What I Don't Understand about Baseball Card Economics

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by benjulmag

I think the hobby has reached the point where under current grading methods altered cards are almost impossible to distinguish from the unaltered ones. And I think to a skilled card doctor we might be talking about more than just the slightly altered. But, because IMO the technology exists to expose these alterations and in time it will be employed by TPGs, it could be very risky to buy the number on the slab if to hold value the card eventually will need to be re slabbed under the newer methods.

So if it is true that card doctors do work with such skill that it is basically undetectable, then it seems like there is no premium in having an original undoctored card. Because the card that is pack fresh Mint would be worth exactly the same as the altered Mint. Thus, I suggest that card doctors pick up their pace, and in no time at all every card in the collecting universe will be in Mint condition. Then we can all own the #1 set on the registry, all at the same time!