Cracker Jack Collectors....what is the secret

[Golfcollector]

Of what to look for when grading Cracker jacks? I have a few that I am sending in to PSA from a recent large collection purchase as I want to get them authenticated in order to make it easier to sell the cards.

When I see other graded examples it seems like the grading is all over the place. Stains must really have a harsh impact?

Any advice from the folks here is appreciated in what are the main things to consider with CJ grading.

Thanks
Dave

[Leon]

Are you talking '14s, 15s or both? I have handled a few but there are quite a few really good CJ guys on the board.

[JasonD08]

It is really a crap shoot. I have handled 300-400 and noticed that SGC used to be most consistent. PSA is all over. PSA seems to be a bit more forgiving, but will hammer you on stains. SGC takes better consideration of stains. I have several 1914s in sec 30s and 50s with moderate staining. I had a NRMT Baker with moderate to some darker tiny stains that PSA gave me a 2 on.


Jason

[rainier2004]

What cards you got?

You are right, the grading can be all over the place and stains can play a role.

[Golfcollector]

I have a handful, Walsh, Crawford, Clarke, Zimmermann, a few more those are the ones I can remember.

They were cards in a large collection I purchased a couple of months back...I just have zero experience with grading these.

[yanks4]

One comment I would make is if you are lucky enough to have very clean high grade cards you should probably send to PSA ......everything else to SGC. They are by far the most accurate and I believe should be received better by collectors on this board and elsewhere...IMHO....We all would like to see pictures ...Please,.................,,Good Luck, Marty

[Leon]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

What cards you got?

You are right, the grading can be all over the place and stains can play a role.

From my experiences stains get graded all over the place too. Personally I kind of like a few light stains (not in any important areas) on my CJs....

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Saying that grading is all over the place is the understatement of the year when referring to CJ's. I have the cleanest Wagner with zero stains but with a hairline crease that got a 2 but others with missing corners and stains up the yazoo with a 3 or 4. It's a head scratcher. I think PSA was much more lenient on CJ's in the past and is now much stricter.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Russ Ford is a "2" with a big vertical crease, a severely rounded bottom right corner and caramel stains and Frank Owens is also a "2" with caramel stains, 4 nice corners and no creases. The Ford was graded years ago and the Owens only recently graded.

[dtp717]

I've submitted several Cracker Jacks to both companies recently and PSA seems to grade a little more harshly. I've had a beautiful Leach and Frank Smith card each come back a 2 and an Oldring beater I was actually embarrassed to submit also come back a 2, so it's frustrating to understand what they're looking for, to say the least. That being said, you've got some nice '14s, and if one comes back a 4, now you're talking a decent chunk of change. They'll hammer you hard on the paper loss, unfortunately. I've had a little better luck with SGC and prefer them ever so slightly. Most of the guys here, with much more experience collecting than I have, will tell you a high end card in a PSA holder will do better for you.