VCP now has Universal POP

[conor912]

What’s the latest guess on how accurate the pop reports actually are? I have to imagine the number of cards that get cracked is significant in some cases.

[tjisonline]

Originally Posted by conor912

What’s the latest guess on how accurate the pop reports actually are? I have to imagine the number of cards that get cracked is significant in some cases.

Each card is different. Let’s use the 1952 Topps set and it's famous 3 DPs in the last series.

As of March 4, 2025

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle DP 311
Total Graded: 2,879

1952 Topps Jackie Robinson DP 312
Total Graded: 1,980

1952 Topps Bobby Thomson DP 313
Total Graded: 1,184

1952 Topps Ed Mathews SP 407
Total Graded: 1,329

I would wager a ton that Jackie has been cracked and regraded as much as the mantle.

So mantle’s true pop is close to Jackie’s 1,980 graded . No where near Mantle’s current # of nearly 2900 graded

Since many of us assume the Jackie has been regraded ton of times so his true # is closer to Thompson’s 1,184. I don’t think the Thompson has been regraded much but def more than many 1952s.

So the true pop for Mantle and Jackie is far closer to Thompson’s # of 1,184 graded than 2,900.

Furthermore, this also tells us specific last series single prints like the Ed Mathew’s card has also been regraded many times as there’s zero chance his card as been graded more than Thompson. SP vs DP.

* I’m making a big assumption that most of Thompson’s cards have been graded which I believe is true due to being in the high #s. His card is the key to my theory

[steve B]

Originally Posted by tjisonline

Each card is different. Let’s use the 1952 Topps set and it's famous 3 DPs in the last series.

As of March 4, 2025

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle DP 311
Total Graded: 2,879

1952 Topps Jackie Robinson DP 312
Total Graded: 1,980

1952 Topps Bobby Thomson DP 313
Total Graded: 1,184

1952 Topps Ed Mathews SP 407
Total Graded: 1,329

I would wager a ton that Jackie has been cracked and regraded as much as the mantle.

So mantle’s true pop is close to Jackie’s 1,980 graded . No where near Mantle’s current # of nearly 2900 graded

Since many of us assume the Jackie has been regraded ton of times so his true # is closer to Thompson’s 1,184. I don’t think the Thompson has been regraded much but def more than many 1952s.

So the true pop for Mantle and Jackie is far closer to Thompson’s # of 1,184 graded than 2,900.

Furthermore, this also tells us specific last series single prints like the Ed Mathew’s card has also been regraded many times as there’s zero chance his card as been graded more than Thompson. SP vs DP.

* I’m making a big assumption that most of Thompson’s cards have been graded which I believe is true due to being in the high #s. His card is the key to my theory

The popularity and value of a card affect how often it's graded as well as how often it's cracked out.
When I was looking at pop reports for a few groups of T206 the HOF players in those groups had pops about double that of commons. None I looked at were superprints.
The big surprise was that as a graded card Magie was more common than Magee by a lot.

[t206fanatic]

excellent addition, thanks.

[conor912]

So “not accurate at all” is what you’re saying

Originally Posted by tjisonline

Each card is different. Let’s use the 1952 Topps set and it's famous 3 DPs in the last series.

As of March 4, 2025

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle DP 311
Total Graded: 2,879

1952 Topps Jackie Robinson DP 312
Total Graded: 1,980

1952 Topps Bobby Thomson DP 313
Total Graded: 1,184

1952 Topps Ed Mathews SP 407
Total Graded: 1,329

I would wager a ton that Jackie has been cracked and regraded as much as the mantle.

So mantle’s true pop is close to Jackie’s 1,980 graded . No where near Mantle’s current # of nearly 2900 graded

Since many of us assume the Jackie has been regraded ton of times so his true # is closer to Thompson’s 1,184. I don’t think the Thompson has been regraded much but def more than many 1952s.

So the true pop for Mantle and Jackie is far closer to Thompson’s # of 1,184 graded than 2,900.

Furthermore, this also tells us specific last series single prints like the Ed Mathew’s card has also been regraded many times as there’s zero chance his card as been graded more than Thompson. SP vs DP.

* I’m making a big assumption that most of Thompson’s cards have been graded which I believe is true due to being in the high #s. His card is the key to my theory

[tjisonline]

Originally Posted by conor912

So “not accurate at all” is what you’re saying

Exactly for some famous / popular cards that have been cracked opened & regraded often like the 86 Fleer MJ, most Mantles, etc…

People think there are far more 1952 Topps Mantles out there than realistically possible. Don’t get me wrong, it’s by no means scarce. The Mathews is the toughest “superstar” 1952 card in the set regardless of condition (along with every other non-DP in that series).

For other cards that are nearly not as popular (1914 CJs Hooper / Wood), extremely scarce (e.g. 1939 Play Ball Moe Berg Sample) & / or PSA recently started grading them, the universal Pop reports are kinda a still an accurate representation of reality in my opinion