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Posted By: identify7

With several obvious exceptions, the (typically white)borders on baseball cards are not a decorative element, in my opinion. I consider them a functional accomodation, included to protect the picture portion of the card.

In operation, cards are frequently encountered with worn, rounded, trimmed, chipped, nicked, off center, and otherwise imperfect borders. In these instances, the border has served its design function: protect the picture.

Although it is true that the first evidence of wear on a card is usually shown by deterioration of its borders; I think that downgrading the card due to this wear is not appropriate.

By comparison, stains, scuffing, and other problems which affect the picture portion of the card are far more serious than border deterioration

In my opinion, many cards would look best if once their circulation days are over, the cards were trimmed to eliminate borders, then encapsulated as Authentic.

Am I alone in this opinion?