SGC card returned as likely trimmed. Help me understand.

[Snapolit1]

Totally sympathize with OP. There are more unwritten rules for grading companies than there is in baseball days. Here is a graded card that is not a complete border. Admittedly the missing piece is not large. But it ain't a complete border.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11256655995...YAAOSwCbtZvcq1

I always assume that if you had the rattiest ass looking card imaginable it would get a 1 or a 10 assuming (a) it was a genuine version of what it was purporting to be and (b) there was no evidence that someone deliberately manipulated it.

[Mutton Chop Yaz]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Totally sympathize with OP. There are more unwritten rules for grading companies than there is in baseball days. Here is a graded card that is not a complete border. Admittedly the missing piece is not large. But it ain't a complete border.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11256655995...YAAOSwCbtZvcq1

I always assume that if you had the rattiest ass looking card imaginable it would get a 1 or a 10 assuming it was what it was purporting to be and there was no evidence that someone deliberately manipulated it.

Perhaps they make allowances for 1914 Cracker Jacks, perhaps there's a new standard (my Wagner below was graded in 2015 and subsequently re-slabbed), or perhaps there's another explanation. But, on a purely intuitive, "know it when I see it" level, I wouldn't expect a card missing as much cardboard as Lucio's Clemente to receive anything other than an A.

I also second the proposed new "MSCHW" designation!

[Fred]

I hate to say this but grading is "subjective".

On that particular day, the card the grader "Authentic" and it was not, in the graders humble/useless opinion, deserving of a numerical grade, that day.

If another grader was tasked to grade it or if that same grader reviewed it on another day, then it may have received a "1'.

When TPGs provide numerical grades to cards that have the bottom trimmed (for example, Zeenuts or Redman), then pretty much anything goes.

We can always fall back on the first PSA graded card, right?

When I used to send cards in for grading, I would let them know to encapsulate it, even if it was going to get the dreaded "A" because if I took the time to send it in, then it was worth having the protection of the slab.

As to the TRM - who ever trimmed the OPS card did a lousy job.

[hcv123]

1) There are plenty of cards out there missing parts with number grades (none that I've seen missing anywhere close to as much as yours). 2 highlighted in this thread already - anyone else have any handy?

2) Grading company guidelines have been a moving target for some time now with some very seemingly random decisions - one of my favorites - cards with paper loss get number grades (I've seen them up to 5's - take a look at T205's), but cards with staple holes (even though there is arguably a greater % of card there than some with paper loss) get automatic 1's

3) Specific to your issue - SGC sent back a sticker on which was printed "TRM" - presume that means Trimmed? Why not "A"? Or nothing? You raised a fair question about what exactly does "TRM" mean?

4) Problem specific to SGC - They DON'T differentiate between "Authentic" - ie. a card that has not been doctored, but for a defined reason does not qualify for a numeric grade and "Authentic Altered" - a card that appears to have been "doctored" in some way. Everything just gets an "A" - VERY confusing

[bobbyw8469]

[bobbyw8469]

Corners are hit or miss. Depends on how much of the corner is gone (percentage wise). No offense to the OP, but his card is missing quite a bit. It was impossible to get a number grade.