Mike Baker -- now offering a full line grading service?
 

In his last iteration he was only offering third party stickers. It looks like he has expanded? Uphill battle I would say. I wonder if Brent is involved behind the scenes.

https://www.mbadiamond.com/grading-and-encapsulation

Looking at his web site it is mentioned that he is not taking cards from the public but just from hobby entities

I think Peter your question can be answered by just contacting him as per the website and seeing whom the people are on his list

Rich

Who ?
 

. I wonder if there's any money in grading old baseball cards. ?

I took this picture of their display at the National this year:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1b2e576863.jpg

It always seemed like the obvious next step to me. Surprised it took him this long.

Also, I call bullshit on the rumor that Brent owns MBA. Where did that come from? I could be wrong obviously, but I would need to see some proof of that claim in order to believe it. And it seems precisely like the sort of nonsense that gets birthed over at Blowhard.

Wouldn't this be the PREVIOUS step? GAI take 2.

There's some likely affiliation, no? I mean Mike didn't just happen to move to the same town. He had been in Poolesville MD and Bettendorf IA before that, I believe.

Obviously he had some sort of partnership with PWCC, but that doesn't mean Brent owns MBA, which our mutual fake-name friend from the other thread claimed is the case.

Is there any sign of Brent? There was this from Betsy last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS4SUTT-Rkw&t=36s

And why wouldn't he be there, thriving industry hotbeds that they are?

GAI/Global Authority or whatever it was called when Damien owned it was in IA. He was still the head grader then.

Since he is such a well known great guy in the hobby it is only fair he gets his second chance he deserves.

These filings suggest both Brent and Damien are involved with MBA.

https://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_...&p_print=FALSE

About time! Plenty of $$ in cards and card grading so Mike might as well take advantage.

Quick Google search shows PWCC and MBA being a 12 minute drive, 2.5 miles away
that combined with the filings are proof enough for me.

That's interesting. I wonder what their involvement is though? He's listed an a manager on the articles of organization, and Betsy is listed as the registered agent. Maybe Mike Baker just doesn't know how to run a business and needed to partner with someone who did? Regardless, I still have a hard time buying the idea that MBA Authenticated is "owned by" Brent in the sense that such phrasing implies. Clearly they have some sort of partnership, but suspect Mike Baker would take issue with the claim that MBA is "owned by Brent".

People barely care about his fancy gold/silver/black stickers so even less will care about his new grading venture.

What are the chances of creating another TPG that will compete with the already established TPGs? Bottom line is that they'd be trying to take market share from the smaller TPGs and one of them is now under the PSA umbrella.

What's there schtick? New type of guarantee? Certainly isn't going to compete for people that like registries.

If it ever goes as an IPO, let me know, I'll short it on the first day! :p I'm really hoping someone doesn't think the IPO comment was serious and then try to tell me how stupid a comment it was because the company would never go public, etc. Believe me, there are people that will do that on this board.

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Mike Baker authenticated
 

I thought I recalled a Mike Baker Authenticated thread:) I'm asking a very
specific question for net54 land. If anyone has purchased an MBA card since
the thread began in late December 2024, what is your impression of the
grading accuracy? Any submitters? I'm not looking for replies about Baker's
prior connection to SGC or GAI, but rather your satisfaction/ lack thereof
with the current product. Please feel free to PM or post in the thread.

Thank you!

Trent King

Here’s an interesting grade combination we haven’t seen before. A VG 3 with minimum size qualifier. That’s not a terrible idea if TPGs are hell-bent on mentioning the mysterious minimum size requirement but still want to proclaim a condition assessment.

Overall I’ve noticed that MBA vintage cards seem really clean, like clean clean…very clean.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8aba2a5924.jpg

"Factory cut small" might make more sense, rather than minimum sized which means what? It was just barely big enough to qualify for a grade? Do fat border cards get a "maximum sized" moniker.

I don't care about stickers but.....

Personally, I think they (MBA and associates) would be a better grading company than all but CGC at this point.
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So once he grades the cards and slabs them, will he also put stickers on them? Or is that a separate service?

Seems the sticker pile is right there in case it’s needed.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5bb0644b46.jpg

That label looks like someone printed it on their inkjet at home.

I have seen some MBA encapsulated cards and the grades look consistent but might be a tad conservative. Most of the cards were NM or lower. I love the Min Size option with a numeric grade. All TPG should have been doing that, which is a point I made a few times on the Goldin Auctions 36 WWG DiMaggio thread.

Which one? The Gold Flip, the Diamond Sticker nonsense, or both?

What is the fascination with Mike Baker anyways? I know the backstory with PSA, but does he really have any impact on the hobby these days?

I meant the gold (yellow?) flip. Maybe it's the font... I agree that the whole sticker thing is silly.

The holders look nice, although the flip leaves a lot to be desired, and the diamond stickers are just a comical money grab that I personally wouldn't pay an extra nickel for.

I wouldn't pay an extra nickel for any part of the equation.

But it's got the sticker!!!

Should we read the sticker as an indication that the fake is of the highest quality?

It can't be a fake, it has a sticker!

If you went outside and pointed to the sky and it was dark, you would have a hard time convincing one person....it was night time.

Maybe an eclipse? A cloud we can't see covering it? Volcanic eruption? I'd if it really is night time

I don't know anything about these cards. Any idea how they know it's fake? Someone asked that on the Blowout thread but no one gave an answer other than a link to a 27 page thread which I really am not that interested in reading through.

The experts don't always want to share their info on fakes - as it can help the criminals perfect their craft. It could be something so small and virtually unnoticeable.

I don't know, but I have seen enough of the guy's work and messaged with him enough times that I trust his assessments. Plus, with all the stuff he has called out, I don't think anyone ever really disputed any specific finding.

For those established members who have seen and handled a lot more vintage than I have...If you came across a hard to find vintage card in a MBA holder, would you keep it as is, or would you send to PSA or SGC for a crossover?

with the way PSA has been grading vintage for the last 2-3 years, MBA can't do worse.

Mike got that one wrong, evidently, but I would still trust him more than PSA or SGC, but that is just me.
.

Thank you for the reply, Leon. I appreciate it.

Rethought to now reflect -

"Not real sure on that as the website menu shows that you need to "ASK" on the pricing for Card Grading? - What kinda Crap is that??????"

I can't answer this directly, but there were a number of 1952 Topps MBA graded cards that ended recently. I was surprised at how high some of the ending prices were. Apparently buyers were convinced there was significant value with this grading service

With the George Schirm Carolina Brights T206 and lack of a reponse from Andy I wouldn't trust CGC over any of the other grading companies.

Depends on who purchased those MBA graded 1952s.

FYI- bunch of these cards in Mile high auction
All nice looking

Hi, just picking up on the MB topic with my own two cents. I have been reluctant to dive in and bid on MB cards thus far. I am by no means a "grader" and my opinions are based on anecdotal evidence. For me, too many MB cards are too good to be true in terms of their appearance. Corners too sharp, colors too bright and sharp. Since I PU quite a bit of pre-war now and higher ticket items I am very reluctant to go what I perceive to be a riskier route even when the price on the MB is much better than the PSA or SGC.

Your caution is well-founded. PSA said the MBA 3.5 Silver Diamond Mantle that I posted in this thread was altered.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...46#post2519846

Did you submit it raw?

I spoke with a dealer yesterday (someone I didn’t know) at a Con who had a nice stack of SGC vintage (NFS) behind his table. He excitedly told me he was going to crossover grade them with MBA, which I thought was rather odd.

But they have stickers!

Mike Baker -- now offering a full line grading service?
 

They’re not an actual grading company, right? They don’t take submissions from the general public, you can’t find a submission form and submit a card on their site…not even sure what you’d call them without it being something vulgar and derogatory.

Looks like they kinda - sorta take submissions ???

"Authenticity Guarantee
MBA-Certified trading cards undergo the same extensive review process as MBA Grading, but at a lower service cost. The authenticity verification, alteration review, and condition reports provide our customers with the transparency and accountability they deserve.
Condition Ranges

FR to GD+, VG to VGEX+, EX to EXMT+, NM to NMMT+, MT or Better designations apply to all MBA Certified items. Evidence of Alteration and Minimum Size designations are also applied when appropriate. Note: MBA Certified cards can be submitted for MBA Grading and Encapsulation at any time; the final grade is guaranteed to exist within the assigned MBA Certified range."

Oh great just what the hobby needs another BCCG...

No, it was submitted in the slab as a crossover, with a minimum requested grade of "1."

PSA initially charged me and returned it in the original slab without any notes. When I contacted customer support for an explanation, they responded with this e-mail:

""Your order did not crossover because it did not meet your minimum grade requirement that you set, meaning our graders are of the opinion that your card did not meet the standards of that minimum grade or higher. They do not come to this conclusion lightly, and more than two expert PSA Graders inspect your item, and they both must come to the same conclusion. According to our graders, there were signs of alterations on this card, and the only way to have had this item encapsulated was to set your minimum grade to authentic."

PSA was only able to review the card through the slab, but confidently stated that it was altered. PSA also has an incentive to make competitors look bad, but at the end of the day they're on record that this card was tampered with, and MBA is on record that it wasn't. I'll leave it to others to decide whether PSA is wrong or MBA is wrong.

I’d love to know where on the card the alteration occurred.

I will say it's hard to be 100% in a slab, on the internet, but I am not in love with that top edge, especially looking at the back. The way the wear in the upper left corner ends is weird and that is one of the things I always look for, and both corners curve slightly down, plus the almost regular repetition of damage across the edge with a little ding at set intervals.

I wouldn't say it's conclusive because of what I have to judge by, but that's where I'd look very closely if given the opportunity

A couple other angles from when it was in-hand.

https://i.ibb.co/yFyn9dHM/IMG-0876.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/fzQQ1QSG/IMG-0877.jpg

I'm no expert, but I noticed some lipping along the top edge. I have no love for PSA, but it also wouldn't surprise me if it was cleaned and MBA is just waving them through for Greg Morris.

interesting, from the new back angle it looks warped as well towards the red top section. Maybe a soak gone wrong?

Again it's all conjecture with internet pics but it's interesting.

Who the heck is gonna spend the cash to move their Vintage cards from SGC Slabs to MBA Slabs????

Bottom edge towards the left is highly suspect. Upper right corner from the reverse, also highly suspect. Neither appear to have natural wear. Also it could be the scan but the card is very bright. Most evidenced by the worn corners which having that much wear should be dirty.

That is the first card I have seen either in hand or in a scan by MBA that I did not like.

Just tossing this out there for a minute - EJE Card Grading
 

Emerald Jade Evaluations

So I gave these guys a try due to the (seemingly) non stop Chaos with the Major TPGs lately.

EJE advertises Grading Service at $9.00 per card.

However, Once I got hooked up with them - they sent me a "discount" promo (Welcome) for Grading Service at $5.00 per card.

So I sent them 22 cards at the $5.00 per and (here's the kicker) - Turnaround was 10 days from the time I dropped them off at Post Office until the day that received them back.

Take a look at the examples below - Crucify the results (if you must) but I'm pretty sure that I get cards (like those I sent) graded for more of a protection measure than a "make money on the slab it's in" measure.

Overall - I'm quite satisfied with their service.

https://ejecards.com/

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/150864751@N07/54749678492/in/dateposted-public/" title="EJE Pendleton - Grade 5"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54749678492_ca3fe0291d_c.jpg" width="800" height="475" alt="EJE Pendleton - Grade 5"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/150864751@N07/54750738608/in/dateposted-public/" title="EJE Ripken Grade 9"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54750738608_98a114a75e_c.jpg" width="474" height="800" alt="EJE Ripken Grade 9"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Never heard of them until your post...

Small sample size, but the 2 grades you showed look to be spot-on. Better than PSA could do these days, at 1/3 the price, FWIW.

You should ask how much they would charge to slab the cards without their flips. You might get down to almost free! ;)

Presented without comment.

https://www.mbadiamond.com/report-card/SGC0077560

It's the Animal Farm of Grading...

Almost as bad as the "3" on the Baltimore News Ruth.

No sticker on the Ruth.

I still remember GAI and how that went. It started out really good, then after a while it was obvious that trimmed cards were receiving numerical grades. I guess we're supposed to forgive and forget, move forward.

The one thing I liked about the GAI card slabs (until it became obvious about trimmed cards given numerical grades) is that the top edge had the card information which allowed you to pick the card out of a box while only looking at the top of the slabs. I wish other TPGs would do this.

Anybody have an OJ to show in one of those MBA slabs?

Attachment 673164

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I guess the sticker is intended to signify that the card is essentially under-graded??!!!

Obviously it seems like a generous cherry on top of an already very generously graded cake.

But if MBA has so certified, who are we to demur?

As Yogi would say, "It's Deja Vue all over again."

The Wagner is a 2.5 - 3, if any of us sent it in for grading. No way on earth it would receive better than a 3. And they don't even have the "old label" excuse!

Grading is a complete scam.... pay for play.

With those corners, it might be a legit 5 if it were a 1913 National Game card.

Maybe.

The hobby of no consequences. I think this will be my newest mantra, after stuff trumps all, the flip is the commodity, and Animal Farm grading.

No more resenting discussions on this discussion board?

I differentiate between a signature line and a mantra. :)

Grade notwithstanding, because those corners can't be 5s, this is one of the best looking Wags in the hobby (or, I have ever seen) so not sure it wouldn't get some kind of gold medal for that.

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Cards that receive a Gold Diamond Certification are determined worthy of a higher technical grade from MBA. These are truly exceptional examples within the assigned technical grade, generally representing the top 5% of the population, for that grade. A Diamond Certified trading card must achieve a 0.5 technical grade increase, or higher, to receive the Gold Diamond designation.

And the Chief Grader is the Pig!

Swing and a miss. Ball was nowhere near the strike zone either. So much for considering MBA for grading.

Card can get a gold medal for eye appeal but should not get a gold MBA sticker. it already got a 2 grade bump for eye appeal.

I like TPG but this one and the BN Ruth make it hard to argue with those on here who hate the whole concept. Those two cards alone scream Just Say No To Grading.

Hopefully the number of "exceptions" to the rules for wealthy influential hobbyists is limited.