Mike Baker Authenticated

[Yoda]

In or around 2000 the hobby was abuzz with the news that a new grading company was about to launch. Steve Rocci, President, and Mike Baker, Head Grader, had left PSA to form GAI with backing from several deep pockets investors. Early reaction from dealers was overwhelmingly supportive due in no small part to Baker's sterling reputation. I recall the Ft. Washington show around then when GAI was doing on site grading for, I believe, the first time. Dealers were cracking cards out cards from PSA slabs and submitting them to Mike because he had graded the same cards at PSA.
I really don't know why SGC went south but a counter guarantee from Mike certainly should enhance value for those who care. It's not for me, but I understand how others could see it differently.

[Rich Klein]

FYI: They are at almost all the large Dallas Card Shows so anyone who is interested and comes to those events can find out for themselves with 1st person evidence and come away with their own conclusions.

Regards
Rich

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Yoda

In or around 2000 the hobby was abuzz with the news that a new grading company was about to launch. Steve Rocci, President, and Mike Baker, Head Grader, had left PSA to form GAI with backing from several deep pockets investors. Early reaction from dealers was overwhelmingly supportive due in no small part to Baker's sterling reputation. I recall the Ft. Washington show around then when GAI was doing on site grading for, I believe, the first time. Dealers were cracking cards out cards from PSA slabs and submitting them to Mike because he had graded the same cards at PSA.
I really don't know why SGC went south but a counter guarantee from Mike certainly should enhance value for those who care. It's not for me, but I understand how others could see it differently.

Yeah not for me either. I think we all can see when a card appears to have been graded conservatively...or not and know what to pay accordingly. Once a card is in a holder, a full assessment is not possible so at best they can give a nod to a card based on an incomplete review.

The other issue I have with this concept of only certifying high end cards is that we do not get their opinion on a card they do not certify and why. So to me, as a whole, it is a one-sided assurance. Nobody would pay them to certify the card is altered in the holder, as an example.

If someone wants to pay them for that service because of Mike's rep, go for it and if someone is actually willing to pay a premium for it, good for them.

[Peter_Spaeth]

It's about as meaningful as those absurd PWCC eye appeal ratings, but PT Barnum was assuredly right.

Or, as the song goes, you gotta have a gimmick, if you want to get ahead.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's about as meaningful as those absurd PWCC eye appeal ratings, but PT Barnum was assuredly right.

Or, as the song goes, you gotta have a gimmick, if you want to get ahead.

+1

[chalupacollects]

Well now it's buy the card not the sticker?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Yeah not for me either. I think we all can see when a card appears to have been graded conservatively...or not and know what to pay accordingly. Once a card is in a holder, a full assessment is not possible so at best they can give a nod to a card based on an incomplete review.

The other issue I have with this concept of only certifying high end cards is that we do not get their opinion on a card they do not certify and why. So to me, as a whole, it is a one-sided assurance. Nobody would pay them to certify the card is altered in the holder, as an example.

If someone wants to pay them for that service because of Mike's rep, go for it and if someone is actually willing to pay a premium for it, good for them.

Great point Chase. Just because one card has a high-end sticker on it, while another of the exact same card and grade does not, doesn't guarantee that the card without the sticker couldn't actually be in even nicer shape with better eye appeal than the stickered card. It is basically just another way for people to milk more money out of collectors, by preying on their inexperience, or fears that they can't always accurately tell from scans and images what a card really looks like in hand.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by BobC

Great point Chase. Just because one card has a high-end sticker on it, while another of the exact same card and grade does not, doesn't guarantee that the card without the sticker couldn't actually be in even nicer shape with better eye appeal than the stickered card. It is basically just another way for people to milk more money out of collectors, by preying on their inexperience, or fears that they can't always accurately tell from scans and images what a card really looks like in hand.

Also Bob, unless we are comparing the sale of the exact card without the MBA certification in a parallel universe, how do we know that the MBA certification adds anything to the value of the card? The card might have reached that price without the certification because...the persons bidding on it can see for themselves that it is a nice example.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Also Bob, unless we are comparing the sale of the exact card without the MBA certification in a parallel universe, how do we know that the MBA certification adds anything to the value of the card? The card might have reached that price without the certification because...the persons bidding on it can see for themselves that it is a nice example.

True dat! Exactly why I agree with you. LOL

[Yoda]

Chase, gadzooks! Can you possibly mean that collectors can actually grade their own cards? What can possibly be coming next?

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Chase, gadzooks! Can you possibly mean that collectors can actually grade their own cards? What can possibly be coming next?

I know John. Some of us have been doing it shortly after getting into the hobby but others of us need 3rd party validation of third party assessments. Wow reading that actually made me laugh.

Then again we are in the era of fractional ownership, vaults and NFTs where you can either own a piece of something you can never handle, own something you can never handle or worse, own something that is only virtual.

Maybe the MBA route is not so bad after all?