged five 2's"

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Leon

I generally wouldn't crack a card out of a higher grade holder. I would probably not crack out a 5 or better but it depends on the card too.

This hits the nail on the head--it depends upon the card and the condition it can usually be found in--if a "5" is a relatively high grade (as it is with most unaltered pre-war cards, it's too big a risk to believe you can beat the graders.

Larry

[vintagebb2014]

Here's my story. Purchased this very nice Chief Bender, SGC 50 - VG/EX 4. Both me and the Seller thought that it was under graded. Cracked it open, sent it to SGC and it comes back "A" - Authentic. Cracked it open and sent it in for a third time because of a sense of disbelief. It came back trimmed. Traded it to a friend that later sent it in and it comes backs "Altered". I'm guessing a 5th time it would come back as a fake..... Poor Chief Bender. Last I heard, he decided not to travel to the East Coast any more, he was headed to the West Coast and I look forward to hearing about his trip when he returns.

[sycks22]

I once popped a 51 Bowman Teddy ballgame in a 88 and came back a 92. That .5 bump sure helped.

[bobbyw8469]

1957 Topps basketball common SGC 8.5. Came back a PSA 8. Think I broke even due to the fact that PSA sells for more than SGC.

[Touch'EmAll]

Once cracked out an SGC 84 1957 Brooks Robinson, came back PSA 8. I was sending in an order anyways, and figures a lock for PSA 7. And I cracked out a "hand cut" (supposedly), 1928 Cobb W502 SGC 5 or 6 came back PSA 7.

Then there are the several Crossover submittals from SGC to PSA and PSA gave me no love, not even close - just a lot of money spent, er, wasted. Crossovers not a fair game.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Wondering how many notify psa/sgc of the old flips so they can delete from pop reports? Has anyone done this? Is it a lost cause at this point?

[Roofman4]

Not really a vintage card but it fit my HOF rookie card collection. I was at a local card dealer and for a few bucks sold me a GEM Grading Gem Mint 10 Randy Johnson 89 Topps RC. I cracked it and sent it to SGC...Whadda Ya know it came back a Gem Mint 10!!

[pokerplyr80]

I think the OP meant has anyone cracked cards out to enjoy raw, not to gamble on getting a higher grade.

I pretty much only collect graded cards, but I do think it would be cool to have an older vintage set in a binder. I think I've seen someone post a raw CJ set here on Net54 he had in one. I have mid grade 73 and 75 topps sets in binders that I bought off of craigslist. I have never personally cracked a card for any reason though and probably wouldn't unless it was to regrade.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

I think the OP meant has anyone cracked cards out to enjoy raw, not to gamble on getting a higher grade.

I pretty much only collect graded cards, but I do think it would be cool to have an older vintage set in a binder. I think I've seen someone post a raw CJ set here on Net54 he had in one. I have mid grade 73 and 75 topps sets in binders that I bought off of craigslist. I have never personally cracked a card for any reason though and probably wouldn't unless it was to regrade.

i actually bought some real nice stuff on craigslist that i got graded..even some nice 1952 Topps Mays that got graded 6's and 7s off raw craiglist ads....oh back on topic..i did crack out one of those mays 6s a year ago and got a 6.5...i wouldnt of cracked it now because the prices have gone up i wouldnt of wanted to risk damaging the 6.

[7nohitter]

SGC 98 1914 CJ Joe Jackson. Hated the slab.

[bcornell]

Does this count?

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

I think the OP meant has anyone cracked cards out to enjoy raw, not to gamble on getting a higher grade.

Well, that's primarily what I was thinking of, based on my own experience, but I realize that people crack out cards all the time hoping to get a higher grade, and the question is interesting to me in that context too. There's obviously the danger that you might bump or otherwise damage (however slightly) a very high-grade card in the process of cracking it out, but it seems that some people here have cracked out very high-grade cards and had them successfully regraded. Kudos to those people for their steady hands.