Why Do People Grade Their Card Collection? Which Company Do They Use? PSA, SGC, or Nothing At All?

Рет қаралды 1,609

7 күн бұрын

Grading has become a big part of the hobby. PSA and SGC are the two biggest grading companies, and are receiving millions of dollars every month from the community of collectors. In this week's episode, I ask everyone who they use for grading and why they utilize them. As always, we have the option to leave our cards ungraded and simply enjoy them in their original form. But, many collectors continue to elect to submit their cards for grading and encapsulation. Why do people use PSA? Why do people use SGC? Why do people leave their cards ungraded? There's not a right or wrong answer on this topic, but I am curious of what people do and why they do it.
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#vintagecards #baseballcards #sportscards #thehobby
All statements and opinions shared in this video (and all of my videos) are for entertainment purposes only, and are not investment advice. I consider Sports Cards to be a hobby, and not an investment. If you're interested in investment advice, I recommend connecting with a certified financial planner.

Пікірлер: 121

@tonyleebrick9050 5 күн бұрын

My hobby preferences have really changed. I got back into the hobby a year ago. I was focusing on the 1950’s and 60’s cards that I dreamt of when I was a teenager in the 80’s. Then I started watching card collecting community KZfaq videos. I enjoyed yours, but also saw Dave Bluejacket66, Orlando’s Collectors Dream, and Mangini’s channel. I went down some rabbit holes I didn’t know as much about. I always had a love of baseball history, so the prewar stuff seemed to really appeal to me. It was new and fresh. There are so many different twists and turns in that section of the hobby. There are “odd ball” cards of Cobb, Ruth, Gehrig, Mathewson, ect. I knew by memory every Mantle, Aaron, and Mays card, but these seemed like an uncharted territory to me. It also enticed me to read books concerning that Deadball era. It has been extremely enjoyable on many different levels.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Keep watching those three channels. They have so much knowledge and really help to learn about so many awesome cards and sets.

@DonOlszewski-th1ir 5 күн бұрын

I like hearing what other collectors thought and habits are on the topic of slabs. What the prefer or what they will live with. Personally, I leave the cards as found regardless of holder or raw. I actually think it’s kinda cool to have a card in a holder from a company that is no longer in business. It’s just a way of documenting my journey in collecting. Buy the card you want regardless of what holder it’s in.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Very cool, Don. I appreciate you sharing you thoughts.

@789cards 5 күн бұрын

Another great topic Graig, I enjoyed the communities' thoughts. I think the thing for me is that has changed the most is twofold. One is the evolution you touched on in this video. I find myself looking more at pre war cards. It is the natural evolution of collectors, I think. We pick up a few modern cards here and there but the focus for a lot of us keeps on going back further and further and it has for me. The other big change for me was the platforms I shop on. I was big on Ebay auctions for a long time because I thought I could find value and that has changed as my taste has. Now I look more to REA auctions and COMC to a lesser extent. I hope you are soaking up summer and thanks for the question and content.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I think it's natural to slowly collect older and older stuff.

@brandonerhart687 5 күн бұрын

My collecting in the last year has changed in two ways. The first way is that I have focused more on centering than any other aspect. But the larger thing that has changed is that I'm not pursuing rookie cards of HOFers anymore, I am trying to get my favorite card of a HOFer so that I can have more individual players, and more money to buy cards. For example, the 1959 Topps Bob Gibson is awesome, and I'd love to have it, but I bought a really nice 1965 Bob gibson that's one tenth the cost of his rookie card, so now I can buy another HOF card that I like. Thanks for continuing to ask us our thoughts.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to share. More affordable cards allows you to have more cool stuff, so I get it.

@stevezeppieri 5 күн бұрын

Great video Graig. In regards to this weeks question, the one thing that has completely changed the way I collect, I mean majorly changed the way I collect is something I’ve learned from you… and that is to buy the card and not the grade. You’ve done so many videos on this and I’ll never know why people would pay more for a higher numbered grade when the card doesn’t look nearly as beautiful as a lower numbered grade. That’s trusting somebody else’s eyes over your own. Technology excluded. You and some of your KZfaq friends have really made me focus on centering and eye appeal. Trusting myself and my own eyes has been something I’ve been doing my whole life. I’m not going to let my wallet be affected by somebody else’s eyes and opinion. Thank you!

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Yes!! Trust your eyes!!

@Dboger82 5 күн бұрын

Personally I don’t grade my cards, I do however buy graded.

@GoldenSlumber474 4 күн бұрын

Me too!

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I don't blame you. Going through the grading process can be brutal.

@Dboger82 4 күн бұрын

I don’t trust sending my cards out.

@Politano1955 5 күн бұрын

I grade and slab my higher end cards for one reason only, and that's so my family can figure out what to do with them much easier in case something was to happen to me. As far as how my collecting habits has changed over the last year? That's easy to answer. Quality over quantity. Go centered or go home is my moto.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Quality over quantity is a big one...and I've started to do the same.

@themandalorian400 5 күн бұрын

Now that I made it to the end of the video, I'll answer that question. For me the biggest change is that I've started to branch out from my football core to explore the world of baseball and basketball. Its also lead me to start following the MLB and NBA a bit more. I've never really been an NBA fan and haven't paid much attention to it other than seeing who's playing in the Finals since Shaq retired (Shaq rookies make up most of my basketball collection) and I've only loosely followed my home state MLB teams but in the last year I started to pay a little more attention to those leagues. Who knows maybe by this time next year I'll be dipping into Hockey since I have rooted for my home state team when they won the Stanley Cup. I also started to expand out into my Star Wars fandom further into and picked up some cool refractors from 2022 Topps Star Wars Galaxy and now I kinda want to finish the refractor set now that I've completed their Obi-Wan Kenobi and Book of Boba Fett Sets.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Variety is a lot of fun for me. I think you'll be glad you've branched out.

@davidlapointe7446 5 күн бұрын

Hi Graig great show!!! I went from being a modern collector to a mostly vintage collector in the last 11 months. U really can't beat vintage wish I would have made the switch yrs and yrs ago. Thanks Graig

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

That's a big shift, but I totally get it....those vintage beauties are awesome.

@justinhoyle841 5 күн бұрын

Boy do I love this week's question! My biggest change has actually been a recent one. I have been, and probably always will be, a football collector above all else. Vintage football makes up the bulk of my collection, and I absolutely love the cards I own. That said, as I have gotten to a point where really the only big vintage football cards I i want that I dont own are super expensive pre-war cards (the 35 Chicle Nagurski and 1888 Goodwin Champions Harry Beecher to name a couple), I found myself looking for another affordable way to pick up awesome vintage cards. That search recently led me to start picking up vintage boxing cards about two months ago, and I i am loving it! Aside from baseball, boxing was America's most popular sport in the early-20th century. As a result, there are tons of amazing pre-war boxing cards of legends such as Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, and John L. Sullivan that can be had for a fraction of the cost of pre-war baseball or football cards. Collecting these cards has given me that feeling again that i am adding pieces of history to my collection. Its also been fun learning more about great fighters like Sam Langford and Joe Gans that i previously knew very little about. All that to say, i agree it alwats possible, and sometimes a ton of fun to switch things up a bit in your collecting!

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Wow. That sounds like an awesome collection. I also love vintage football cards, and the two you're still aiming for are pretty awesome.

@rayfromphilly6969 5 күн бұрын

great video graig. this was interesting to see the people liking sgc.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Thanks Ray. I appreciate you watching/listening.

@ACollectorsDream 5 күн бұрын

Always enjoy listening to others opinions and collecting habits. Thanks for sharing

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Thanks Orlando.

@ACD1994 5 күн бұрын

Hey Graig! Great question. I would say, I think the biggest change for myself, when it comes to how I'm collecting, from last year, is actually being ''more patient.'' Appreciating what I currently have, while hopefully... I will have another 35 or 30 years to collect. Because that's a lot of time to curate a collection, I am really proud of.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Patience is a great answer. I've gotten better at that as well.

@Hodges1455 5 күн бұрын

Gave a video like. Enjoyed the listen, thanks for sharing

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Thanks so much.

@MichaelRader-vu1tt 5 күн бұрын

Hi Graig, This is my answer to what I have changed the most over the last year: I have literally tens of thousands of cards. I used to collect cards from all eras and of different sports. In the past year specifically, I have begun downsizing that vast collection, selling hundreds of items on eBay (mostly modern) and using that money to buy exclusively 50s-70s Hall of Famer's Rookie Baseball and Football Cards in mid grades in PSA or SGC slabs. I found that I was all over the place with my collecting for decades and now I am Reducing Inventory and focusing on getting the sought after cards that I always wanted. I also feel this is a great time to grab those Hall of Famers in mid grades at reasonable prices, especially Football. I just wish I had thought of this strategy years ago. Live and learn.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Narrowing your focus makes it a lot easier to collect, that's for sure!!

@stevegallo8483 5 күн бұрын

The one hobby preference that I can say for sure has changed is buying graded cards. Before the last couple of years, I had never purchased graded cards. Now I have a number of them.

@GoldenSlumber474 4 күн бұрын

Me too

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Overall, are you good with that? Are you happy about getting into graded cards?

@stevegallo8483 4 күн бұрын

@@MidLifeCards Yes, I am good with the decision. Graded cards cost more, but the cards are protected.

@rktoon 5 күн бұрын

Hello Graig. New subscriber as of a couple days ago. Really love the content and discussion topics you provide. Just recently got back into collecting vintage cards after being solely modern for the last 10-15 years. As far as vintage grading goes, I prefer PSA for standard size cards. For cards that are smaller I prefer SGC. Strictly because I don’t like how PSA encapsulates the smaller cards. Typically there are wrinkles or waves in the thin plastic they use to hold the cards in place. The sleek tuxedo SGC uses helps to keep the focus directly only the smaller card instead of the wavy plastic.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Well said about the pros and cons of PSA and SGC. Appreciate the sub. There's a fun community of collectors in Midlife Nation!! Welcome!!

@signsofthepastime 5 күн бұрын

The Clemens auto is a nice gift! I have the same one that was also given to me as a gift 😃 Great video Graig. I prefer to leave my collection ungraded but buying nicer cards I prefer buying them graded.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Sweet!! I agree about when buying nicer, buying graded makes sense.

@RetroCardSpective1 4 күн бұрын

Great video as always! My biggest change over the last year is that a year ago, I thought of players in terms of what they accomplished in MLB, but since I have started my global professional baseball milestone collection, I am looking at players complete careers including negro leagues that aren't counted as major league, minor leagues, foreign leagues like Japan's NPB and Korea's KBO and winter leagues from California to Venezuela. For example, Luis Tiant had 229 wins in MLB, but by my research, as a professional, he has 418 wins and 4610 strikeouts in 6200 innings, so I am building a player run for him. Jack Pierce only hit 8 Home runs in MLB, but he also played in Japan and Mexico for a total of 532 home runs! I really enjoy this new wrinkle in collecting and am having the most fun I have had in 36 years of collecting.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

That's awesome!! That's a big shift, but it's great!!

@returntocollecting 5 күн бұрын

Great video Graig! I don't care what slab its in, I just want the best looking card that I can afford. Enjoyed the discussion!

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

You've got some fire...so you're doing it right for sure.

@OlSargeCollects 4 күн бұрын

Hey Craig! My baseball card hobby focus changes from year to year it seems. I started off as a HOF collector, only picking up one card of elite HOF players. Then I started doing player runs of HOF players. I soon realized that I didn't want or need every card of every HOF player...it was just too much inventory and some of the cards I didn't even like. Then I started picking up cards that were more eye appealing; so I collected the entire 1934-36 Diamond Stars Set. I don't consider myself a set collector, but I do want to collect the most eye appealing sets. In my opinion there are maybe only 3-4 eye appealing sets worth finishing. Then two years ago I started collecting non-sports cards and found that I really enjoy them. Last year I learned how enjoyable post playing days cards of HOF players can be. This year my focus is on quality over quantity. I've started selling off some cards that no longer fit into my collection. I've realized what I want my collection to look like long term and now I'm picking up cards that resemble that long term goal. My long term collection will consist of quality Vintage Baseball, Vintage Non-Sports & New Shiny modern cards of the all-time greats. I finally feel like I've settled into a focused, long-term collector who is running a marathon rather than a race.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

That's so awesome!! I love when people are willing to evolve their collecting interests. Yours has changed a ton!! That's really great!!

@themandalorian400 5 күн бұрын

First off I'd like to say that most of my cards are raw, but I plan on grading a good number of them as I'm able to afford to because I like the added protection that the slabs bring. Personally I'm an SGC guy and have never sent in a submission to any other company. However, I do own about as much PSA graded cards as I do SGC that I have bought graded. I only own 2 CGC and a single BGS. I use SGC because I think they are the most accurate and consistent of the big 4 graders in my opinion. They are also the most transparent and customer friendly and have great turnaround times on top of all that. The reason I haven't used any other company is due to see what happened to friends and other collectors. PSA hasn't done anything to earn my trust, frankly quite the opposite, and BGS is probably the least transparent of the companies so I don't really know enough about them beside their expected turnaround times (which is a big negative) trust them enough to want to send any cards to them. Furthermore SGC has the best designed slab, even if the label could us a bit of a touch up (though it is still by far better than PSA's who has the worst label design in my opinion). The Tux look makes the card the focal point of the slab the best and draws out the color of the card better than anything the other companies do. If i were to switch from SGC it would be to CGC and they are the second best option and have the second best slab.

@BringingTheHeat-VBC 5 күн бұрын

some good points made and a good ratio of "slabs"

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Ratios are good....creates variety and allows you to be diversified.

@timkingston7551 5 күн бұрын

Hey there Graig my answer for next weeks question collecting O-Pee-Chee and vintage hockey cards. I grew up playing hockey it was my favorite sport to play. Growing up it was really had to find packs of hockey cards at back then mostly baseball card shops. Every once in a while my local shop as a kid would get a box or two of Topps hockey cards and I would buy as many packs that my paper route money provided and then poof the rest would all be gone the next time I went back with more money. Finding O-Pee-Chee hockey cards were next to impossible to find packs of even when we were playing tournaments up in Canada, always sold out. With the computer collecting era of buying and selling cards online you can now find almost any type of sports card you want now. I have been buying all of my favorite star hockey players cards from the past and have been loving it. These cards were never available to me growing up. It is also really nice having a bigger budget to spend on cards now compared to my paper route money back they. Love your show take care!

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Going for a few of the more rare cards like OPC is a fun way to go.

@anonanon7235 5 күн бұрын

When I started collecting back in the mid-80s and 90s, I focused on getting sets. Lots of cards, boxes and boxes of cards, opening up wax packs was a thrill. Getting new rookie cards. Trading cards with my friends. Then life took over, and the hobby was put away for 30 years. Now I'm totally back, and I only buy vintage singles (prefer graded, but will also buy raw if it's from a reputable vendor). I focus solely on vintage sports cards (pre-1980s hockey, basketball, and baseball). My price range per card ranges from $200 up to $1200. I have a goal, which is to have around $50K US invested on about 150-200 cards. I treat my cards as one would treat oil paintings. I have my collection displayed in a custom made wood cabinet with glass face in my home office (no direct sunlight). I enjoy looking at them, researching cards, and going to card shows and shops. Ebay would be nice, but I live in Canada and can only buy from Canadian sellers as there are HUGE import fees for stuff coming up from the US.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Vintage singles is a good place to be. May not be quite as exciting, but ensures you get some sweet cards!!

@user-zn8wr1rf5x 5 күн бұрын

One thing nobody mentions involves something I became aware of through Vintage Card Curator - with PSA you can see whether the card fits the holder and (probably) not altered by cutting. Since watching his videos I always check before buying and am amazed at how many come up short and with significant space in the holder. I understand some might be vending or cut short by the manufacturer, but as VCC says, not all short cards are altered, but all altered cards (by cutting) are short. With SGC if the card is short it is next to impossible to do your own test this way and you must much more go on faith that SGC caught any such alterations before grading.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Some sets, especially older, have a larger variance in the size that is acceptable for each set. Modern cuts are uniform, but many vintage are less that way.

@iconic_baseball 5 күн бұрын

Over the past year, i’ve really focused most on high grade examples of 90’s Finest and Bowman’s Best Refractors for the top tier players of the era. For me, a collector that came of age in the hobby during the ‘innovation era,’ these cards hit a sweet spot in terms of nostalgia, aesthetics, importance, and value. They also carry very low pop counts reminiscent of prewar.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Those 90s refractors have really gotten popular. It'll be interesting to see what happens with them over the next few years. Who are some of the specific players that you target in those sets?

@iconic_baseball 4 күн бұрын

@@MidLifeCards I kept my purchases to just the upper tier guys in my Top 100: Bonds, Griffey, Maddux, Jeter, Unit, Clemens, Pedro, Ripken, Ryan, Brett, Rickey, Mariano, Chipper, Arod, Gwynn, and Pudge.

@mrmjmiller 5 күн бұрын

The biggest change I've made in recent years is all about centering. Great eye appeal. I used to be a razor sharp edge and corner guy, which I still enjoy but some cards that used to be acceptable to me are not now because centering issues.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Subtle changes, but also big ones, as well.

@vintagesanctuary 4 күн бұрын

Great point about polarization, although I suppose this pole is more like a tire iron and has four endpoints: PSA, SGC, both, or neither. 😊👊

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

True!!

@TheCardDeal 5 күн бұрын

As of today, and the way the wind blows.....I am holding off on grading my cards that i am keeping. More money for more cards, less for plastic. Log your collection into a simple excel sheet in case something ever happens to you. I say that because I do hear people say well I grade so my kids will be able to sell them easier. Well, while I am alive, I want to acquire more cards. So my recent orders have been 75-80% sell and trade bait and 20-25% for PC when grading. I like that balance, 15 to wheel & deal and 5 for myself per 20 card order. See you at the National!

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

The wind blowing often changes my interests as well. It's ok to keep changing....it's part of the fun.

@JayAverageVintageCollector Күн бұрын

I have been sending in my stuff recently to get graded. I just believe that those important cards in my collection should be preserved, so to speak. I go through my LCS and they deal solely with PSA. So, that is really the only reason why I chose PSA. I do really like the look of SGC, and am considering going through them myself. At least, attempting to and see how it works out. I heard you say something about PSA is great for uniformity. Does this mean SGC slabs are not uniform in size?

@MidLifeCards Күн бұрын

SGC slabs are all the same, but they're slightly different from PSA slabs.

@Brian-pf7qq 5 күн бұрын

Grading or raw is in the eye of the beholder. Some people would spend hundreds on a ten of a player only his parents would remember. Others could care less if it was a one or a ten. I collect raw, would rather spend money on cards then spend money on getting them graded. But remember when you say older grades aren't worth as much as newer graded cards, ten years from now the cards you get graded today will be old graded cards,

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

In the eye of the beholder is the key, for sure.

@Vintage_Dave_T 3 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing this info. Regarding PSA slabs being more valuable than SGC slabs, I’ve been shopping for mid 1950s cards of black MLB stars and frankly I don’t see a cost difference in PSA versus SGC in those types of cards, though I haven’t done any math to support that. The cost being the same and the grade being the same I’d pick at SGC slab all day. But to be clear, I’ve never graded a card because I’d rather spend my collecting $$ on cards and not plastic.

@MidLifeCards Күн бұрын

I totally get it. Cards > Plastic

@GoldenSlumber474 4 күн бұрын

Here’s my brief response to this week’s question Bobby Jones “style” with which you’re not familiar Graig 😆 I now buy PSA-graded slabs only rather than grading raw cards & embroiling myself in the grading game & focus on my core football collection.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Buying already graded is a good idea.

@brianc9036 5 күн бұрын

Interesting points about SGC vs PSA. Honestly, I stopped collecting for about decade. When I was about 11ish in like 1999 I saw Sandy Koufax rookie card in a PSA slab in a Beckett Magazine. I was a Giants fan but knew I had to have to card at some point in my life. Ended up buying a low grade one about 2006 when I was like 19 started making some money. I remember Beckett slabs in the 2000s but honestly don't even remember SGC until I started looking at cards again a couple years ago. So yea I am 36 I don't consider myself exactly young but definitely not ancient for a vintage card hobby. I really only want PSA's the fact they grade so hard I actually think is awesome. I am buying 3-4's sometimes I think where if you cracked it and sold it raw you might get more for it.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

A lot of 3s and 4s are really nice cards.

@jasonkirkman2355 5 күн бұрын

My collecting style changed a little bit. I started collect career runs of redsox players that my dad grew up with like yaz and our generation of Clemens/Boggs, I recently started collecting the unique sets of those players like the Drakes/Hostess/ Captn Crunch/ Collect a book/ etc.. variations now and not so much of dominate card manufacturer sets. I also have started to collect modern minor league sets of the upcoming stars. I am hoping that now being a new Grandpa, my grandson would learn to appeciate the cards as much as i do.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Going for some of the unique sets is very cool....fun to find some rare cards and the hunt is a lot of fun.

@cryptonite8495 5 күн бұрын

Next week's question: The biggest change in my vintage collecting is shifting from higher grades (6 and up) to lower, grades (6 as a ceiling except for 1970s). The older the card, the lower the grade I will accept, such as 3's and 4's for 1950s stars who are prohibitively expensive at 6 and up. I have also shifted from sharp corners to well-centered cards with nice eye appeal. I have sold some of my high-end cards, which has allowed me to load up on vintage HOF cards in lower grades that still look great..

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Those are some big changes, but I totally get it and have been doing the same!!

@markstein1916 5 күн бұрын

In addition to grocery baggers, how about gas stations with employees that would fill ‘er up for you? And companies that would actually answer the phone rather than put you on endless hold, or refer you to their worthless website. PSA should limit themselves to grading ultra-modern cards and stay far away from vintage. Their holders are butt-ugly, and anyone who values customer service is probably someone who values/collects vintage. PSA represents everything negative that we can’t stand about living in this cold, sterile corporate era.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

A lot of services have definitely gone away.

@wayneburbrink1215 5 күн бұрын

Just got my cards back from sgc super stoked about my GM 10 cal rookies and Barry 89 score 9.5 and 10 rc’s chantilly drop off was great

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Wow!! Congrats. That's some big stuff!!

@inthebiginning 5 күн бұрын

My biggest change has been to concentrate on my Jewish baseball theme only. I've started selling anything that doesn't fit into my collection - Mantles, Aarons, other sports - to focus on building the best specialty collection. It's allowed me to go wider with cards and memorabilia for the players I want that most people have never heard of. I might be trading a hall of famer for a lesser player, but that's fine for me. Many years ago, I collected all memorabilia and cards, so it means I am able to do a little cashing in now.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Cashing in is ok....it allows you to get other stuff instead.

@neightthegreight 5 күн бұрын

I have graded cards and I have raw cards, I enjoy collecting sports cards.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

A variety is always fun. I also have some of each.

@billyballgamesportscards 5 күн бұрын

Awesome video, Graig! Sorry I missed commenting last week, I would have loved to throw my .002 cents in on the SGC side. To answer this week's question. I think in the last year, my focus has shifted even more toward rookie cards. You often refer to me and yourself as derelict collectors because we collect many sports and a wide variety of cards, and you're right. But for me, if I could only buy one card per player, it would probably be their rookie card. My budget has changed over the last year as well, which allows me to now focus on some of the bigger rookie cards that I never thought I'd be able to afford. Great work, my friend. Keep it up.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Good stuff Billy. Looking forward to seeing you in 3 weeks!!

@rockcundiff1761 5 күн бұрын

I grade so it's easier and safer to handle with no fear of damaging. Also, makes it easier when it comes time to sell somewhere down the line.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Liquidity is a key, for sure.

@eredman1 4 күн бұрын

I prefer to buy SGC slabs because they are so much easier to crack open than PSA. Never have graded a card myself. I’m a binder guy.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I've never cracked an SGC slab, but have several PSA ones.

@MedozK23 5 күн бұрын

PSA 100%. I will send all my PC collection to them. The set registry is nice for collectors. My collection is about 95% vintage and 5% modern. If I have doubles or lower quality cards I will send to SGC because they grade easier and i can get a card that PSA would grade a 2, will get a 3+ with SGC. These are cards I will sell at some point. To that point also, I send all OC cards to them, cause they have no qualifiers which usually adds a grade. The only PC Cards I grade with SGC is pre-war, because I do like the look. Although I will always grade HOFers with PSA.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Consistency and uniformity is something I certainly understand.

@JeffsCardJourney 5 күн бұрын

Zion MagPros. $3 a slab and print your own label. No crackin, no crossin. Pop and Lock

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

They're rapidly becoming more popular.

@jude999 4 күн бұрын

SGC too big, fugly lables that look like cheap Xerox copies. In a perfect world we would have black background like SGC and size and lables like PSA. Biggest change for me is I am holding on cards to be graded until I go to sell because card slabs change all the time and I will want latest slabs when I go to sell.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I'm glad we still have some options so we can all get what we like best.

@rhq5461 5 күн бұрын

For my PC it’s CGC all day best slabs and great customer service

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I know of a few people that CGC and swear by them.

@ThoseBackPages 5 күн бұрын

i will buy SGC if i must, but the slabs are too bulky. They look more like a Coffin than a Tuxedo.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I agree that the SGC slabs are big. I wish they were more sleek.

@BringingTheHeat-VBC 5 күн бұрын

I will buy 99.9% graded these days. leaving a .01 chance that I see something one day I have to have. Wouldn't be for much money. I'll leave the deals and losses of the raw cards for the other guys. I may even sell some of mine someday soon to downsize a box. I'm buying SGC and PSA slabs ONLY going forward. While I will never give either them another penny directly, I feel it's at least a little better buying it already trimmed, colored and soaked IN the slab right slab. BVG is out forever and one of my best cards resides in that holder and always will under my ownership. CSG is 30% less and I won't even look at them. There is one reason only it's in their slab. It's fake, trimmed, doctored or otherwise failed PSA and SGC multiple times. I'm a quality low eye appeal vs quantity collector. Funny how when you have the room for a million cards, 1500 feels about right. In card collecting...less really is more.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Mike Petty for President.

@marcamy 5 күн бұрын

After 45 years of avid vintage collecting only, I STILL dont own a graded card.

@darlenefarmer4679 5 күн бұрын

Yep. Am 78 and been at this hobby since I was about 11. (1957 for anyone doing the math😂). Pretty much have it all back to and including’51 Bowman’s. Not a graded card in the entire collection. T. Farmer

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

That's great!! I totally respect that.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I wish I could see you collection one day. I have no doubt it's amazing.

@bagwell78 5 күн бұрын

I prefer SGC for vintage. SGC for oversized.....CGC/CSG, PSA more for modern.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I tend to agree that SGC doesn't look great for modern.

@sisterraysbrother 5 күн бұрын

just my opinion - I think most people who collect exclusively modern cards are more likely to stop collecting all together than they are to begin collecting vintage cards. and I think people who collect modern cards now and continue to collect cards, let's say 20 years from now, are more likely to collect modern cards in 2044 and even begin to think less of cards from the 2010's and 2020's than they are to begin to collect vintage. people consider songs that are no longer in regular rotation on the radio to be "old." and many people think that black and white films are garbage and would not even think of sitting through one even though, imo, there are probably as many great b&w films in the history of cinema as there are color films. I think if people came to know something about Cary Grant, Orson Welles, Gregory Peck, or whoever, they'd open their mind to all that great undiscovered cinema. in the same vein, many people don't know about Ted Williams, Sandy Koufax, Larry Doby, etc and sadly (for them) they don't care. to each their own, though. fun topic, Graig. I'll be making my submissions to SGC and am glad to know that it is the preference of most vintage collectors.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Great points about modern collectors stopping altogether. But, didn't most of us who collect vintage cards start as modern collectors of our era? Very few 7 year old kids started out collecting cards from decades earlier.

@sisterraysbrother 4 күн бұрын

@@MidLifeCards I'm sorry as I feel I came off too pessimistic. to be a modern card collector in 2024, I think, means something very different than it did in 1989, so it is possible that this generation can pivot to vintage at some point. I hope you are right as it will be great for the hobby!

@3WordsCollector 5 күн бұрын

SGC - just means more

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

Means more, how?

@3WordsCollector 4 күн бұрын

@@MidLifeCards I was being silly, the southeastern conference (SEC) slogan is “just means more”..I was being a goober and made it SGC

@bigtubb 5 күн бұрын

CGC

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I know others prefer them as well.

@Jethro1738 5 күн бұрын

Great conversation Graig and another great question for this week. My hobby mindset and focus hasn’t changed too drastically in the past year, but one thing that has changed is that I’ve started focusing a little bit more on players in baseball that have a really iconic moment or have significance to an important event in history. For example, a 1964 Rick Wise rookie card. By no means an expensive card, but every time I pull it out and show it to someone else, I can talk about how he hit two home runs and pitched a no hitter in the same game. Or I can pull out a T-206 Jack Warhop and talk about how he was the pitcher who allowed Babe Ruth’s first home run in the majors. I’ve come to find that it’s much more enjoyable to look through and show your collection to others when you have a variety of players and each card tells its own unique story, rather than just have a collection full of hall of fame player runs or collections consisting of just one player or team.

@MidLifeCards 4 күн бұрын

I love this. That's so much fun to have cards of some of those players. What a great idea...