Just bought my first ever graded cards - Trout & Bryant... why?

mattglet · 02-23-2017, 11:29 AM

I recently purchased my first ever graded cards (both base):
2015 Topps Heritage Kris Bryant PSA 10
2011 Topps Update Mike Trout BGS 9.5

I recently got back into collecting (focusing on Canseco PC) and the whole notion of grading seemed - or maybe still seems - kind of silly to me. Sure, as long as the edges are sharp and the centering isn't obviously completely out of whack, a beautiful card is a beautiful card right? Who cares if it's a 9 or a 10, or if it's graded at all?

With that said, I did buy them so now I'm a bit of a hypocrite

I can't even tell you "why" I wanted to buy them. Maybe in 20 years when Trout is truly recognized as the best player ever, and Bryant is whatever he's going to turn out to be, I have a solid investment? Or maybe in 1-2 years the market for the cards is outrageous and I can turn some sort of impressive profit? Or maybe I just appreciate those guys and want my own piece of history to admire? Time will tell I guess.

Why do you like/prefer/appreciate graded cards over raw? Is it an appreciation for the "perfection" of the product? Investment? Something else I'm not understanding because I'm a newbie?

sigmachi · 02-23-2017, 11:36 AM

For vintage, at least for me, it's a validation of their authenticity. For modern cards, I guess it's just an eye appeal thing. I don't really have a preference between graded or raw but I suppose when buying online at least there won't be any surprises on the condition of the card when you get it (scratches, surface dings/dents, soft corners etc.) Plus a graded card does offer a measure of protection.

sigmachi · 02-23-2017, 11:36 AM

by the way good choices with those 2!

danimal875 · 02-23-2017, 11:44 AM

For the casual collector such as yourself, there is no difference. However, for the discerning collector, having perfect or near perfect cards is highly desirable, because even straight out of the pack, even with sharp corners to the naked eye, there can still be a variety of flaws that are only noticeable under magnification. Yes you could take the card out and inspect it anytime it was to be bought or sold but there is a risk in damaging the card whenever this happens. In order to not have to handle the card, taking it in and out of its holder, wether it be in a soft sleeve/ top loader or a 1 touch, or screwdown, having a third party put a grade on it once and for all is an answer to this question. Also, it eliminates any haggling about minor imperfections between buyer and seller. The grade is the grade, buy it or don't. Then there is the internet. It is impossible to even do this little dance of taking out the card and haggling about condition, so grading is absolutely necessary if you want to avoid returns or complaints. Then there is the question of authenticity, if a card becomes iconic and very valuable, it becomes a target for forgery. Grading helps with this as well. While grading is not perfect, sales between collectors can be an absolute disaster without third party certification. For $10 approximately, all this drama is put to rest and the card is protected as well it can be. Its a no brainer for valuable cards that will ever be bought or sold again in the future. If its for your PC and you've had a chance to put your hands on it and are happy with it, then don't waste your time.

ThoseBackPages · 02-23-2017, 12:00 PM

Well done!

REGGIE206 · 02-23-2017, 12:18 PM

For vintage cards, I buy graded PSA & Beckett so I know it's real and the condition is exactly what I'm paying for. Some raw cards on eBay may look like a 9 mint, but when you get it, you notice the surface isn't want you expected and it's probably a 7-8 graded. So when I buy graded cards, there is no question what condition the card is in.

With expensive modern cards, I occasionally shoot for graded PSA & Beckett so I'm guaranteed the condition is what I'm paying for. I don't mind buying graded 9 mint cards because I'm a keeper collector. As long as I know I have a mint condition card of the card I want, I'm happy.

Another reason I like graded cards is for the slab. I like how the card is sealed & protected in their case. I don't have to worry about accidentally bumping the corners or slightly damaging the card when I'm putting it in a penny sleeve & top loader.

I've been burned a few times buying a rare expensive raw card and the card came in with surface scratches. But because the card is rare, I don't want to return it. But if I knew of the surface scratches before I negotiated the price on eBay, I would of offered a lower offer.

Coug46n2 · 02-23-2017, 12:41 PM

WillBBC · 02-23-2017, 12:42 PM

I think grading simply locks in value and condition better than anything. Sure, you could drop a cinder block on a slab and do some serious damage but what are the odds of that ever happening?

Plus, if you have a PSA 10 card, you have what many consider to be the highest quality, yet readily available, example of said card. Yes, BGS 10s carry more of a premium but they can be quite difficult to come by.

T_Hamilton · 02-23-2017, 12:59 PM

For vintage... graded is the only way to go... for today's cards I prefer them raw... for the really expensive ones (over $50) they look much better in a one touch than slabbed. just my opinion.

mattglet · 02-23-2017, 01:18 PM

Yeah, this all totally makes sense. I guess as a PC guy, and with Canseco who doesn't really have many uber-expensive cards, grading doesn't really apply to me. Sure, I've thought about getting a graded 10 of his 86 or 87 Topps cards (his iconic cards, in my eyes) but that would be more of novelty than something I care about to complete a collection or whatever.

I now see the importance for grading vintage, which I foresee is a route I'm going to travel once I get to the point where my Canseco collecting slows down. Forgery, which is something that never really crossed my mind, isn't something I want to worry about.

mouschi · 02-23-2017, 04:51 PM

Oh no! You are slipping away!!!

Kidding

but interestingly enough, I know a guy who collected a ton of Canseco stuff ... he just sold his entire collection to fund a Trout PC card. I think it is easier for people to go for someone like Trouty or KB because they are playing and the hype is all around them. That is what makes it so exciting for many. You can't go wrong w/either, imo!

houstonrules51 · 02-23-2017, 06:38 PM

You don't put art up on a wall with thumbtacks and scotch tape (unless its your kid's). Similarly, I see the case as a frame for the card and also protection. I like the aesthetics of one label color, but don't pine over the grade as much as others. I just want the labels all the same -(e.g. all 13 heritage trout variations in gold (9.5) or all hershiser rookies in Silver.

To illustrate my point, i have a 13 Trout Black Refractor PSA 10 (pop 2) but I would gladly trade it for a BGS 9.5 (and something else) so that all the 13 heritage are the same label.

All the points made by other are good ones, mine is purely aesthetic.

ThoseBackPages · 02-23-2017, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houstonrules51

You don't put art up on a wall with thumbtacks and scotch tape (unless its your kid's). Similarly, I see the case as a frame for the card and also protection. I like the aesthetics of one label color, but don't pine over the grade as much as others. I just want the labels all the same -(e.g. all 13 heritage trout variations in gold (9.5) or all hershiser rookies in Silver.

To illustrate my point, i have a 13 Trout Black Refractor PSA 10 (pop 2) but I would gladly trade it for a BGS 9.5 (and something else) so that all the 13 heritage are the same label.

All the points made by other are good ones, mine is purely aesthetic.

That's my main gripe with BGS

houstonrules51 · 02-23-2017, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

That's my main gripe with BGS

Amen, brother

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

goldeneye2131 · 02-23-2017, 07:07 PM

#1 reason is protection/condition.
#2 reason is for look...I think the graded cases look nice on display.

02-23-2017, 11:36 AM	#3
sigmachi Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Paragould, AR Posts: 5,193 J_J_Bodyhunting	by the way good choices with those 2! __________________ Buying every single DEMARIO DAVIS 2012 National Treasure and low #'d auto that you can bring me.

02-23-2017, 12:00 PM	#5
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 91,089 ThoseBackPages	Well done! __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

02-23-2017, 12:18 PM	#6
REGGIE206 Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Mukilteo, WA (hometown: Vallejo, CA) Posts: 9,833	For vintage cards, I buy graded PSA & Beckett so I know it's real and the condition is exactly what I'm paying for. Some raw cards on eBay may look like a 9 mint, but when you get it, you notice the surface isn't want you expected and it's probably a 7-8 graded. So when I buy graded cards, there is no question what condition the card is in. With expensive modern cards, I occasionally shoot for graded PSA & Beckett so I'm guaranteed the condition is what I'm paying for. I don't mind buying graded 9 mint cards because I'm a keeper collector. As long as I know I have a mint condition card of the card I want, I'm happy. Another reason I like graded cards is for the slab. I like how the card is sealed & protected in their case. I don't have to worry about accidentally bumping the corners or slightly damaging the card when I'm putting it in a penny sleeve & top loader. I've been burned a few times buying a rare expensive raw card and the card came in with surface scratches. But because the card is rare, I don't want to return it. But if I knew of the surface scratches before I negotiated the price on eBay, I would of offered a lower offer. __________________ INSTAGRAM: my_card_collection 📸 Last edited by REGGIE206; 02-23-2017 at 12:31 PM.

02-23-2017, 04:51 PM	#11
mouschi Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Swimming in a million cards Posts: 9,705 tnhjones	Oh no! You are slipping away!!! Kidding but interestingly enough, I know a guy who collected a ton of Canseco stuff ... he just sold his entire collection to fund a Trout PC card. I think it is easier for people to go for someone like Trouty or KB because they are playing and the hype is all around them. That is what makes it so exciting for many. You can't go wrong w/either, imo! __________________ Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict

02-23-2017, 06:38 PM	#12
houstonrules51 Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,556 houst-ji	You don't put art up on a wall with thumbtacks and scotch tape (unless its your kid's). Similarly, I see the case as a frame for the card and also protection. I like the aesthetics of one label color, but don't pine over the grade as much as others. I just want the labels all the same -(e.g. all 13 heritage trout variations in gold (9.5) or all hershiser rookies in Silver. To illustrate my point, i have a 13 Trout Black Refractor PSA 10 (pop 2) but I would gladly trade it for a BGS 9.5 (and something else) so that all the 13 heritage are the same label. All the points made by other are good ones, mine is purely aesthetic. __________________ DODGERS ALL THE WAY!!! Looking to Buy 15 Bowman Jordan Luplow Red/Orange/Gold Autos!

02-23-2017, 11:29 AM	#1
mattglet Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 4,391	Just bought my first ever graded cards - Trout & Bryant... why? I recently purchased my first ever graded cards (both base): 2015 Topps Heritage Kris Bryant PSA 10 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout BGS 9.5 I recently got back into collecting (focusing on Canseco PC) and the whole notion of grading seemed - or maybe still seems - kind of silly to me. Sure, as long as the edges are sharp and the centering isn't obviously completely out of whack, a beautiful card is a beautiful card right? Who cares if it's a 9 or a 10, or if it's graded at all? With that said, I did buy them so now I'm a bit of a hypocrite I can't even tell you "why" I wanted to buy them. Maybe in 20 years when Trout is truly recognized as the best player ever, and Bryant is whatever he's going to turn out to be, I have a solid investment? Or maybe in 1-2 years the market for the cards is outrageous and I can turn some sort of impressive profit? Or maybe I just appreciate those guys and want my own piece of history to admire? Time will tell I guess. Why do you like/prefer/appreciate graded cards over raw? Is it an appreciation for the "perfection" of the product? Investment? Something else I'm not understanding because I'm a newbie?

02-23-2017, 11:44 AM	#4
danimal875 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 4,929 thunder_cards thundercards	For the casual collector such as yourself, there is no difference. However, for the discerning collector, having perfect or near perfect cards is highly desirable, because even straight out of the pack, even with sharp corners to the naked eye, there can still be a variety of flaws that are only noticeable under magnification. Yes you could take the card out and inspect it anytime it was to be bought or sold but there is a risk in damaging the card whenever this happens. In order to not have to handle the card, taking it in and out of its holder, wether it be in a soft sleeve/ top loader or a 1 touch, or screwdown, having a third party put a grade on it once and for all is an answer to this question. Also, it eliminates any haggling about minor imperfections between buyer and seller. The grade is the grade, buy it or don't. Then there is the internet. It is impossible to even do this little dance of taking out the card and haggling about condition, so grading is absolutely necessary if you want to avoid returns or complaints. Then there is the question of authenticity, if a card becomes iconic and very valuable, it becomes a target for forgery. Grading helps with this as well. While grading is not perfect, sales between collectors can be an absolute disaster without third party certification. For $10 approximately, all this drama is put to rest and the card is protected as well it can be. Its a no brainer for valuable cards that will ever be bought or sold again in the future. If its for your PC and you've had a chance to put your hands on it and are happy with it, then don't waste your time.

02-23-2017, 12:41 PM	#7
Coug46n2 Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Washington State Posts: 6,151 Coug46n2

02-23-2017, 12:42 PM	#8
WillBBC Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 3,321	I think grading simply locks in value and condition better than anything. Sure, you could drop a cinder block on a slab and do some serious damage but what are the odds of that ever happening? Plus, if you have a PSA 10 card, you have what many consider to be the highest quality, yet readily available, example of said card. Yes, BGS 10s carry more of a premium but they can be quite difficult to come by.

02-23-2017, 12:59 PM	#9
T_Hamilton Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 1,907	For vintage... graded is the only way to go... for today's cards I prefer them raw... for the really expensive ones (over $50) they look much better in a one touch than slabbed. just my opinion.

02-23-2017, 01:18 PM	#10
mattglet Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 4,391	Yeah, this all totally makes sense. I guess as a PC guy, and with Canseco who doesn't really have many uber-expensive cards, grading doesn't really apply to me. Sure, I've thought about getting a graded 10 of his 86 or 87 Topps cards (his iconic cards, in my eyes) but that would be more of novelty than something I care about to complete a collection or whatever. I now see the importance for grading vintage, which I foresee is a route I'm going to travel once I get to the point where my Canseco collecting slows down. Forgery, which is something that never really crossed my mind, isn't something I want to worry about.

02-23-2017, 07:07 PM	#15
goldeneye2131 Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 567	#1 reason is protection/condition. #2 reason is for look...I think the graded cases look nice on display.