Submitted 118 T206 PSA 8 for review

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Posted By: J Levine

Jim,
As you know, I collect distinctly low grade but am always impressed with your collection. Whether you collect because the eye-appeal of a beautifully preserved card, it's monetary value, or for purely sentimental reasons I think it is a wonderful hobby.

David,
You may post often on the memorabilia side and I enjoy your posts there but here, it seems all you do it pick fights.

Jim has money. Jim spends money on high end baseball cards. Jim enjoys his collection. Jim is not hurting anyone.
You have no standing to criticize him for his choices in a hobby as long as it does not directly hurt you. David, if you find something sad, I suggest you keep it to yourself. Every time you think you are going to start a sentence with "I feel..." just stop and erase.

When Jim starts spending his money on hookers, drugs, child pornography, or anything else that is harmful to others then feel free to shout out...but his little side of the hobby is fine. I just do not understand your fascination with this.

Joshua

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Posted By: marshall barkman

Jim....congrats on just a fabulous collection. Anyone who dreams of flying as a child and then gets their license to fly, is it me or like who really cares? I had a meeting today with a gentleman who is a foremost authority on Faberge items and his collection just blew me away,it was awe inspiring. I appreciate those who have stellar collections and you my friend def have one.

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Posted By: marshall barkman

J Levine....are you related to Billy Graham? Why is it every time i see a post of yours you are preaching to people?

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Posted By: Alan

I am very impressed by Jim's collection and I have a tremendous respect for him. He is one of the guys on this message board that I really look forward to meet at a National.

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Posted By: 1880nonsports

W O W.......... Thank you for sharing that as it's likely a once in a lifetime experience for most. That you can keep track of anything is amazing enough. That you seek upgrading what most only dream of owning - AND DO SO (unlike some others) -incredible. That it's top drawer quality AND in mind-boggling quantities - nearly too much to fathom. That you have passion about what you are accumulating - priceless........

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Posted By: Marc S.

Congratulations on the bumps, albeit the relatively conservative number of them. Quick question -- before you submitted, did you happen to review to see if you had any tougher advertising backs on your high-grade T-206s? Hope life is treating you well -- haven't talked to you in awhile. Perhaps we can have some drinks or catch a game sometime this Spring / Summer.

Cheers,
Marc

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Posted By: boxingcardman

I disagree with Jim on most every subject we could debate but he definitely has a passion and dedication to collecting and I respect that.

Nothing wrong with being proud of a collection; if you break it down, what people are really proud of is the effort involved. Taken as a spectrum of considerations, I happen to find completeness far more ineresting than condition, but that's my preference and I would not impose it on others.

Less than a 3% bump rate sounds about normal post-war from what most people are posting; my experience has been similar. I've sent in 13 cards for review and gotten two half-point bumps and they were on the two most expensive cards in the lot (1950 Drake's Spahn 6.5 and 1961 Morrell Koufax 7.5). Since I've said for years that the PSA product sucks, certainly no favoritism (or hostility) there...And yes, even though I dislike them as compared to SGC, I sent stuff to PSA. I do it for the money to be made in reselling to people who collect PSA cards; hey, at least I admit what I am .

Edited to add: my wife would divorce me if I took over a room of the house for my collection; so more power to you, Jim, and anyone else who has a play room. I have to use my office...

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: J9im Crandell

Thank you to everyone but David for the kind words. For those of you who do not know me well I love the hobby and derive enormous joy from my collection. I also consider myself very knowledgeable about baseball and will put my knowledge of the sport and its history against my one antagonist any day of the week. Remember everyone this is the human being and I use that term loosely who cheered when my firm went bankrupt and I suffered major financial losses and essentially blamed me as one of those who caused my firm to go bankrupt(which is ludicrous).



The two comments I enjoyed the most were how young I looked given my collection and my wonderful looking family. For those of you who know me I have to confess the pictures were taken more than a couple of years ago--sorry but I think I look better with my hair. Also for those that know me well know how much my family means to me. I have a lovely wife and two wonderful children and would not trade them for all the baseball cards in the world.



I was taught how to scan once but I forget how Joe--I will try to figure it out.



Brian--I submit all the 8s I have--don't bother to pre-screen the 8s--this was the 4th batch sent in--I gave them another 300 as I said including 3 sets that are essentially all in 8.



As far as accidents none. The cards are on wooden attachments to the wall that allow them to lean back. I keep my favorite/most valuable 3,000 cards on the wall.



Thanks for your interest--anyone is welcome to see the collection...and lastly there is no right way to collect as Marty Q notes--collect what makes you happy. I like high grade cards--all sports and non-sports. I just bought a complete 1945 Mutoscope Pin-Up Set in psa 8 and better.



Cheers,



Jim

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Posted By: Scott T

I have a very low end T206 collection and try not to be jealous of others and what they have. Jim and his collection makes it very, very hard to do that!

Congrats and good luck!

Scott

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Posted By: john

Jim,
That is one hell of a collection. I am green with envy. Congratulations. John

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Posted By: Dean H

I have never met Jim but feel like I know him from all the past threads. Being mostly an addicted lurker the past few years I will say one thing about him. I must commend you for being open to sharing your collection with other collectors. I've seen the past posts where Jim opened his home to others who wanted to see his collection and talk shop. I think that is very generous and applaud you for that. Great collection and good luck on your quest.

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Posted By: JimCrandell

I have had a number of parties where I open my card room--almost always these are completely open and I usually provide food and drinks. I also try to invite "famous" people in the hobby. One party Dave Forman and his entire grading staff came from SGC. At another was the president and founder of LTS!!!!!



Have not had one since last summer so will try to schedule another shortly.



Jim

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Posted By: John

Jim and I have been known to butt heads, but one thing we will never disagree on is his amazing collection!

Kudos Jim great stuff, and for a guy with a quite a bit of upside in 2 companies Jim I feel for you and your family on the whole LB mess.

Cheers,

John

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Thanks John--nice of you to say and appreciated.

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Posted By: Jason

Jim if I lived in your home town and you trusted me I'd happily scan all your cards for free. (I love registries that include scans of the cards)

Also you probably missed my question. I see you have some hockey in your collection. Do you collect any of the C55, C56, C57's? I'm guessing maybe not since they're so hard if not impossible to complete in 8's or higher.

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Jason,

I missed your question--sorry.

My hockey collection is 1953-91--all sets graded to m65 and raw 66-91 except for stars. At some point I will probably grade through the 60s.

If your travels bring you to New Jersey you can stay over my house and scan to your hearts content.

Jim

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Posted By: john w

Jim,

I hope that moving is not in your plans if the collection outgrows your space. Someone should do weight approximation on all those cards! An additional would probably more ciost effective - lol. Let's see, the average weight of a PSA encapsulated card is 2.5 ounces * quantity = a lot of sore backs.

John

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Posted By: steve

Does anybody feel it is easier to get a PSA 5 bumped to a 5.5, or a PSA 8 bumped to a 8.5?

Basically, is PSA easier on bumping mid level cards, or is the bump rate % pretty much the same across the board on all grades?

I have several nice T206's in PSA 5 - thinking of sending back to PSA to get a couple bumps, maybe.

steve

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Posted By: Dan Paradis

Jim, awesome collection (and nice family too)! I live in CT and would love to see your collection someday.
If you ever have an Open House, count me in.

Dan

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Posted By: Leon

That was a very nice article and you have a great looking family too. Good luck on your next sets.....best regards

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Posted By: Joe_G.

Wow, I rarely read the T206 / twentith century card threads but decided to see what was garnering so many posts. I read the hyperlinked PSA article about half way up and was quite impressed. Glad you don't collect 19th century, in any grade. Congratulations on a fantastic collection and a willingness to share with the hobby.

Thank You & Best Regards,
Joe Gonsowski

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Posted By: Pennsylvania Ted

Some advice, for whatever it is worth....dump the 155 - T206's that you currently have that are PSA 8 & 9;
and, with that money acquire T206's that are "6's and 7's" (consistent with your two Cobb's).

And, before you realize it, you will have a 520-card T206 set that you will be proud of.

Trying to collect "The Monster" in super high grade condition is an impossible goal. Because no matter how
many $$$$$$ you have to put in to it, you will never find certain cards that are "8's" (or better).

Regards,

TED Z

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Posted By: macboube

Yes Awesome, is the only word to describe Mr. Crandell. You have achieved what all passionate card enthusiasts dream about.

I would like to add my experience on the process and results of reviews and bumps at PSA. Out of the 19 gem mint 10's we have on our '55 AA's, almost 50% of them were from bumps. That is pretty remarkable in itself.

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Thank you everyone--appreciate all the kind words. I will let everyone know when the next open house is.

Ted,

I appreciate the advice and you are the man when it comes to T206s. Everyone has to enjoy what he collects. I just do not like cards in less than PSA 8 condition period. I would rather have 155 8s and 9s than a set of 6s and 7s. Just my preference and not making any judgements on thiose that collect low-to-mid grade cards.

Jim