Need Input SGC grading Ruth, Mantle, Cobb

[tjenkins]

If this is in the wrong section advise me to move it and I apologize for the long post.

I am thinking about submitting my first high dollar baseball cards to SGC. I have never graded anything this big, so I am asking for some input from the experienced in this forum. I am basically submitting three cards all grading, what I assume, will be a SGC 1 mainly to have them Authenticated. I see graded SGC 1 values more than Authentic. The three cards are:

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144
1906 T205 Ty Cobb bat off shoulder (Polar Bear back)
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253

So, I have done a little research by going to 130 Point to see what some of these card have sold for to get some idea of value. SGC says the the price is based on declared value. Who declares the value? EBay prices and me, SGC, Beckett, I have no idea.

Here is what I found at 130 Point.

(2) PSA 1 51 Mantles ($8000 and $5800, avg price $6900)
(5) PSA 1 33 Goudey Ruths #144 (avg price $4518)
(5) PSA1 T205 Cobb batt off (avg $2940)

The Ruth is faded and obviously from a scrapbook. The Cobb was also probably in a scrapbook and the Mantle has some loose paper around the "a" in Mantle on back but all intact.

Is this worth doing? If I am looking at this correctly grading them is going to cost me around $625 or so. I have included pictures of the three cards front and back. I purchased the cards a long time ago so if they are not authentic, so be it. Sorry, pics are not the best clarity. Any advise would be much appreciated thanks!

[IMG]20230225_120636 by Todd Jenkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]20230225_120237 by Todd Jenkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[swarmee]

Because those cards are all heavily faked, it is worth the $625 to have them all authenticated by SGC. I would recommend you even accept "Authentic" or "Altered" flips if they happen to get dinged.

[CardPadre]

Yeah, definitely not a sure thing they will all get a number grade so I agree with above, make sure you check the box to "Encapsulate if Altered" just to make sure you get them slabbed. They will give a number grade if they can, even with that checked. I think that Mantle is a beauty, good luck and post your results when you get them.

[raulus]

I think the answer to your question depends on what you plan to do with them.

If you’re planning to sell, then it almost definitely is worth it.

If you just want to make it easier for your heirs to sell, then it’s probably worth it, unless you expect that timeline to be decades away. If it’s that far away, then the grading game might change dramatically by then, and today’s SGC might be yesterday’s GAI.

If you’re just curious about whether they are legit, then that’s really a personal question about whether it’s worth it to you to really know what the TPG thinks.

And if you just think you will enjoy them better or want to avoid the possibility of additional damage by putting them in a graded case, then that’s also entirely a personal question for how much those features are worth to you.

But if it were me, I’d probably get them graded. At the same time, I’m generally a PSA acolyte, so I would be inclined to go with them, if for no other reason than they will match my other slabs. Admittedly you’ll need to pack your patience. However, you would probably be submitting at one of their premium levels, so it would probably go faster. My recent submission at their “up to $4,999” level came back in about 2 weeks door to door.

[JollyElm]

You've buried a bit of the lede. What's your plan for these cards? Are you keeping them or looking to sell? If selling, then these days grading is always the right answer, because they'll be authenticated and you'll have a good idea of what you can expect to sell them for (this also applies to them ending up in the hands of your heirs - knock on wood). If they're simply for your own collection, then it becomes more of a question of whether it's worth spending the money on hefty grading fees.

Good luck!!

[tjenkins]

I have to thank everyone for the great info, keep it coming. My intentions are to keep them. My kids will inherit my entire collection but I would like the satisfaction of knowing if they are real. What my kids do with my collection after I am gone is for them to deal with. I dont care. I am 60 and in descent health but have had some friends recieve some unplesasant news. So you never know. I will not, in my lifetime be selling unless to upgrade.

[tjenkins]

Originally Posted by CardPadre

Yeah, definitely not a sure thing they will all get a number grade so I agree with above, make sure you check the box to "Encapsulate if Altered" just to make sure you get them slabbed. They will give a number grade if they can, even with that checked. I think that Mantle is a beauty, good luck and post your results when you get them.

[IMG]Screenshot_20230315_150443_Chrome by Todd Jenkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Screenshot_20230315_150647_Chrome by Todd Jenkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Screenshot_20230315_150835_Chrome by Todd Jenkins, on Flickr[/IMG]

OK, Here are the results. I have thumbnails but not downloadable images yet. I am super excited. All three got a number grade (SGC 1's all three) but more importantly they are authentic. It was a long time coming though. I sent them from South Dakota where I live and it took 3 days to get to Miami (not bad) but it took 7 days to get from Miami to Boka Raton which is 45 miles away. I got a call from SGC today which I was thinking was either good or bad. Good that they needed a premium or bad that they weren't authentic. The Ruth required $125 more. Super excited, thanks all for the input.