Beckett Graded card purchase?

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Posted By: Richard

Greetings, I am considering purchasing a Beckett graded Baseball card. Can anyone tell me if Beckett is considered a reliable grading service? I know that PSA, GAI, and SGC are all solid.
Would appreciate some opinions.
Thanks

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Posted By: Scott Jeter

Beckett is not really known for their vintage grading. They're good for the modern cards but stick to the aforementioned (PSA and SGC) for vintage and prewar IMO.

Scott

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Posted By: Roy Huff

I like PRO!

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Beckett is a legitimate grading company, but better known for grading modern cards. I'm sure they're competant in authenticating Pre-War cards. Likely most debates about them will revolve around their grading versus PSA and SGC. I beleive Beckett now offers an 'authentic' without grade grade.

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Posted By: andy becker

i have purchased beckett vintage cards. as long as you are familiar with the issue, you should be fine. check for size. beckett is fine with centering, corners, paper loss, etc.

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Posted By: leon

I think they do a good job today....

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Posted By: Richard Masson

The few vintage cards I had in BVG holders were all trimmed, but that could be adverse selection (people dumping trimmed cards in holders on eBay). Live and learn. If you were considering paying real money, I would have the seller guarantee it would cross to SGC or PSA.

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Posted By: James Gallo

I have had a couple cards that I have pulled from beckett cases and gotten SGC graded.

The poor card crossed fine the 5.5 was down graded 1/2 grade by SGC.

I am suprised to hear they cased cards that were trimmed.

James Gallo

Looking for 1915 Cracker Jacks and 1909-11 American Caramel E90-1.

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Posted By: leon

Do you know if your cards that were in Beckett holders were graded recently or not?

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Posted By: Scot Reader

Beckett is a quality service but they do not have an established reputation in the vintage community. I have crossed one BVG card to PSA and it received the same grade. Still, BVG cards sell for about a 50% discount relative to PSA and a 45% discount relative to SGC. I would consider buying BVG and crossing them over; I would not send raw cards to BVG.

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Posted By: fkw

Buy the card, not the holder.

I once bought a Tango Eggs Bescher card graded by AAA (AAA is well known for grading cutout garbage). So there are nice cards once in a while graded by those crapy grading companies. Just do the research.

With Beckett and PreWar cards, Id look a little closer at the card to make sure it is what is described. Otherwise I see no problem.

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Posted By: Kyle

I took a 3 year break from BVG, focused primarily on SGC and then this past year PSA. Last month I sent a W560 Ruth to BVG because I saw they grade them. It came back an 8.5 and I was very pleased. Turnaround time and shipping was very reliable.

-Kyle-

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Posted By: James Gallo

I don't know when they were graded, but I assume somewhat recently.

One was a E-90 Jackson that was a Poor and the other was a 1915 Cracker Jack common that was a 5.5. The jackson crossed fine the CJ was down graded to a 50 I belive. Honestly I think they are a bit loose with their graded on the vintage stuff and I would not send them anything pre 1980. High grade modern cards get a hugh premium if they are a beckett 10.

James Gallo

Looking for 1915 Cracker Jacks and 1909-11 American Caramel E90-1.

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Posted By: Richard Masson

I have no way to know if the cards were recently graded or not. One was an E92 Lobert (that was a bummer)and the other was an M116 common. They both carry the scarlet letter now in SGC holders.

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Posted By: steve f

Within the past two years I've cracked several BVG T206's and other prewars' and sent them to PSA (I dislike the bulky BVG case). About half of them recieved higher PSA grades, none graded lower and none were rejected. My experience, BVG is more strict. This T206, which may have scored a bit higher than deserved, I'm afraid of resub. due to fragility and downgrade etc.

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Posted By: Rob NYC

Leon, when were these trimmed cards supposedly submitted?

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Posted By: Kyle

All cards come with their cert #, and when you look them up online, I believe you'll see the date of when it was graded.

-Kyle-

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Posted By: PC

I have two T206 HOFers graded 3 by Becketts. I also have numerous BGS/BVG graded cards from the 1950s through the 1970s. All are accurately graded in my opinion.

However, I am not a big fan of the bulky Becketts holders, particularly for the smaller vintage cards ... my T206s look "far away" in the middle of all that plastic.

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Posted By: FYS

"I think they do a good job today...."

Since Mr. Mint has joined Beckett, you have been a more vocal supporter:>)

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Posted By: leon

That was their biggest mistake I have ever seen them make. Since Dr.Beckett sold what can ya' say? (and I am not positive he didn't sign when Dr. Beckett was still the owner?)