Willie Mays 1962 Topps #300 (PSA, SGC, BVG, GAI)

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by 62collector

Hello, first time poster. Long time lurker. My first thread of course a little taboo ,but I figured I would have better luck on here than some of the other card forums based around modern cards.

I've currently been putting the '62 topps set together. Stuck with PSA and SGC with a few crossovers from BVG with some success. The PSA 8 1962 Mays recently brought almost $4,000. A BVG 8 recently sold for $900ish ,but it just didn't tickle my fancy. I was browsing around and ran into this card and was hoping to get a little info on it.

I know some people put GAI in the same category as PRO and Home Grown Basement grading companies. Is there any chance this particular card would crossover (not looking for miracle) and what the most you would consider spending if you did decide to gamble on it? It's early GAI case, 1st graded, but there is typically a reason a card that looks like this graded by GAI and not PSA. Anything instantly stick out? I've spoke to the owner and I believe it was graded in 06-07 and he thinks pretty highly of it. Any information would be great and I'm ok with " You are a idiot for considering it ". Thanks again

People still gamble on GAI stuff from the looks on ended ebay auctions. Not sure if they know any better or just go after earlier labels.

That card is so overpriced it is simply amazing. At 1/10 of that price it would be overpriced. It is best to just assume anything in a GAI slab is altered and/or highly over graded. The only semi safe way to buy a card in a GAI holder is to at least have it in hand to closely inspect and then you better be really good at spotting alterations.

Welcome to the forum and good luck on your set.

[ALR-bishop]

Welcome aboard ? Why 62 ? How far along are you ? I have done the set, but all ungraded.

Darren (jolly elm) has a very good thread in here somewhere on the 62 greenies

[62collector]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Welcome aboard ? Why 62 ? How far along are you ? I have done the set, but all ungraded.

Darren (jolly elm) has a very good thread in here somewhere on the 62 greenies

It was a project my grandma and I started back in the day when I was young. She passed years ago ,but it just stuck with me. Nothing was graded back then she picked up for me. There is no telling how many times she was swindled at a flea market or shady hobby shop lol ,but I'm not sure she cared anyways. I'm just putting together a graded set of it now ( I still have everything she got me through the years...i'll just keep those ungraded lol). The size of the set, condition sensitive aspects of it, and the reminiscing makes it fun little side hobby to keep alive. I'll update the forum on my progress this weekend and let show you what I'm looking for. It's most of the obvious top dogs in the set.

[sbfinley]

Well.... All things considered, the card really isn't absurdly overpriced in my opinion. I don't collect 62's, but I know the set is condition sensitive. If you could get the card to cross to a 9 you could double your money in the right auction. Big IF, however, to preface that statement. The good news, it is an earlier GAI submission. By the cert number I'd place it's submission in late 2003 - early 2004. That doesn't match the seller's timeframe, but it's just an estimate on my part.

Look, GAI doesn't have the best reputation (and with understandable reason) but in my experience they were a fairly consistent grading for a short period following their inception. Some people will tell you anything grading by the company is garbage. If you want to live with that assumption more power to you, but by association you are also implying that early PSA graded items are garbage too. You know, considering the company was founded by early PSA President Steve Rocchi and he poached a number of their graders to create GAI. Times change, tech changes, grading standards have changed. I'd be just as nervous crossing or regrading early PSA and SGC cards as I would early GAI cards. It's all a gamble, but more importantly it is a gamble on someone's opinion.

Personally, no... If I was working the set in high grade I likely wouldn't gamble on the card. That opinion, however, comes from my biased way of collecting. I don't particularly have a need from my cards to all be ultra-high grade. I don't put my cards on a registry. I don't consider my collection an investment. I don't disparage people who do, and if I did (knowing what I do) it might be a card I would consider gambling on although I would have been fine with the BVG card you mentioned.

Anywho, good luck with the set and have fun.

[62collector]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

Well.... All things considered, the card really isn't absurdly overpriced in my opinion. I don't collect 62's, but I know the set is condition sensitive. If you could get the card to cross to a 9 you could double your money in the right auction. Big IF, however, to preface that statement. The good news, it is an earlier GAI submission. By the cert number I'd place it's submission in late 2003 - early 2004. That doesn't match the seller's timeframe, but it's just an estimate on my part.

Look, GAI doesn't have the best reputation (and with understandable reason) but in my experience they were a fairly consistent grading for a short period following their inception. Some people will tell you anything grading by the company is garbage. If you want to live with that assumption more power to you, but by association you are also implying that early PSA graded items are garbage too. You know, considering the company was founded by early PSA President Steve Rocchi and he poached a number of their graders to create GAI. Times change, tech changes, grading standards have changed. I'd be just as nervous crossing or regrading early PSA and SGC cards as I would early GAI cards. It's all a gamble, but more importantly it is a gamble on someone's opinion.

Personally, no... If I was working the set in high grade I likely wouldn't gamble on the card. That opinion, however, comes from my biased way of collecting. I don't particularly have a need from my cards to all be ultra-high grade. I don't put my cards on a registry. I don't consider my collection an investment. I don't disparage people who do, and if I did (knowing what I do) it might be a card I would consider gambling on although I would have been fine with the BVG card you mentioned.

Anywho, good luck with the set and have fun.

Thanks for the information. The card was actually purchased in 06-07 buyer the owner (mistype on my part) ,so I'm not sure when it was slabbed. I'm not as much hung up on value or profit possibility as I am on saving a buck if crosses over to a PSA 8? I would keep it (well unless PSA gave it a 10 lol..then i would buy a new truck) , but I don't want to lose my pants either and own a really nice looking trimmed '62 Mays (even though my Grandma would get the last laugh). Again, I was referred to this site for vintage information awhile ago and have been lurking forever. I will keep everyone updated. Thanks again

[KCRfan1]

Are you in a position to measure or have the card measured? You could have the seller hold a ruler to the card....

Rightly or wrongly, I am assuming that the gasket holding the card is wavey and the card doesn't have a bad trim job.

Do some due diligence and you may get a great card at a good price.

[hammer]

Do yourself a favor and pass on the GAI card and just buy a PSA centered 7 It will save you a big headache.

[62collector]

Originally Posted by hammer

Do yourself a favor and pass on the GAI card and just buy a PSA centered 7 It will save you a big headache.

The 7's aren't even popping up as much anymore and the ones that do all seem to have jacked up centering (recent ones). Centering and my OCD don't mix. I'm shooting for a 8 for now though. PSA 8 '62 topps seems to be getting buried in collections or maybe it's just high graded vintage in general.

[Laxcat]

'62's are great. I would hold out for a different card. The gaskets make all their stuff look trimmed but I'm curious about the upper right corner. It doesn't sit right with me. Of course, that is just in the picture.

I'd just hold out. I think there are TONS of REALLY nice ungraded 62's out there. If they are realizing these prices I feel more will become graded.

Good luck with the set.