Should I switch from PSA to SGC for my Monster?
 

Stupid question ...... I know....... but let me explain myself.

I'm just starting the Monster (I've picked up 20 in the last month). When I complete the set I have plans to display it in numerous cases on the walls of my man-cave/card-room. For this reason appearance/likeness have some value to me.

For end value of the set, and to keep the set appealing to the eye, I started off by seeking only PSA 4 graded cards. I want them all the same grade and by the same grader.

PSA is really all I have ever known. I quit collecting just as PSA got into the game. It was the birth of the "graded card" when I stopped collecting...... and I just recently got back into the hobby over the past 8 months.

Personally, I like the red/white look of the PSA slabs, but the SGC slabs are MUCH easier to find around here.

I guess I'm just looking for a kick in the butt here.

I want to make this decision ASAP as I am budgeting enough cash to add 50+ cards in the month of January........... should I sell what I have and start over with SGC 50's? Or keep going as I am even though it's going to be a bit tougher/longer road to find them all in PSA 4?

for building a set, stick with PSA. no question. holds value better...for printing freaks, blank backs, etc, i'd lean towards SGC.

Depends on how you want to display your cards. I like the looks of SGC cards in Pennzoni display cases. I collect E121 and they look sharp in black cases. However, with that said, SGC slabs are wider than PSA cards and also thicker so you can put more PSA cards in a case. Pennzoni cases are made to display up to 50 PSA cards per case so you have to plan what set and how many cards are in the set.

I have the 36 card horizontal cases which hold 32 slabs nicely but if I want the 36 cards in the case, it gets a little crowded with my SGC cards. I currently have 2 cases with 32 cards each and the cases look great. Also, if you like one slab over the other, you can cross over with either company.

Kmac

Yup, thats exactly what I had in mind. I like the black as well.

I didn't really think about the PSA slabs being smaller ... that's a small bonus when trying to display them on a wall.

I don't care for any graded companies but the thinner psa case is much easier to work with than the sgc case from my experience of building 3 wall displays - 1 w/ psa cards, 1 in an sgc case and another where cards reside in broken out sgc slabs that were re-glued. The thicker case poses different logistical issues as far as getting them in a frame w/ glass and a matte. Here are mine for what its worth:

SGC looks much better on my wall:)

Nice Phil!!

I agree...go SGC...much nicer look.

for any type of display...make sure that you use UV protected glass, as the sun and even interior lights can do major harm to baseball cards. anyone wanting to display slabs might wanna contact PSA or SGC to see if they use UV protected plastic for their holders. i personally would not have slabs just sitting out on shelves over a long period of time, but that's just me.

SGC is better by far - better looking case, more accurate and consistent grading, faster grading turn around.

Phil - Thats a nice wall! You gonna give us any details on those displays?

+1

i vote psa
 

but i suspect sgc to win on this board.

I agree. Gorgeous. Though those displays must weight a TON.

As far as your statement about not being able to find psa 4's goes, I would think there are probably more psa than sgc on the market. This board has a lot of sgc but but look at ebay. Just did a search for both and psa had 950 results in 4 and sgc had 112.

Phil, very nice display, plus I love the Bruins & Red Sox photos as well.

Peter

If you switch from PSA To SGC i would be prepared for a likely drop in grade.

I recommend switching to raw. You can see the actual card better, they take up less room, and there's no hint of post-1911 to them. I even keep mine in an original period soapbox that has 'base ball cards' inked on the top.

VERY NICE set-ups Steven and Phil. Beautiful.

Thanks for the input everyone ..... you sure aren't making this any easier :)

I believe you are 100% correct ..... but that's where my troubles really start. I have no problem buying off of ebay..... if the price is right ..... and it RARELY is.

That's one of the main reasons I am so glad I found this forum. I'll go out on a limb here and say that the majority of you are just like me ..... the hobby and the collection come first .... value is secondary.

I have been fortunate enough to pick up T206 commons from a few of you for $50-60 which is GREAT ...... I can't touch one for under $80 under normal circumstances on ebay. Ebay has more PSA's, but higher prices....... Net54 has more SGC's with lower prices ..... and because we are collectors, we choose better condition cards regardless of grade.

I am just like most of you .... I tend to stray from off center cards regardless of the grade ..... ebay is full of overpriced OC cards.

As for going raw, I won't do it for a couple different reasons. Yes I think I can spot a fake/reprint/altered/trimmed card from a few scans ..... but even the best of us can get duped. I would just feel much safer about buying cards that have already been graded. I have also thought about buying large lots of raw cards and send them off to be slabbed ..... but this seems like it will take twice as long to put together a complete set of one particular mid-grade (PSA 4 - SGC 50)

Grrrrr.... so many pros and cons to weigh.

Not to belabor this, but "the best of us" isn't the grading companies ;)

Merry Christmas...time to eat.

Thanks for all the kind words.

The displays are Pennzoni displays. You can check them out at their website. The ones I have hold 50 graded cards and I love them.

Great Display Phil

In 1971 I took 3 of my t-206's, put them in an oval picture frame, on felt, under standard glass, and gave them to my dad as a gift. They've been displayed in his office, my office, and our bedroom since. Much indirect sunlight. The felt has faded. The cards remain as vibrant as their twins, who have been in a gun safe since.

I have been eyeballing them for a few months now. I only live about an hour from Sturgis, MI where they are made so I figured I could just drive over and pick up 10 of them and save a ton on shipping.

I've been collecting the monster for 4 years now. PSA is my grading company of choice. They store easily, display well, and I'm confident in their grading process. I wouldn't pass up raw cards, but I'd have them graded by PSA the first chance I had.

Bottom line, collect what you like. There are many opinions here, and all have merit.

Rich

Very nice display. I have 64 SGC graded E121 cards in my display. And 12 Elmer Miller cards in a 12 card Pennzoni case

I like SGC, they are very consistent, and the cases look amazing. I'm sorry, but PSA cases look cheap. I feel that PSA isn't a very consistent company. I see 3's that should be 1's any day. Each company has its own flaws, but I honestly prefer SGC.

I know you mention wanting to display the cards. If displaying openly, either will be impressive. We're talking about a display of T206s. The black border is nice on SGC, but I'd go with who you feel most comfortable with. There are definitely a higher population of PSA cards. As a result, there will be more variability to sift through and you'll still need to be patient in building your Monster, irregardless of who you chose. If going SGC, you may need to wait longer to find a card you need. No matter who you go with, you'll second guess it multiple times in your quest, especially if you're struggling to find a specific card in one TPG and it's available in the other. If you like the cards you have, I'd stick with what got you started.

dump both psa and sgc and bust them out of there and go raw like God intended.

THANKS for the input everyone. Truly.

I have decided to stick with the PSA ...... although it's going to cost me more $$ in the long run.

So anyone with PSA 4's they don't need/want anymore just let me know!! :)

As soon as I compile a few more I will throw my 2 cents into the "What's your Monster number" thread.

Thanks again everyone .... and Happy Holidays! It's gonna be a fun 2013 working on this beast.

I think either you are fine whomever you choose.

Myself I have chosen SGC for my grading company of choice and also for my T206 set.

http://photos.imageevent.com/piojohn...t206per20g.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/piojohn...uge/994446.jpg

I hear a lot about PSA being worth more in terms of value, myself I haven’t seen that to be the case all that much. I think quality cards bring strong money regardless of holder SGC/PSA. Sure perhaps huge super high grade ones for the reg. guys pull more via PSA but VG-EXMT+ cards seem to be pretty evenly matched IMO.

There are certainly more PSA cards at any given time on eBay that I agree with but the consistency is all over the place to me.

Just my thoughts.

Thats some beautiful card porn John .... I dont care who graded them :)

Thanks, I'm going to steal that line "Card Porn" love it. :)

Sgc!

Nice............
 

Really sweet Jiggs John!!

Plastic
 

Strictly about the plastic, the sgc show more blemishes and scratches against the black border...Psa cards seems to show the scratches and blemishes less...especially in well traveled cards, some sgc cases look downright shabby..

Sgc best for 19thcentury cards hands down...Psa dominates the 1940 market and beyond...1900-1940 cards it's pretty even between the two TPGs