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IS IT WORTH HAVING BASEBALL CARDS GRADED

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Whether it is worth having baseball cards graded really depends on the specific card and your goals for the card. There are several factors to consider when determining if grading a card makes financial and collector sense.

One major consideration is the projected value of the card. In general, grading is most worthwhile for high-value vintage cards from the pre-1980s that are in pristine gem mint condition. These include rare rookie cards of hall of fame players like Mickey Mantle, cards featuring meaningful statistical milestones, or set completion pieces that are very challenging to find in top condition. If a card in near-perfect shape could realistically sell for $500 raw but $1,000 or more graded, then grading makes financial sense to unlock that premium value.

For modern cards or cards that even in top shape may only be worth $50-150 raw, the costs of grading may outweigh any potential benefits. The grading fees often amount to around $20-30 per card sent to the major services like PSA or Beckett. For cheap cards, spending $30 to grade something that gains only $20-30 in certified value doesn’t pencil out. Low-value cards are really only worth grading if the goal is for collection/display purposes rather than resale value.

Card condition is another core factor. Grading only benefits cards that genuinely warrant the highest available grades from the authenticators, which are the ultra- scarce PSA 10 or Beckett Gem Mint 10 scores. Anything graded lower than pristine near-mint to mint grades like a PSA 8 or 9 often sells for similar prices to raw, undercutting the case for spending money on grading. Take the time to carefully examine your cards for centering, corners, edges and surface before submitting to avoid wasting money on cards that clearly will not achieve top honors.

You also need to consider trends in the collectibles market. While sports cards have seen renewed interest and sharp value gains lately, no market trend lasts forever. If prices are at historic highs when you grade, but then the overall market cools, your graded cards could end up overgraded and lose value. It’s wise to grade when market demand and prices are stable rather solidly rising to minimize risks. Similarly, if a large number of a certain card are already graded, adding more to an already saturated certified pop may not boost its worth as much.

The goals for your card also matter. If you purely want certified protection and authentication for a treasured piece of your collection to pass down, versus flipping for profit, then grading may make sense even if resale value is only marginally increased. Understand grading is permanent – you cannot “ungrade” later if you change your mind. Also factor in any future costs, like annual storage fees for graded slabs.

Ultimately, to determine if grading baseball cards is worth it requires looking at your specific card or cards case-by-case, doing research on conditions, market trends and values to see what the cost-benefit really shakes out as. Grading only enhances value when done judiciously for vintage, high-end pieces where third party certification truly elevates rarity and preserves condition. But for most modern commons and cards in fair/good shape, the costs usually outweigh nominal upgrades, if any. Do your homework before submitting to avoid overgrading.

BASEBALL CARDS WORTH HAVING

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Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for decades, with collectors seeking out the rarest and most valuable cards from years past. While it can be difficult to predict which ordinary cards from recent years may appreciate greatly over time, there are certain baseball cards that have proven themselves as especially desirable for collectors. Whether it’s for their historical significance, association with legendary players, or simply their sheer scarcity in near-pristine condition, these cards have stood the test of time and maintained their luster.

One of the most iconic and sought-after baseball cards is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. Produced between 1909-1911 by the American Tobacco Company as part of their landmark T206 series, the Wagner card has always been one of the rarest due to Wagner purportedly pulling out of the deal after a small number had already been printed. In pristine mint condition, examples have sold for over $6 million, making it one of the most valuable trading cards in existence. Even well-worn lower grade copies still command prices in the six figures. The mystique and rarity have cemented it as the undisputed king of all baseball cards.

Another extremely coveted early issue is the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card. Introduced at a time when Ruth was still primarily a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, it captures “The Bambino” in his early playing days before he became the home run hitting legend of the 1920s with the New York Yankees. In gem mint condition, it has sold for over $5 million, though more typical prices are in the $500,000 range. Like the Wagner, it’s a true American treasure and one of the rarest and most important sports cards in the collecting world.

For Mickey Mantle enthusiasts, his 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card is considered the holy grail, even surpassing the Babe Ruth in terms of copies known to exist. Produced during Mantle’s rookie season with the New York Yankees, it features a clean simple design that let’s Mantle’s boyish smile take center stage. Pristine examples with a Mint 9 or Mint 10 grade have sold for over $2 million, with most graded copies in the six figure range. It’s one of the most iconic rookie cards ever made and a must-have for any serious collector’s Mantle collection.

Another Yankee legend with an extraordinarily rare and valuable rookie card is Joe DiMaggio. Issued in 1936 as part of the 1936-37 Play Ball set, it was one of the first modern baseball cards to be mass produced and sold nationally. The DiMaggio rookie is especially scarce since many were likely destroyed during World War II due to paper shortages. In Gem Mint condition, it has reached prices over $500,000 at auction. Even well-worn lower grade copies still command five figures. It’s a true survivor from the dawn of the modern baseball card era.

For collectors interested in the early 20th century, cards from the infamous T206 set are always in high demand. In addition to the Wagner, other particularly valuable and rare standouts include the 1911 Eddie Plank card, featuring the star pitcher smiling in his A’s uniform. High grade examples have sold for well over $100,000. The 1911 Sherry Magee, which has one of the lowest surviving populations, has also topped $100,000 for pristine specimens. The 1911 Chief Wilson is another notable rare pull that can reach similar prices. Any rare and well-centered T206 card in high grades is a great addition to any collection.

For collectors focused on the post-WWII era, the legendary 1952 Topps set holds hidden gems. The Mickey Mantle is rightly lauded, but the Bobby Thomson “Shot Heard Round the World” card also commands top dollar. Depicting the legendary walk-off home run Thomson hit to win the 1951 NL Pennant for the Giants, pristine copies have reached $50,000. The Willie Mays and Whitey Ford rookie cards from the same set also regularly sell for five figures in top condition. It’s one of the most iconic and valuable vintage sets.

The 1957 Topps set is another highly regarded vintage release, featuring the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson. High grades of the Aaron rookie have reached $150,000, though $50,000-75,000 is more typical. The Robinson is also extremely valuable, with PSA/BGS 9 examples bringing $25,000-50,000. Additional standouts include the Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, which can reach $10,000+ each in top condition. It was one of the first truly modern designs that captured the post-war baseball boom.

For collectors focused on the 1960s, the 1968 Topps set holds hidden value. Featuring the rookie cards of future all-time greats like Reggie Jackson and Tom Seaver, high grades have immense collector demand. A PSA 10 of the Jackson has reached $100,000, with most graded 9s bringing $15,000-30,000. The Seaver has also cracked six figures in pristine condition. Additional key cards include the Roberto Clemente and Rod Carew rookies, which can each reach $10,000+ in top grades. Overall it was one of the most star-studded rookie classes of the 20th century frozen in cardboard.

While vintage cards from the early 20th century understandably get the most attention, modern issues from the late 20th century also hold value. The 1987 Topps set introduced the rookie cards of Ken Griffey Jr. and Ben McDonald, two of the most coveted modern rookie cards. High grades of the Griffey have reached $10,000, with most pristine copies around $5,000-7,500. The 1989 Bowman Griffey rookie is also extremely desirable, with a PSA 10 recently selling for over $30,000. The 1990 Topps Griffey rookie remains a key chase card as well.

For basketball enthusiasts, high grades of Michael Jordan’s iconic 1984-85 Fleer rookie card remain a reliable blue-chip investment even decades later. A PSA 10 recently sold for over $350,000, with most pristine copies in the $150,000-250,000 range. The 1986-87 Fleer Jordan rookie has also cracked six figures in Gem Mint condition. His signature early silhouettes like the 1987-88 Fleer and 1988 Score cards command similar prices in the highest grades. Any pristine early Jordan rookie holds immense collector value.

While the above cards showcase some of the most famous and valuable issues that have stood the test of time, new discoveries and market forces can cause unexpected risers over the long run as well. For dedicated collectors, it’s always wise to have a balanced portfolio of blue-chip rookies, stars and rare vintage issues across different sports to capture future appreciation. Properly caring for valuable cards in protective holders is also important to preserve long-term condition and investment potential. The cards highlighted here represent proven classics that any collection would benefit from owning in the highest available grades.

HAVING BASEBALL CARDS GRADED

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Getting baseball cards professionally graded is a common practice for collectors looking to verify a card’s condition, authenticity and value. Third-party grading companies have become the standard in the hobby for providing certified grades that bring consistency and transparency to the marketplace.

While raw, ungraded cards can still be bought and sold, a professional grade significantly impact’s a card’s perceived value. This is because the grading process establishes an objective measure of factors like centering, corners, edges and surface quality that determine a card’s condition. top grading services like PSA, BGS, SGC and HGA provide slabs to encapsulate cards along with numeric and verbal designations that precisely convey condition.

The three most influential grading considerations are centering, corners and edges (CCE). Centering refers to how perfectly centered the photograph or illustration is on the front of the card within the defined borders. Poorly centered cards where the image is noticeably off to one side typically grade lower. Corners assess the condition of the card corners—are they sharp and undamaged or are there nicks, dings or fraying? Edges examine the quality of the edges around the full perimeter of the card—are they smooth and clean cut or are there flaws, dings or damage?

Beyond CCE, graders also heavily weigh surface issues like scratches, scuffs, stains or fingerprints that impact the quality or appeal of the card front and back. Ultra-modern cards printed within the last 5-10 years tend to grade very well due to superior print quality controls at the manufacturer level during the early days of the collectibles boom. Vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s that have survived 60+ years typically exhibit more surface wear and imperfections that detract from aesthetics and condition.

The potential to significantly increase value makes paying grading fees worthwhile for expensive vintage cards or modern rookie cards of star players. The cost of a basic grading submission starts around $10-20 per card depending on the company. Economy and bulk submission options are available but still require shipping costs and potentially lengthy 4-6 month expected turnaround times during peak seasons. As such, it only makes financial sense to grade cards valued at $50 or more to clear any grading/shipping fees with profit remaining.

Key things to watch for before choosing to grade include properly storing cards to avoid further damage, only grading original printings and avoiding custom made/”fantasy” cards not produced by the official manufacturers. Condition is also crucial—there needs to be a reasonable case the card could grade an 8 or better on the traditional 1-10 numeric scale in order to justify grading expenses. Anything lower stands little chance of a return and risks losing value.

Ideally, those new to the hobby gain experience grading their own collection to develop an eye for condition nuances that impact potential professional numerical designations. This aids deciding which cards are truly candidates worth professionally submitting. Knowing common production flaws can also educate collectors when determining realistic expectations, such as print lines and centering issues more common in particular series or years.

Professional grading brings objectivity, consistency and trust to the collectibles marketplace. Certified condition reports remove doubts and allow easy apples-to-apples comparisons of identical cards across different asking prices. The slabs provide superior protection against handling wear compared to soft sleeves or toploaders. While a small percentage of assigned grades are disputed, the major third-party companies have trained staff and quality control processes that have proven accurate and reputable over decades of service.

Unless a card collection contains valuable true vintage gems or prized modern rookies, most cards will not justify the costs of professional grading based on potential condition and dollar amounts. For investors or serious collectors targeting high-end pieces to appreciate or display, third-party certification brings transparency and security that enhances a card’s long-term collectibility and trade value. With vigilance on condition realism, potential profitability and avoiding hazards like re-prints or damaged goods, professional grading remains a smart option for qualifying baseball cards.