Centering on PSA Graded Cards

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Posted By: Jay

This is a legitimate question and is not meant to start a PSA bashing thread. The link below is to a football lot currently on ebay. PSA states in their rules that a PSA 6 has no worse than 80-20 front centering. How is that measured and was this card misgraded? Is the 80-20 an average of left right and top bottom centering or is it the worst centered area?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1948-Leaf-97-Jay-Rhodemyre-PSA-6_W0QQitemZ330112455699QQihZ014QQcategoryZ16293QQr dZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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Posted By: Joe Tocco

Centering is measured at the worst point, which in this card is L-R at the top of the picture. I zoomed in and measured the pixels, and there are 6 on the left and 24 on the right, making this exactly 20/80. IMHO this should not have getten a 6 even though the centering technically qualifies it, because the eye appeal is horrible.

Joe

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Posted By: Ed

I have asked a centering question before with regard to T206. I suppose my general question at this point is: is there latitude granted to the strict constrictions based on the particular issue of card in question?

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Posted By: Larry

ummm.....that card is 70/30 top-bottom and 95/5 right-left

From PSA:
"if the card exhibits extremely strong characteristics in other areas (color, corners, etc.), an exception may be made to allow an otherwise slightly off-center card to fall within an unqualified grade (no OC qualifier). This is a rare occurrence but it does happen."

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Posted By: Joe Tocco

How is that 95/5? Did you measure it or are you just guessing? 95/5 would mean there is 19 times as much border on the right as there is on the left.

Joe

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Posted By: JK

I agree, if you actually take the time to enlarge the picture and measure each border, the centering comes out 80/20.

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Posted By: James Gallo

So how the hell did this card not get an OC qualifier?

This is one thing that I don't see PSA do with any type of consistency.

I think the card is over graded and is more likely a 5. If sent to SGC I think it would get a SGC 50/4.

James G

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

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Posted By: Joe Tocco

It didn't get an OC qualifier because it is 80/20, which fits in the definition of an unqualified 6.

Joe

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Posted By: Glenn

Yep, 80-20. Still looks like a 5 from that picture, but the centering is okay for a 6.