Sold, thx.

[MattyC]

Card has been sold. Thx.

So I am going to make a push to complete the Top 20 Sportscards Registry Set (minus the Wagner) and will be essentially trading out a couple pieces to make it happen within budget...

Here's one that doesn't come up for sale every day, and is not found in every collection...

Joe D's first ever cardboard appearance.

There are only 8 examples in ALL GRADES in PSA slabs, with 4 AUTHS (6 without coupon and 2 with coupon).

There are only 8 examples in ALL GRADES in SGC slabs, with 2 AUTHS (6 without coupon and 2 with coupon).

This example is the highest graded by PSA. Not only is it Joe D's first ever cardboard appearance, it is also pretty rare, with a maximum of 16 graded examples in the combined pop reports— and when one accounts for potential crossovers/crackouts, the number is likely less.

Back scan will be forthcoming, but it is a blank backed card with a spot of paper loss on the back, hence the technical assessment.

Very few players have transcended the sport, to become true cultural icons; Joe DiMaggio is one of them. His 56-game hitting streak is one of, if not the most, hallowed records in baseball— no one with an asterisk has ever come close to challenging it.

The next time anyone puts together a formidable hitting streak, Joe D will again be in the media spotlight, and his cards stand to surge; in this way, for the collector-investor, he is a legend that always has some potential upside. To the sheer collector, this card is a joy, both for its historical importance as DiMaggio's "Baltimore News," so to speak, and for the fact that it's not something everyone else has.



Now as to VCP, the data is as follows, which speaks to how tough this card is:



It last sold in 2011. To be straight up, I have no idea where to price this card in 2014 and don't want to sell it short; I am therefore going to field best offers on it before exploring AHs and an ebay BIN/BO listing.

Thanks for looking.

Best,

Matt

[h2oya311]

Great card Matty! Best of luck with the sale!

[HRBAKER]

Matty, nice card.

I would say you could have a future in the auction catalog lot description business too!

Good luck.

[Peter_Spaeth]

With no tab shouldn't it be an AUTH? If not, what's the difference between this and an AUTH?

[MattyC]

Good question, Peter-- I had the same question myself years ago about a similar card, and asked PSA. They explained to me that with handcut cards, they will give an AUTH designation if either:

A) The card is not cut to what they deem proper specs; i.e., the card has a wavy edge, or is not square.

Or...

B) The card has wear that brings eye appeal to a level where they feel uncomfortable giving it a numerical grade of 1. This is of course the more subjective way a handcut card becomes relegated AUTH, and if someone has a handcut card that was deemed AUTH for this reason, and they feel it merits a numerical grade, they should definitely try reviewing it.

As a former player Registry set collector, there are often handcut cards that become extremely tough-- and guys will seek out guys who are expert at cutting a card square and within spec, as one false move can ruin a tough handcut issue. I wrecked a very rare Don Mattingly handcut card once that way. I cut within a black border and it came back AUTH; I asked why, and learned that their spec for the card was that it should include the border that I had cut away. I then face-palmed myself for not learning the TPG-accepted spec for the card before I broke out my ruler and stanley knife.

[Peter_Spaeth]

This one has much more card showing but is AUTH.

[MattyC]

While I am no PSA grader, it seems that card would be deemed AUTH for a combination of both reasons stated above; there is pretty severe paper loss or damage on the bottom "wavy" edge that the graders apparently found too much to grant a numerical grade. In addition to that problematic bottom edge, there is some significant front paper loss, some staining, and a bit of creasing-- all of which probably combined in the graders' eyes with that rough bottom edge to warrant AUTH status.

It also appears that AUTH is narrower than the examples I have seen with numerical grades; there is a little extra part of "chain link" in the right background of the photo that is missing in the AUTH. I count four chain links and an extra bit of chain on the numerical grade, but the AUTH card only has four links with no extra bit of chain, indicating a width issue, possible trim, or maybe just a cut-happy owner somewhere along the way. That right side trim would be a big reason for the AUTH on that one, in addition to all the wear. My eyes may deceive me on this, but it appears the top is also narrower than the bottom by a hair, which would make it a non-square cut and thus also rendering it an AUTH per PSA's specs.

The PSA specs for this card allow it to be cut length-wise within a variance, to remove the coupon (beginning under the black box, as in the PSA 2 example, and extending a bit below the feet, as in the PSA AUTH example)-- but the card should not be cut as that AUTH is width-wise. So there being less card in the width department is a problem for that specimen. Though it seems there is enough front paper loss, staining, and a crease to combine with the bottom edge to warrant a grader having given it an AUTH just for excessive damage, the back notwithstanding. Then add it being too narrow, and it's just a lot for that specimen to overcome, in terms of it getting into a numerical holder.

PSA was very friendly and informative when I inquired about this stuff a ways back; if you have a card like this you are thinking of getting, definitely feel free to reach out to them with questions, as they will have the most info on the subject and their process/determinations on the "proper cut" of any card with a tab, perforated edge, coupon, or the like. I do not know if the way they do it is an industry standard that SGC adheres to as well, or if each grading company handles such cards differently.

[Peter_Spaeth]

AUTH or number grade at least PSA designates cards hand cut, which is good. SGC does not. To wit one of my favorite cards which I think would get a number from PSA too because all the dotted ines are showing. But I think it should be labeled hand cut, because it was.

[MattyC]

WOW. Stop overshadowing my Joe D with that astonishing Bazooka Mick!

He looks majestic in that shot; it's the angle of the photo and the pose, just comes together.