SGC Grading

[Zoop]

April 15 - May 9 for my door-to-door SGC order. Not bad!

[towerymt]

Originally Posted by Zoop

Order has popped!

1956 Topps White Back Mickey Mantle
Expected Grade: 3
Graded: 2
This one really hurt, I'll be honest. Awful centering and a bit of sun bleach on the colors, but otherwise a beautiful card. Tiny bit heartbroken on the 2. Might resub with PSA, unsure.

1960 Topps Mickey Mantle
Expected Grade: 2.5
Graded: 2.5
It had some bad back wrinkles, so I expected this one all the way.

1965 Topps Mickey Mantle
Expected Grade: 2
Graded: 3
Big wrinkles/potential creases in two corners that I would've been harsher on, personally.

1957 Topps Hank Aaron
Expected Grade: A
Grade: 3.5
Wow. Happy about this. I was sold this for $70, as the the seller told me he thought it might be altered but it could just be a slightly off cut. Not only was it not trimmed, but it was about a full grade higher than I thought.

2001 Fleer Legacy Albert Pujols Rookie Card /799
Expected Grade: 8
Graded: 8.5
Nice. It had an odd black print speck on the front, which glares at me when I stare at it lol. Looked alright otherwise.

2004 Yadier Molina Topps Rookie Card
Expected Grade: 8.5
Graded: 9
These last three I just graded because I wanted to for my PC. No real reason otherwise. This was a pleasant surprise! Picked it up for $25 a year ago in a bundle with...

2004 Topps Cracker Jack Yadier Molina Rookie
Expected Grade: 9.5
Graded: 9.5
...this one. Knew this would grade well and was at least a 9. Thought it could be a 9.5. Clean card but weird stock, so hard to justify how a grader would view that oddball stock. Glad that saw it similar to me.

2019 Topps Chrome Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Pink Refractor Target Exclusive
Expected: 9
Graded: 9
Pulled this myself. Has a print line through the center, otherwise utter gem. Great PC piece.

Overall, I'm happy. Heartbroken over that '56 White Back Mantle, ecstatic over the '57 Aaron. All of this is for my PC with no plans to resell. Thanks for reading.

Curious to see the '56 & '57.

[Zoop]

Originally Posted by towerymt

Curious to see the '56 & '57.

Sure there. Backs look good. Mantle is better centered/cut on back than front.

[Tails01]

Submitted two vintage cards.

Mailed on 4/11.
Received on 4/18.
Status changed to "Post-Grading Processing" on 5/5.
Images popped last night on 5/9.
Shipped back to me today on 5/10.

Very happy with the speed (30 days door-to-door).

1954 Jackie Robinson
1958 Hank Aaron

I'll still send all vintage to SGC!

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Zoop

Sure there. Backs look good. Mantle is better centered/cut on back than front.

Beautiful cards! I need that Aaron

Unfortunately, with the Mantle, that is about as high as SGC or anyone can grade it. CSG could give it a 3, since their rubric allows it. With the centering less than 90/10 SGC had no choice with their grading scale. Really they should have gave it a 1 if they 100% graded to their scale. PSA could give it a qualifier with a "higher" grade, but that is all you can expect.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Really they should have gave it a 1 if they 100% graded to their scale.

Unfortunately I agree. Sometime 2019-2020, SGC decided to become total bastards on centering. Not sure the impetus. SGC used to be a place where moderately OC but still appealing cards could go to get a fair shake if you wanted to avoid the dreaded PSA qualifiers. But not anymore. They made matters worse by hiring new graders who could not even be competent with the stated centering standards, apparently not understanding the difference between 85/15 and 60/40. I had several cards that should have been straight 7's come back 5.5's and lower. Frustrating to say the least.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Unfortunately I agree. Sometime 2019-2020, SGC decided to become total bastards on centering. Not sure the impetus. SGC used to be a place where moderately OC but still appealing cards could go to get a fair shake if you wanted to avoid the dreaded PSA qualifiers. But not anymore. They made matters worse by hiring new graders who could not even be competent with the stated centering standards, apparently not understanding the difference between 85/15 and 60/40. I had several cards that should have been straight 7's come back 5.5's and lower. Frustrating to say the least.

A few things I have noticed with SGC recently is they reserve 1 or 1.5 for cards with something they can't overlook. Like writing on the front, serious damage to the card, or miscut. Since this card is not technically miscut, they bumped it up to the 2. They are very consistent with this and I appreciated them for that. Buyer beware though, if you get a SGC 1 or 1.5, there is a BIG issue with the card.

I think it is more than centering. I have noticed that SGC have been more technical when grading vintage the last few years. Training all the new grades on modern cards and having some of them grade vintage, has in my opinion caused SGC to become the hardest vintage grader right now. It used to be if a card had soft corners, SGC would grade more on eye-appeal and bump up the grade more. For cards in the 4 to 7 range now with SGC, they are definitely just as technical, even more from my experience, than PSA right now. I agree with the 1+ grade difference from SGC new labels to the older green. They are tough right now.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

They are tough right now.

Certainly in comparison to CSG, who I saw grade a '56 Topps card with obvious paper loss on the front a 1.5. To me that's just wrong. No way that card should have been anything other than an A or a 1.

[Zoop]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Beautiful cards! I need that Aaron

Unfortunately, with the Mantle, that is about as high as SGC or anyone can grade it. CSG could give it a 3, since their rubric allows it. With the centering less than 90/10 SGC had no choice with their grading scale. Really they should have gave it a 1 if they 100% graded to their scale. PSA could give it a qualifier with a "higher" grade, but that is all you can expect.

Appreciate the insight, as always, dan. It's disheartening to see it get the same grade as my water-stained, round-corners, wrinkled '53 Jackie considering the shape of the two cards side-by-side. My rule of thumb is "so long as the card isn't missing any of the non-border on a miscut/centering issues, it's fine by me."

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Zoop

Appreciate the insight, as always, dan. It's disheartening to see it get the same grade as my water-stained, round-corners, wrinkled '53 Jackie considering the shape of the two cards side-by-side. My rule of thumb is "so long as the card isn't missing any of the non-border on a miscut/centering issues, it's fine by me."

I have seen them give this type of card a 3, but the card would need much sharper corners and overall condition. SGC and other grading companies do skirt around their rules, especially with vintage cards that are known to have centering issues. I have seen many 1974 Winfield rookies that were miscut on the back given very high grades by PSA. That back centering of the card is so bad, that PSA does grade it differently. Same thing with OPC cards. They take the cut into consideration.

I wouldn't worry too much about your grade. In the vintage world we all know that technical grades don't tell the whole story. Your Mantle would still sell closely with 3's that have creases. Fortunately, people with vintage, especially in lower grades, they buy the card they want and not the slab. Don't worry about the grade of the card. It is an absolutely beautiful Mantle and I am sure that if you sold it, it would fetch a premium over other 2's that have serious issues.

[Zoop]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

I have seen them give this type of card a 3, but the card would need much sharper corners and overall condition. SGC and other grading companies do skirt around their rules, especially with vintage cards that are known to have centering issues. I have seen many 1974 Winfield rookies that were miscut on the back given very high grades by PSA. That back centering of the card is so bad, that PSA does grade it differently. Same thing with OPC cards. They take the cut into consideration.

I wouldn't worry too much about your grade. In the vintage world we all know that technical grades don't tell the whole story. Your Mantle would still sell closely with 3's that have creases. Fortunately, people with vintage, especially in lower grades, they buy the card they want and not the slab. Don't worry about the grade of the card. It is an absolutely beautiful Mantle and I am sure that if you sold it, it would fetch a premium over other 2's that have serious issues.

Many thanks, my man. Still worth more than I paid!

[Joshi City]

I recently got this card back from SGC:



I recognize that grading is done by humans (even at HGA!) and you could get the same card graded ten times at a grader and probably get at least two different grades, but I was a little disappointed this didn't get at minimum a 3. But its still splitting hairs as I recognize the centering isn't great and the corners are soft. Still looks nice in the SGC holder.

[Zoop]

Originally Posted by Joshi City

I recently got this card back from SGC:



I recognize that grading is done by humans (even at HGA!) and you could get the same card graded ten times at a grader and probably get at least two different grades, but I was a little disappointed this didn't get at minimum a 3. But its still splitting hairs as I recognize the centering isn't great and the corners are soft. Still looks nice in the SGC holder.

Beautiful card. The '68 hides corner wear really well, which makes for some great eye-appeal cards getting hit with lower grades. Not saying that's what did that here whatsoever, but something I've noticed in '68s.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Joshi City

I recognize that grading is done by humans (even at HGA!) and you could get the same card graded ten times at a grader and probably get at least two different grades, but I was a little disappointed this didn't get at minimum a 3. But its still splitting hairs as I recognize the centering isn't great and the corners are soft. Still looks nice in the SGC holder.

I don't think the centering and corners stopped it from getting a 3. The surface damage in the upper right red circle where it says "1st BASE YANKEES" was the issue. Who cares though, it is an authentic and beautiful Mantle. The registration is absolutely gorgeous for this card.

[Tails01]

Originally Posted by Tails01

Submitted two vintage cards.

Mailed on 4/11.
Received on 4/18.
Status changed to "Post-Grading Processing" on 5/5.
Images popped last night on 5/9.
Shipped back to me today on 5/10.

Very happy with the speed (30 days door-to-door).

1954 Jackie Robinson
1958 Hank Aaron

I'll still send all vintage to SGC!

For any curious:

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

I was hoping for a 2.5 on the Aaron, but there is some staining on the back that must have influenced the grader below a 2. PC, so I'm not too concerned...

[Zoop]

Originally Posted by Tails01

For any curious:

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

I was hoping for a 2.5 on the Aaron, but there is some staining on the back that must have influenced the grader below a 2. PC, so I'm not too concerned...

Amazing color on the '58. When I bought mine, color was most important to me there. That Jackie is fantastic, too.

[Tails01]

Originally Posted by Zoop

Amazing color on the '58. When I bought mine, color was most important to me there. That Jackie is fantastic, too.

Yeah - I agree. There are some "low-grade" cards that look better than their grade because of color and centering.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Joshi City

I recognize that grading is done by humans (even at HGA!) and you could get the same card graded ten times at a grader and probably get at least two different grades, but I was a little disappointed this didn't get at minimum a 3.

Tough grade. If there are no creases or wrinkles, it's hard to stomach a 2 with a nice picture and only corner wear. But I suppose it happens sometimes. Perhaps they judged the surface worse than it really is.

[aguinness]

I had an order finish grading on May 9 and has been in post processing since. I'm eager to see the grades, but they haven't popped on the account yet. Seems like it should have only take a day or two, but it's going on day 4...

[packerfavrefan]

Originally Posted by aguinness

I had an order finish grading on May 9 and has been in post processing since. I'm eager to see the grades, but they haven't popped on the account yet. Seems like it should have only take a day or two, but it's going on day 4...

Same here. 8 card order graded on the 9th. No grades yet. Although they did finally set up the folder for the images to go to this morning.

[aguinness]

Originally Posted by packerfavrefan

Same here. 8 card order graded on the 9th. No grades yet. Although they did finally set up the folder for the images to go to this morning.

They might be punishing me for hitting refresh so often to see them when they pop...
They received my order on April 21, three T205s, a T206 and a CJ.

[whoshotjr]

Seeing some folks posting 54s and 58s, made me think of these two cards I picked up when I was was very young.

Pretty sure this was a dollar box at the card shop because the corners were worn, one even had some paper loss.



Then this was was $50 and had very sharp corners and was the highest priced/graded of the 6 or 7 at the card shop.



Now the dead nut centered but very worn graded the same as the sharp, but very poorly centered card.





Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

[aguinness]

Originally Posted by aguinness

They might be punishing me for hitting refresh so often to see them when they pop...
They received my order on April 21, three T205s, a T206 and a CJ.

Grades and photos dropped today, so that was fun.

[Viper Collects]

Another great experience with SGC and Boca Cards.

11 card lot of ultra modern popped 4 10s 8 9.5s

[grade]

Nice cards.