Mid-Grade Collectors

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by skelly423

There is often very little visible difference between 5s and 8s or even 9s. I've got 5s and 6s that look significantly better than higher graded versions of the same card.

There is certainly more variability in eye appeal in the mid-range and lower. PSA 2 through about 6 are good examples. My favorite place to play right now is a card that looks like a 6 or so with nice corners, but only got a 3 or 4 because of a wrinkle or hairline crease or some other surface issue that's difficult to see. I recently got a '66 Jim Palmer RC in a 4. Card looks like a 6 - the grade is due to a wax stain that you can't even really tell is there.

[jiw98]

I don’t mind lower to mid grade cards at all.

[MBH65]

I hope it’s okay for me to bump this thread. I just got back into the hobby a couple of months ago after being away for over 3 decades. I’m basically starting all over again. I sold off almost all of my collection over 30 years ago, except for a few of my favorite cards. It has been quite a learning experience getting up to speed with where the hobby is now. Things sure have changed since I was in the hobby back in the late 1980s.

This thread about mid-grade collecting is definitely one of the best things that I have found in my hobby re-education so far. I started out again in collecting by looking at higher grade cards and I quickly found it to be kind of stressful. I wanted to make sure that I was fine with any flaws that I could find in a card graded at something like a PSA 8 before I potentially spent money on the card. That was no fun at all.

After reading this thread and few others similar to it, I decided to settle into mid-grade cards in the 3-6 range, with an occasional 7, for cards from the 50s through 70s. It’s been more fun since then. A nicely centered card with nice color and registration in that grade range is a nice looking card and a heck of lot easier on the wallet and stress level. I can also get what seems to be infinitely more cards that way versus focusing on high graded cards.

Anyway, hello to you all from Ohio.

Michael

[JollyElm]

Hey, welcome aboard!!!

So many of us who used to seek out prime examples of cards had to develop a whole different game plan when the pandemic saw the prices on everything shoot into the stratosphere. That was a sea change of a "WTF??!!!" moment, and caused collectors to start making much 'better' purchase decisions with their budgets.

Good luck with your collecting rebirth, you'll definitely have fun here on Net54!!!

[MBH65]

Thanks, Elm! This is easily the best forum I’ve found for baseball card collecting.

(Spelling edit. Mea culpa, Elm)

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by MBH65

I hope it’s okay for me to bump this thread.

Always! Welcome aboard!

Apparently I started this thread 6 years and 2 days ago, lol. Mid and lower grade vintage is the lifeblood of many in this hobby, I remain convinced. Many of us here are far more interested in baseball and baseball history as far as our collections are concerned, over and above our cards being "investment pieces" which might some day help us retire. It was with that notion that I asked that question 6 years ago...

This isn't even midgrade, but here is today's pickup. I'm so proud of this damn thing this is the 3rd thread I think I've posted it in, LOL.

Good to hear from you, Michael!

[GasHouseGang]

Some mid grades.

[MBH65]

Thanks, John.

It’s been a lot of fun getting back into collecting again with the opportunity to revisit all the baseball history and memories. Every card really has its own story to tell and collecting more cards by targeting middle grade cards means more history to relive and enjoy for me all over again.

Those are some real beauties you posted there!

[MBH65]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Some mid grades.

Those are some really beautiful cards!

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by MBH65

Those are some really beautiful cards!

Thanks Michael. I feel like the mid-grades represent the best value in card collecting..