2020 Recap: Your Favorite Pick-Ups And Why

[ASF123]

It was a BIN obo, I got it for around $500 thinking it was a 5. Obviously, this one didn't pay off, but I still have no regrets. It's the best looking 1.5 I've ever seen.

How is that even possible?? It's a great-looking card. As someone who wasn't in the hobby to see the rise of PSA and get acculturated to them over time, it is absolutely astonishing that they have any credibility at all, let alone the market-dictating hegemony that they somehow have.

Also - where do you find such amazing lots?

[JollyElm]

2020 was a stellar year for my love affair with cards having qualifiers, so here's ten of them. Yes, I'm cheap, and would much rather save a crapload of money by grabbing cards with supposed 'problems' than dropping a sack of cash on something that was deemed to be a tiny bit better by some unknown grader. Most of the time, I seek out ones that look completely normal to any sane person.


A trio of sick 1970's rookies. The Brett is more off-centered than I usually prefer, but what the Eck's up with the OC on Dennis? He looks pretty sweet!! The coveted Schmidt rookie has some snow...boo hoo...but is otherwise a freakin' sharp cornered, centered 9...

1975minibrett228psa9oc.jpg1976eckersley98.jpg1973schmidt.jpg


Then there are these all time greats, looking pretty fine. The Bench has some invisible gum/wax residue. If there's ever another group sub, I'll crack him out and wipe away the schmutz for a regrade...

1974ryan.jpg1961robinson.jpg1969bench95psa7st.jpg


These two green tints are impossible to find in PSA 9 (with or without qualifiers), having POPs in the low single digits. Very few exist, and if one of them ever shows up, you'd have to drop a boatload of money to obtain it. No thanks. I'll grab ones with phantom print defects for a song...

1962geiger117PSA9pd.jpg1962score116PSA9PD.jpg


Joe Morgan's 1972 high number is extremely costly in a straight PSA 9, and this one looks as close to 'normally' centered as possible, so I done grabbed it. And the Mick? Who wouldn't have grabbed him and his buddies at a very reduced price...

1964topps331albombersmantlePSA9OC.jpg1972morgan752psa9oc.jpg

[rsdill2]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

A trio of sick 1970's rookies. The Brett is more off-centered than I usually prefer, but what the Eck's up with the OC on Dennis? He looks pretty sweet!! The coveted Schmidt rookie has some snow...boo hoo...but is otherwise a freakin' sharp cornered, centered 9...

That Eck and Schmidt are really nice. You've got a great eye for qualifiers.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

2020 was a stellar year for my love affair with cards having qualifiers, so here's ten of them. Yes, I'm cheap, and would much rather save a crapload of money by grabbing cards with supposed 'problems' than dropping a sack of cash on something that was deemed to be a tiny bit better by some unknown grader. Most of the time, I seek out ones that look completely normal to any sane person.

Nice cards, Darren. My Brett RC is close to dead centered, but yours has nicer corners. Also that's a nice '72 Traded Morgan. Mine is NM but off to the side maybe 70/30. Very difficult card to find even close to well centered.

[quitcrab]

I picked up a partial 1961 Topps sheet. Missing just one column, so it’s 120 cards not 132. Has Gibson and Drysdale and Spahn.
Scott

[Kevvyg1026]

I presume that is a series 3 slit. Can you post a scan of it?

[rsdill2]

Originally Posted by ASF123

How is that even possible?? It's a great-looking card. As someone who wasn't in the hobby to see the rise of PSA and get acculturated to them over time, it is absolutely astonishing that they have any credibility at all, let alone the market-dictating hegemony that they somehow have.

Also - where do you find such amazing lots?

The Milton Bradley Ryan completely perplexed me and if I ever decide to move it, I will likely crack it out and/or resubmit. I posted about it when I got it back from PSA: https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=292063

I'd say 50-75% of my purchases are on eBay with the balance from here, local shows, and auction houses. Both the Kaline and Ryan were eBay purchases. Like many on this board, I spend more time on eBay than I care to admit. Saved searches are your friend.