Thanks, Adam!! These have been a blast to put together! They’ve been a long time coming too! I know it probably looks like I send in orders to PSA all the time, but really it’s usually a 1-2 time per year ordeal. Most of the cards in my collection that I feel that “should” be graded now are, and it’s just new ungraded acquisitions that have to undergo my inspection and EV analysis before I determine whether or not they are worthy of grading. Thanks for watching!

Gotta love a dramatic reading! Although, I wasn’t reading off anything, just making stuff up as I went! 😂 Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks, The Drew! Go check out Graig’s recent video over at Midlife - we made almost the same video, only his examples are better, as he does the same thing with vintage, and the value multiplier between grades of similar looking cards is even more extreme! I didn’t even see that video until a few hours after I had posted my own! I was thinking of Double D Dylan when I posted this one, as he had posted a few great side by side vintage comparisons of identical cards with similar eye appeal, but vastly different grades and values. Man, I love this hobby community!

😅 😂 I think it partially goes to WHY people need the highest grades. Is it set registry addiction? The need to have the most exclusive highest graded, lowest population example? It’s funny because all three of these “10s” have flaws in them. I question why people / the market sustains this value bump for such a minuscule difference in condition grade. Thanks for watching, Nate!

It’s ok - the buyer of the Maddux card isn’t really buying the CARD. He’s buying a $10 card in a $1 plastic case with a $200 flip that has a number “10” emblazoned on it.

@@HighPopProfessor for sure.

Right back at you! I like your comparison video today - and I like the opportunity cost angle, looking at what is being sacrificed by going for the higher graded example and the enormous additional cost associated with it.

@ Likewise my friend. Great minds think alike. 😘

Just as some find Tchaikovsky symphonies or works of art beautiful, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that card collectors find beauty in special cards that hold nostalgia / memories from childhood. I’m sorry you find that creepy. Have a great day! 🙂

Thanks, Dad! Yeah, I’m surprised that 2 of the 3 gemmed. If 10s didn’t have a crazy premium, I wouldn’t be grading much to begin with. The incentive wouldn’t really be there as much. As it is though, if I can turn a $10 card into a $200 card, it would be silly for me not to do that.

It’s a shame, but it happens. I’m still quite pleased with the return though! Hilariously, people who don’t use their eyeballs will still happily buy it! I have a video coming out very soon about this phenomenon! Thanks for watching, Adam!!

Thanks, Al!! I’m super happy with them!

That’s what I’m finding out, The Drew! Plus, they look even better when they’re sitting on amazing wooden card stands! 😉

Great points here! For my PC, I’m slabnostic as well. I might prefer more BGS / SGC slabs for the better value, but the vast majority of graded cards out there are in PSA, so 🤷‍♂️. I agree with you - for flipping or resale, PSA by far gets the most value and really is the only one that makes sense for that purpose. I also agree with you that with many newer PSA 8s, they’re almost indistinguishable from 10s, which makes paying the 10 premium even more irrational in my book. Great comment and thanks for watching!

I know what you mean. I also had a few I was debating in addition to the Diamond King, of course! I was thinking about a cool late 90s insert from Bowman called “Late Bloomers” but I think instead I went with the 90 Leaf RC - it’s a classic, light card, and the auto should show up well. Also, a risk with getting many late 90s accords and inserts signed is that sometimes the autos bead up on them with the excessive gloss on the card. This won’t happen with the 90 Leaf! It’s a tough choice for sure though! You’ll figure it out, Allen!

Thanks, Graig!! I can’t wait to see what grail card that will eventually become!

After the early 2000s the Diamond Kings went way downhill. By 2005, they were junky looking. It seemed like the primary design element focused on a thick border, and the picture of the players in the center were tiny. Not my thing, but I’m sure some people like them. Thanks for watching!

Thanks, Dad! We’ll see if that Larry Walker comes back at some point!

Yes! The TTM seal has been broken, indeed! I’m just so impressed with the speed of all these returns and how they were all really great, bold, “10” autos!

😂😂😂 Thanks, Brent!!

It’s “peak” Diamond kings! I love all the Dick Perez artwork years, but ‘92 was special with the first glossy, borderless designs with the gold foil accents! They became true inserts instead of just subsets. Just gorgeous artwork! And slap a bold auto on them and they become instant museum pieces!

It’s a crazy card for sure! Save yourself some money and get a nice looking ungraded copy! That’s what I did… it’s just that mine looked a little TOO good! 😂

‘Tis the season! Yes, indeed! I’m experiencing a lot of positive hobby vibes lately and I’m happy to be able to share that with everyone!

That’s the plan! 😅

I’m kind of debating a few things with it… I have a handful of 9s now for that Museum set, including the Griffey and a Gwynn that I picked up cheap the other week… If you’re interested, I can certainly pull it aside for ya. Christmas is coming soon… 😂

Agreed on both counts! I’m pumped to be able to add the best graded PSA example of that Maddux Millenium Marks to my permanent Maddux PC! It was another one that I paid up for, but totally worth it! And YES, the A-Rod is basically an instant grail addition for me, so that’s super exciting!

Absolutely! That thing pops!!

Thanks, Mookie! Yes, hopefully that A-Rod will fund my next PC grail(s)! Now, to just find an interested buyer… 😅

Thanks! Yeah, that’s definitely a biggie! One of the key cards in my Maddux Braves refractor run for sure!

That’s not a bad idea! 😂 I may just do that! But the problem then becomes, what if the new one also looks “really really good”? 😂

@@HighPopProfessor If you're just looking for an ungraded example only thing that should matter is the boldness of signature for that card - and those 94 UD Arod Auto inserts can be had for $30-50 raw; pocket the extra $1450 and buy rare maddux grail. i have tons of great cards in the 90s binder that could be graded based on rarity but just want examples so don't factor in condition for the binder collection vs my curated, refined graded collection of 100 cards

That’s an excellent point! I suspect that he goes very fast through that “G”, so a high % of them end up looking streaky or slightly faded - just not as bold or as pleasing as I’d like. In my eyes, this makes the darker, non-streaky examples all the more special. Great observation, Allen!

Thanks, Adam!! I still can’t believe these cards are in my collection! It will be great to get back into KZbin hobby video production again! I haven’t been watching as many videos in the last month either, so I have a bit of a backlog to catch up on. Happy hobbying, my collecting brother!

Thanks, Brad! I’m working through those Maddux refractor runs!

Thanks, Allen! The un-hulked atomics are the TRUE rarity from that set!

🤣 You may be correct about that one once again, Brent! Thanks for watching!

Thanks, Mookie! It’s funny - I don’t really do too many grading orders / reveals, but they were all just recently delivered to me, so it’s the first time I’m getting these in hand!

😳😳😳 That’s INCREDIBLE! What an amazing set with a debut of amazing technology as a full set parallel. As much as I like Museums and Starburst / Starburst APs from future years, the later years were only partial parallels, whereas 94 had the WHOLE set in Dufex glory! I’m still missing the ‘96 Pinnacle Hardball Heroes subset Maddux Starburst Artist Proof, but that may be my last missing Maddux Dufex card (if we don’t count Pinnacle Totally Certified cards as true Dufex, as I think an argument can be made that those are closer to etched foil than true Dufex. Still amazing cards though, regardless!). There’s that missing Maddux on eBay right now but it’s in a CSG 9 and they’re holding it hostage for like $45 OBO, and that card should be $15 - $20 max. Heck, I even offered $25 but he rejected it. 🤷‍♂️ I guess I’ll wait for another one to turn up!

@@HighPopProfessor you are correct, 97 totally certified is NOT Dufex technology but instead etched foil; I have the complete Griffey Dufex card run - which is 45 cards for him plus a few 8x10

@ Amazing! Now I’m worried that I’m missing some Dufex entries on my checklist for Maddux! 😳😬

@@HighPopProfessor player checklists vary on a lot of the insert sets, so have to go one by one to verify if Maddux was included; aside from 90s sets also don't overlook the 2005 Donruss Zenith set, they brought back Dufex for Muesum Collection, AP Silver, AP Gold parallels . Last set to use dufex printing tech

@ Yes, and also Topps’ brief foray into Dufex with their stunning 2000 Finest Dreamcast set which unfortunately does not feature Maddux. I would have almost preferred to not know that Topps is capable of making Dufex cards but is simply choosing not to. It would be easier to just sit back and say that they have no idea how to do it, but as evidenced by that Dreamcast insert, this is not the case. I love the revival of Dufex for the 2005 sets as a throwback to Pinnacle’s heyday, but unfortunately by that time, Maddux is back in a Cubs uni and I strongly prefer just his Braves year stuff.

Agreed! As you well know, I’ll be putting out a few more PSA reveal videos soon! 😁

UGGGH, the platinum gold stars Maddux just sold on eBay the other week for like $1100+! It’s on my radar… but not my immediate priority. The platinum reds and blues though, yes, those can be picked up any time. Good point though!

@@HighPopProfessor Yea the Platinum Golds /30 are tough to find, need to act when you spot them; I picked up the Griffey over the summer, it was a Grail on the list for a while and final took the plunge on it

@ incredible! I bet that set you back! I think the one of the reasons that Maddux went so high was that it was a PSA 10 as well

@@HighPopProfessor indeed, went on a Cup o Noodles dinner budget for a bit lol

@@Dufex_of_Life Some sacrifices are well worth it! 😂😂😂

Thanks, Bill! Absolutely! I’m quite pleased with them! PSA has been very good to me this year - I have more PSA reveals coming up soon in the next couple of days… and hey - let me know when you want me to bring my loupe and we can put an order together for you to send out! 🤩

@ yea man maybe January since we got all these holidays and stuff going on By then too my room should be set up

@@billthehofcollector4525 Sounds like a plan! We’ll make it happen!

Those have always been among my favorites! They always “feel” like refractors when describing them to people, but they somehow have a richer, deeper shine, if that makes any sense. Thanks for watching, Allen!

@HighPopProfessor absolutely, I have the Blue already and it is crisper than any refractor

I’m glad you enjoy my content! I think Iconic Al and I are overdue for another “Brothers’ Duo” episode! Now that I’m mostly settled in my new place, that can probably happen again soon, so that can be another Iconic Al video coming your way! I agree with wanting to see more of content from Iconic Al, but I think it’s tricky though because of the phase he’s approaching with his collection. With the exception of his “extra-curricular” 90s refractor project, his collection is probably over 97% complete by volume, so he’s not adding much quantity to his collection. I think that in general when you’re getting a large influx of new cards (like I just had happen!), it’s so much easier to make new content - the videos almost make themselves! I do love a good hobby discussion / topic video, but those will be fewer and further between than ones involving pickups / grail acquisitions, grading reveals, etc., so I suspect his tapering off of content is partially a function of this drop in getting as many new cards for him to talk about. Most of his remaining cards are bigger, rarer, and more expensive ones, so he’s doing more saving and selling to prepare himself for Strongsville & the National. Plus, his Magnum Opus is and has always been his top 100 Iconic countdown, so now that it is finished, the revisions to that living, breathing countdown list won’t be taking place quite as often - although after this season, I think Ohtani has moved up a few rankings in his placement! That would be a fascinating video to watch! As always, thanks for watching and commenting, Sven!

@@HighPopProfessor your welcome you and your brothers knowledge of the hobby needs to be shared ! Again thank you for all you do for the hobby !

⁠👍🏻

@@svenpatrick1637Thanks for the kind words Sven!

😂😂😂

Haha, thanks! I suppose I follow the beat of my own drum to a large extent! Admittedly, I’m mostly driven by nostalgia! Some of the super rarest and highly prized cards like Star Rubies and PMGs (thankfully) don’t really have much nostalgia for me, so I don’t feel a strong need to chase them for the sake of “completionism” or peer pressure. Plus they’re crazy expensive! 😂

Great question! I have a couple in mind - mostly some more rare stuff from the 90s, including the 97 Donruss Preferred Precious Metals Maddux, and possibly even the 97 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Gold Team /25 Maddux, but I think that’s a great video topic for the near future!

Thanks, Brent! I’m still floating up on cloud Gem Mint PSA 8 / BGS 8.5! 😂😂😂

@ totally!!

Thanks, Dad! It's awesome to have family that collects and understands hobby things and can share knowledge and opinions! I'm having an absolute blast in the hobby right now and I love regularly chatting with you and Iconic Al about various eBay auctions and other hobby stuff!

Oh, those are 💯 on my radar! In fact, I have a certain Millennium Marks to showcase in an upcoming PSA dual grade reveal…! 🤩 As always, thanks for watching!

Agreed! The combination of technologies used for embossing, die-cutting, and the atomic refractor pattern all in one card is simply stunning! This card will always be one of my most treasured cards!

It really has almost everything going for it!! If you added dufex and acetate to it… I think the world is not ready for that! 😂😂😂

Thanks, Matthew! Yes, the “refractor run” is such a great place to target for someone like me who just got back into the hobby post pandemic. It scratches the nostalgia itch by allowing me to target cards that 12-year-old me would have FLIPPED out over, and honestly, most of them are not TOO rare or prohibitively expensive. There are a few, however, like the 93 Finest and the 97 gold embossed that pose a significant challenge, so while I can pick some up pretty frequently, the last couple will always be a challenge to save up for or to even locate in the first place! As a bonus, Maddux is WAY more affordable than Griffey! 😅 I wish you luck in your Griffey hunt!

Thanks for the kind words! I’m still pinching myself, as these pickups still don’t quite feel real yet! 😂