I switched back to raw cards and my happiness increased 1000%

[homerunhitter]

After reading numerous posts on this site and after going back and forth for a long time between graded cards and raw cards, I switched back to raw cards and my happiness increased 1000%

Dont get me wrong graded cards are cool and all, but I felt so much better when I went back to the way I first started collecting and thats old school raw cards with no penny sleeve, not top loader, no albums, no 9 pocket pages, no caring about chasing a psa 10, not caring about the condition of cards, not caring about damaging them when I hold them, just having them in a a few shoeboxes and enjoying the simplicity of collecting baseball cards!

It a great feeling just to hold a stack of vintage cards and have that old vintage cardboard smell! I realized that sometimes going simpler is the best option!

[Balticfox]

My only mild disagreement is that cards are a lot easier to look through when in nine pocket pages in a binder (or several dozen in my case).

[homerunhitter]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

My only mild disagreement is that cards are a lot easier to look through when in nine pocket pages in a binder (or several dozen in my case).

I totally agree with you. I also go back in forth between binders vs boxes. I chose boxes recently because I’m truly trying to go to a simple easy care free way of collecting however, you are right, putting them in binders makes it so much easier to view them.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

...however, you are right, putting them in binders makes it so much easier to view them.

Originally Posted by gonefishin

Through the years I have tried several different methods. I finally went back to what made me happy - 3 ring binders in Pro sheets - in sets.

Whatever makes one happy!

Moreover filling out the empty spaces in my Ultra Pro sheets provides me with both joy and a sense of accomplishment!

[bnorth]

I have been collecting for close to 40 years now and most of it was just collecting cards.

Grading became a problem for me when I bought a complete set of vintage cards from a fellow member on here. What he sent me was a set of NrMint or better cards. So I decided to get the entire set graded because of condition. Well I ended up with the #3 set. I struggled a lot with upgrading 7s, 8s, and 9s for a couple years. Finally I knew I needed to break up and sell the set. For me I decided paying hundreds of dollars for a card nobody could tell the difference in beside a number on a flip was stupid.

[gonefishin]

Every thread needs a picture - here is mine - it doesn't show them all but you get the idea. The stars indicate they are complete. The ones without a star are the 2d set because I ended up with so many dups!

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I struggled a lot with upgrading 7s, 8s, and 9s for a couple years.... For me I decided paying hundreds of dollars for a card nobody could tell the difference in beside a number on a flip was stupid.

Indeed! What year were the cards?

[cesarcap]

Bravo! I too am a raw guy but I do have 2-3 shoeboxes full of cards but prefer binders and sleeves and top loaders for dupes.

[gonefishin]

Through the years I have tried several different methods. I finally went back to what made me happy - 3 ring binders in Pro sheets - in sets. The graded cards that make up my sets I take a picture of the card, size it, and place it in the binder. The binder makes it so easy because you can also read the back of the card, pull them out when you want, and easily helps me track my completion of the set. If you have 2 versions of the card - let's say yellow and white versions of the 69 Mantle - you can easily place both cards in the binder. Yes, I have Mantles, Clemente, etc. inserted in the set. Also in the front I place a checklist of the set, any other information, etc. Also, if there is a separate set from that year (let's say the 65 embossed) I also place that set in the 65 binder.

Whatever makes one happy!

[OlderTheBetter]

I applaud your decision. Grading has so many deficient qualities. Especially PSA which seems to delight in propagating collector ignorance by not giving grader notes and not giving the date of the grading (important because they've gone through 15 different slabs and the newer grading standards are tougher -- just try getting anywhere near top dollar for a PSA graded card from 2005.)

I've cracked a lot of slabs over the years to liberate my cards. They look so much better in a sem-rigid without all the distracting grading info.

Some call me crazy for doing that, but I didn't buy the cards as an investment and future monetary returns are purely secondary.

As a collector for 55 years now I can tell you that collecting was so much more fun in the 1970s compared to today that it's not even close.

So collect how you prefer. Don't always be a lemming and go with the crowd. Listen to yourself and follow your heart. You're doing that and it's great.

[jingram058]

Finally a thread I can relate to. I have cracked every single graded card I have ever acquired. In my circle of collector friends, we all collect raw cards. I love having my cards in binders, in 9 pocket pages, where I can easily get to them... OJs , t206, t205, Goudey, Play Ball, Topps, Bowman, and many others...Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Foxx, Williams, Mantle, all of them. I don't stress out over them, and I don't care if any are fake. They all look, feel and smell real to me, and to everyone who has seen them. It is very much a fun hobby to me, not some business or investment. Obviously, there is a huge business or investment side to baseball cards. But it's just not my bag.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Finally a thread I can relate to. I have cracked every single graded card I have ever acquired. In my circle of collector friends, we all collect raw cards. I love having my cards in binders, in 9 pocket pages, where I can easily get to them... OJs , t206, t205, Goudey, Play Ball, Topps, Bowman, and many others...Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Foxx, Williams, Mantle, all of them. I don't stress out over them, and I don't care if any are fake. They all look, feel and smell real to me, and to everyone who has seen them. It is very much a fun hobby to me, not some business or investment. Obviously, there is a huge business or investment side to baseball cards. But it's just not my bag.

You don't care if they're fake, lol. What, are you getting your cards on Etsy now?

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

You don't care if they're fake, lol. What, are you getting your cards on Etsy now?

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

No, when I got the vast majority Etsy hadn't even been conceived, or the internet as we know it for that matter.

[Rickyy]

All my Topps Sets BB, FB and Basketball from 70 - 79 are raw and in albums too. I built it the old fashioned way piece by piece. The hunt for the cards were exciting and I enjoy viewing them in an album.

Ricky Y

[bk400]

Originally Posted by OlderTheBetter

I applaud your decision. Grading has so many deficient qualities. Especially PSA which seems to delight in propagating collector ignorance by not giving grader notes and not giving the date of the grading (important because they've gone through 15 different slabs and the newer grading standards are tougher -- just try getting anywhere near top dollar for a PSA graded card from 2005.)

I've cracked a lot of slabs over the years to liberate my cards. They look so much better in a sem-rigid without all the distracting grading info.

Some call me crazy for doing that, but I didn't buy the cards as an investment and future monetary returns are purely secondary.

As a collector for 55 years now I can tell you that collecting was so much more fun in the 1970s compared to today that it's not even close.

So collect how you prefer. Don't always be a lemming and go with the crowd. Listen to yourself and follow your heart. You're doing that and it's great.

I totally agree that cards look better without a slab. It's like walking around with your medical record hanging from a lanyard around your neck. But I'm resigned to buying slabbed cards as most of my buying is online. Since the vast majority of the cards on my radar tend to be graded, I've gotten cynical when I see a good looking raw one come up for sale. I figured there must be something wrong with it, else it would have been graded before sale.

I don't yet have the confidence to liberate the graded cards that I've purchased, but I wouldn't be surprised if that happens sooner rather than later.

[sadieblue]

This is the best and most relevant thread I’ve found…thanks for sharing.
I thought I was the only one taking my cards out of slabs. It means a lot to know there are like minded collectors out there.

I finally just acquired a Koufax rookie and will be liberating it tomorrow. Can’t wait to feel 70 year old cardboard (with a couple wrinkles I’m sure).

[bocca001]

I've been upgrading a 1975 Topps baseball set, which is currently in a binder. Looking for well centered cards, near mint cards. I have the now replaced cards in a box, with no protection. I find that I have more fun looking through those "replaced" cards than the ones in the binder. I can pull out a stack or two. Flip through them. Read the backs. No worries about damaging them. I like having the binder too, but the box of raw cards is brining me much more enjoyment than I would have thought when I first started upgrading the set.

[Balticfox]

I actually really enjoy filling in the blank spaces in my card sheets particularly when there are many such as in the sheets below: