Grading Companies
 

I recall back in the '90s when grading companies arrived on the collecting scene. At the time, there three that I recall: PSA, a marginal company called CSA and the infamous Alan Hager's ASA. Initially, they were greeted by most as a temporary gimmick, soon to pass from the scene. Others were afraid for the hobby. I remember Lew Lipset telling me that TPG was going to be the end of the hobby as many knew it.
Now look at the situation we find ourselves. Graders seem to run the hobby; endless waits for cards, monetization of the hobby and fraudsters everywhere.
Collecting seemed much easier and more fun back when.

They only run the hobby IF you let them. I collect oddball, special issue, and error slabs. I couldn't care less about the other 99.99% of graded cards.

Trust me if you ditch the silly slabs habit it can still be a really really fun hobby.:D

I’ll take TPGs
 

I’ll take the graders over the craziness that preceded them. Before grading, I remember walking up to a dealer at a show who was in the process of applying black magic marker to the corners of a ‘71 Clemente. That was a time when dealers sold cards that were “Mint,” but when you tried to sell them back they were “EX.” There certainly are problems today with card doctoring, the unresolved Blowout scandal, etc., but in my opinion it’s still better now than it was then.

Things were always better in the pre-fraud days. Whenever they were. Had to be a long time ago, as the Bible is full of admonitions against fraudsters.

Back in the early to mid 90s I scoffed at the grading and graders. The first 3rd party grading service I came across was PSA and some CT dealer had mid 80s football graded. I didn’t like the holders or the old label and I said to myself this is stupid, I know my card conditions Pat, know what to stay away from, and know the price guides in and out. Flash forward to early 2000s-present, yeah their a blessing for authenticity reasons. I kind of agree they run the high value market $$ but steer it straight imo. There’s still an awful lot of “raw” talent out there, 90% of my stuff is raw, either way I don’t mind. My favorite grader is SGC, keeping an eye on CSG to see what happens in the future.

Before "man", yes!

Ha very true