Should You Grade Your Cards? If So, Who Do You Grade With? The Debate Continues!!

PSA, SGC, BVG, CGC, and all of the grading companies, continue to fight for your business. So, who's winning? Are you grading you vintage cards or are you keeping them raw? What's the deciding factor when choosing which company to use or not use? It's a topic that won't go away anytime soon, and it's likely a permanent part of the hobby. If you had a 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle, would you grade it? If so, which grading company would you use? I decided to ask all of you, the card community, to see what your thoughts are of the grading companies. Your responses surprised me, but the reasoning from all responses made a lot of sense.
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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.

[@jtvintage67]

Great point about viewing slabs as "insurance" but if your collection becomes valuable enough, then you actually have tp buy insurance for your insurance!!! Lol....viscious cycle!! Love the channel

[@MidLifeCards]

True. Insurance for the insured items. LOL.

[@cineM4RL]

My fav set from that era is the 1959 Topps set for a few reasons: 1. When I was 12 I went into an antique shop that sometimes had old comics I could buy for a buck. It was there that I fell in love with old stuff. They sold me my first truly old card, the 1959 Topps Willie Mays “The Catch.” 2. It’s a set that contains many of the greats (Mantle, Gibson, Aaron, Mays, Clemente, etc) but it isn’t a very costly set. So you can check a lot of boxes for fairly reasonable prices. 3. The baseball thrills and the multi-player cards are gorgeous from that set!!

[@MidLifeCards]

I like those highlight cards, as well.

[@iconic_baseball]

Great video as always Graig. I know you like real estate analogies, so here it goes: As far as money ‘wasted’ on grading, the way I think of it is like sinking money into renovating a bathroom or upgrading kitchen countertops. As long as you are grading wisely, you are increasing or at least ‘locking in’ long term value. Therefore, much as in a home renovation where you aren’t adding square footage - just upgrading existing square footage, I don’t see this as ‘wasted’ money.

[@MidLifeCards]

That's a GREAT analogy. Whereas, my hot water heater that is about to be replaced, doesn't ADD VALUE. Grading COULD add more value than it costs.

[@DonOlszewski-th1ir]

Another great conversation. I always buy the card. My collection is a total Frankenstein. As a set builder I want raw commons to put in binders. Then a stack of graded or other holders for the stars or expensive cards. When looking at a set you can go through binder and handle and look at the holdered cards. Which are the cards someone would want to look at closer anyways. That’s how it made sense to me a long time ago, even before grading companies existed. I couldn’t agree mor with the comment about wasting valuable money on grading companies rather than buying more cards from your budget. Another grad video Graig. Love your content !

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks Don. I always look forward to your opinions and comments.

[@iconic_baseball]

Great discussion Graig. As far as preference, I don’t own any modern SGC ‘tuxes’ simply because I feel the size/boldness of the numerical grade is too prominent. I prefer PSA and old SGC labels for vintage. As you said, PSA truly is a ‘technical’ grade which is my preference - I’d rather determine eye appeal for myself vs. have a grading company factor it in.

[@MidLifeCards]

Fair points. I think you make a strong argument.

[@DoubleDvintagebaseballcards]

I agree with Al on everything he said 👊👊

[@pb8003]

Not sure why people are gatekeeping grading it has brought validity to the hobby and makes perfect sense for sports cards. I get leave em raw for some but I totally get why we grade. Place for both and makes the hobby go! Great video

[@MidLifeCards]

No doubt. There are some traditionalists that are against grading. But, if that's what they like. That's cool.

[@ScottSmith-pe8lr]

You do a great job for the hobby and a great job educating and entertaining us! Thxs! I like SGC for vintage. PSA for modern sports and CGC for TCG cards.

[@MidLifeCards]

I think I'm in full agreement on slabs.

[@chrisolivo6591]

I think everyone just needs to find their niche. Some like them Raw. Others like to grade. I found my niche with modern PSA 9 (I won’t buy for a PSA 10), and vintage PSA 2,3,4. The good thing is there is a market for everyone as nobody is left out for going raw or graded.

[@AmariAultman]

What grade would you target for a 86 Fleer MJ?

[@chrisolivo6591]

I think the grade doesn’t matter when it comes to iconic cards like 86 Jordan, 86 Topps Rice, 80 Topps Henderson, etc. Those cards are so popular that there is a market for any grade. I have an 86 Fleer Jordan PSA 5.5 that is nicely centered. I’m super happy with the card and have no desire to ever buy it in a higher grade.

[@MidLifeCards]

That was one of the main things I tried to express in the video. There isn't a right or wrong answer. All answers are fine if people find their niche.

[@360stockflips]

Psa makes too much money not teaching us. They aren't here to teach, they are here to extract.

[@AmariAultman]

FACTS. They don’t owe us nothing

[@Ho_Ma_Faan]

Exactly. Until PSA is challenged (which none has come close thus far)...PSA will operate under "if it ain't broke why fix it" mentality.

[@justinkittleson3295]

WELL SAID

[@ACD1994]

PSA isn't playing by the rules, and not teaching the collectors the best ways to have the trained 👁

[@MidLifeCards]

LOL. Yeah...it's interesting that they don't enlighten us more.

[@Jeremy-VintageCards]

Hi Graig! Another great video, and thank you for posting my comment on the SGC portion. I might be on an island back in the early 2000’s but I was all BVG back then and since crossed a ton of cards to SGC. Growing up when Beckett was such a big part of the hobby I picked them over PSA. You are putting out such great content so rapid I can’t catch up on comments 😆 have a nice weekend -Jeremy

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks, my friend. Today I was on Dr. Beckett's podcast. I shared a link to my main page.

[@Hodges1455]

Gave a video like. Enjoyed listening to this while I sort of cards. Thanks for sharing

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks for listening

[@markstein1916]

I crack every card that comes to me in a PSA slab. Unfortunately, sometimes the best card for the money resides in a PSA Holder. Not a fan of crumpled baggies and diagonally placed cards.

[@MidLifeCards]

LOL> Fair.

[@SplendidSports]

Another great one Graig, you inspired me to make a “response” video at some point haha

[@MidLifeCards]

Awesome. I can't wait to watch.

[@ACD1994]

In the 1960's, there were coca cola bottle caps. I don't know the exact year. Or years. Or even how many there are. Also, there were other soda products, which produced bottle caps. I know they had some, for football too, but my Dad had the, baseball, bottle caps and, loved collecting them. Told me how fun, it was collecting. I don't see the, bottle caps shown or talked about as much on KZbin, so I thought I would mention them. The Post Cereal, Kellogg's, and Hostess are other good and, affordable alternative options, too. Great video, and question.

[@MidLifeCards]

I feel like I remember seeing some of those bottle caps at shows....but it's super foggy.

[@3gslabs483]

2 of my favorite sets that are sorta one in the same are mostly from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. They are the Post Cereal Cards and the Kelloggs Cards. As a kid growing up I am guessing we all did this while shopping with mom and dad. I would get to the cereal isle and pick out my boxes of cereal all based on who was handing out cards in the boxes. These sets have actually been growing in popularity to no surprise to me. Two of my favorite things growing up.....baseball cards and my morning cereal!!

[@MidLifeCards]

I like the history of those cards as well.

[@RipFan8]

Hi Graig. Another great episode full of great thoughts and opinions. Talk soon pal.

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks, my friend.

[@iconic_baseball]

One final thought on slab uniformity. I think of each individual card in my collection as a work of art, and the slab as its frame. For me, each card has an ideal ‘frame,’ thus I look at each card as it’s own piece. Much like very few people would frame every piece of art on their wall in exactly the same way, I try to pair each card with the slab that I feel best suits it. Just my two cents!

[@MidLifeCards]

I really like that perspective. That helps, for sure.

[@markstein1916]

Answer to your question... I like Red Man, Wheaties, Home Run Derby, Post, Jell-O, Hires Root Beer, Bazooka, Kahns, Partridge Weiners and a few other Regional Sets. Most of these issues are oversized and have wonderful images/aesthetics. So much out there besides Topps and Bowman.

[@MidLifeCards]

Great choices in there. I especially love the Red Man and HRD cards.

[@doublecs23]

Your comment about being envious of slab agnostics cracked me up…. And just to add, I am so unbothered by the lack of uniformity that I even rotate the horizontal cards on their sides within my cases like a true mad man 😱 I just have to have my 56 Jackie presented in the best manner possible!

[@MidLifeCards]

LOL. I'm a lunatic....i know it.

[@GoldenSlumber474]

Hate to admit it but I now buy graded slabs by the evil empire PSA. It used to be SGC but since their acquisition by Collectors, I’m less confident in their long term value. Don’t fret about the car insurance increase Graig since costs are inflated north of the 49th Parallel as well. I pay $9,200 a year & I would blame it on the meteoric rise in auto theft. In response to next week’s question, my choice of “oddball” card sets would be the 1954 Red Heart baseball card set that includes the best photos on Mantle, Musial, Miniso, Snider & Williams.

[@MidLifeCards]

That's an interesting perspective about concerns over the long term value of SGC. You may be onto something.

[@cryptonite8495]

Dylan also said he prefers the PSA technical grading, and replicates it when self-grading. At the same time, he noted (and showed) that he has some PSA-graded cards that were dinged for centering and various things, but he loves them and will not sell them, as he has for most of his non-centered collection. All in all, I would have thought DD would have favored SGC's "eye appeal" standards.

[@MidLifeCards]

No doubt...He's more of a technical grader who also requires eye appeal to be high.

[@DoubleDvintagebaseballcards]

Great episode, I always scratch my head 🫡 when someone says they love raw cards ?? Does anyone actually handle there vintage cards raw ??? Card savor, penny sleeves, binder pages are all plastic and all protect the cards. None of witch are actually raw but I guess thats a topic for another day. As for your ? I like cards that came in packs so im out of this one 😂😂😂😂.

[@MidLifeCards]

I think that's a super good point, D.

[@jamesgillem1294]

I compare PSA to a Restaurant If I went out to dinner and had to wait two hours to get served and the meal was overpriced and they didn't care about me or my family,was treated like crap,why would I go back there. I have never graded with PSA and never will. I've seen and heard enough horror stories from folks subbing with them and yet people still get right back on that train and give them their money Good luck with your sub,hopefully you get it back before next year ends. That is the part that drives me crazy,the waiting.if SGC took that long I wouldn't grade with them either.

[@MidLifeCards]

I totally get it. That's a good analogy.

[@justinkittleson3295]

That’s why I go with TAG grading now. I want to know why my grade received a certain grade. I know PSA has the best resale value NOW…but seems like people are getting sick of them.

[@MidLifeCards]

I like taking the human element out. But, TAG doesn't do vintage.

[@justinkittleson3295]

They don’t do vintage….YET

[@Andys_Attic]

1958 Hires root beer with tabs are my favorite from that era non-Topps, Bowman, etc. Love these, just something about wood grain cards for me. I also love the Red man cards, I bought my first one ever a few months ago and love them. My grandfather use to chew the tobacco and it just reminds me of him. He had told me while he was still alive that back when these originally came out, that he would just give them to the neighborhood kids....lol Wish he would have held on to them, but that's not very real logical thinking on my part. How would he have known his grandson of the Future would would love these cards? I sometimes wonder if anyone ever held on to them? Anyways, once again Graig, have a great day

[@MidLifeCards]

Great choice. Appreciate you chiming in!!

[@robertnolan5628]

Graig, your knowledge and views are spot on. Please keep being a good steward for the industry. As for your question, Redman and regiional Kahns are beautiful cards. Thanks again! Robert

[@MidLifeCards]

Two REALLY great choices. I love both as well.

[@Brad-mj3tg]

Graig there are a lot of collectors like you. We all have our own issues or we wouldn’t be collectors - for some of us it is completeness, some it is uniformity - for me it is knowing every flaw on every card I have. At The National I sold some cards I had upgraded or got duplicates through buying bundles. I was selling a 1955 Bowman and saying make sure you look at the back, that one has a slight wax stain on the back though PSA didn’t give it the stain qualifier. I love collectors who just want the card, any card that fills in their need. I wish that was me. The crazy thing is I am only critical of my own cards - I am always complimentary of other collectors cards. Wow so hard to choose. There are so many I like. I will go with the 1954 Wilson Franks because the Campanella from this set is one of the most visually appealing cards in my collection. Campy has a lot of great looking cards but I think this is his best. I really like the Feller and the Nellie Fox too. The Williams (which I really love) is one that I am not sure I will ever get because it is so expensive but maybe someday I will save up for it - he is one of two HOFers I don’t have yet.

[@MidLifeCards]

That's a great choice. The Wilson Franks set is gorgeous.

[@DaveBauer165]

In response to sets from lesser known manufacturers, my choice is the Red Heart set. Although I have only the Mantle and Musial cards, I think this is one of the most colorful sets issued. Specifically, I think the Red Heart Mantle card might be his best looking card.

[@MidLifeCards]

GREAT choice, Dave. That Red Heart set is absolutely gorgeous.

[@jamesgillem1294]

My set that I completed and really like is the 1961 Nu Card Scoops Had the set graded by SGC,they look awesome in the tux. The set contains 80 cards 401 to 480 so it's pretty easy to complete. Each card has a different player that had a special moment in Baseball. Each card reminds me of a newspaper with the stories and pictures of the event. For example,Willie May's catch in the 54 W.S. It tells the story of the event,I learned some things by reading the cards It's Baseball history! There is also a 1960 set as well but haven't attempted that yet,some of those are the same card picture and article but are a larger size card where as the 61 is the standard size. The Kellogg cards are cool too because I used to eat so much cereal as a kid and could not wait for the next box to show up on our kitchen table to see who was in it.

[@MidLifeCards]

Nu Card Scoops seem to be gaining popularity recently.

[@chillydigits48]

I really like the Bazooka, Nabisco Team Flakes and Transogram releases, I think the images from the 1959 and 1968 Bazooka are my favorite though

[@MidLifeCards]

Awesome. Some of those are hard to come by.

[@thehobbyist1]

My preferred grader is CGC. I just love the clarity and sleekness of their slabs. I'm not really concerned with resale because I don't intend to sell any time soon, and none of us know who the dominant grading company will be in 20 or 30 years. So, I just go with what I think looks the best. (Yes, I do buy other slabs, but I crack them and reslab with CGC for uniformity - SGC is my favorite slab to crack because of how easy it is to do.)

[@MidLifeCards]

CGC does have good looking sleek slabs. The resale value seems to be lagging, though.

[@billyballgamesportscards]

Graig, I really like your comment about getting cards graded being like insurance, and I tend to agree. This week's question is awesome! There are so many amazing sets that aren't from major manufacturers. The Red Hearts, Bazooka, Wheaties, Exhibits, and many more are amazing cards. I think if I had to pick one set, it would be the Red Man cards. The artwork on these cards really make them stand out to me. I don't currently own any, but I definitely plan to in the future. Thanks as always, my friend.

[@MidLifeCards]

I totally agree on Red Heart and Wheaties cars. They're cool.

[@jwiedle86]

I think you make a good analogy of PSA vs SGC for look vs technical. I’ve cracked out 5-10 of each brand and I’ve noticed chrome cards in SGC look great slabbed. Once out, I see light scratches all over the surface that were graded 9’s and I’m surprised they’re that grade. I have also had an SGC 9 have a great surface though but maybe another area was docked (specific card in mind had lots of back roller marks - everything else seemed great). So seems kind of iffy. I sent in an optic holo Burrow RC I thought would get an 8 because of swirl marks on the front and it came back a 10. When I cracked some PSA 7’s they had less scratches on the surface than the aforementioned SGC’s. Some may have had other issues to bring the grade down, but surface always seems to be a picky area for PSA. I’ve seen PSA 9 slabs with very visible dinged corners and wonder how they got Mint. So in a nutshell, for chrome type cards I believe SGC is more lenient more often than not, compared to PSA.

[@MidLifeCards]

Everyone has a different perspective, but it sounds like we see the grading companies similarly.

[@MrJmangini]

My car insurance went through the roof. F those ambulance chasing attorneys who drive all our rates up who are upstanding people.

[@MidLifeCards]

I agree!!

[@user-hm5zb1qn6g]

The album of cricketers is pretty cool.

[@MidLifeCards]

I totally agree. A very kind gift.

[@dacryptkeeper6836]

About 8 years ago, I packed my son's car down full of boxes of sports cards that I had collected off and on since the 1960s. I left it up to him to decide if he wanted to grade them, or not. I kept my 1939 Ted Williams rookie card - in spite of being a Yankees fan - but he got a lot of boxes full of Rookie Cards and Inserts & parallel cards from all four of the major sports. I'm not sure he realizes what he has, but it's up to him to do what he wants. If I GAVE a 2017 Prizm Rookie Card of Patrick Mahomes to a former neighbor, just imagine what he has!!!!!!!!!

[@MidLifeCards]

Wow. That's super interesting.

[@ACollectorsDream]

Another great video.

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks Orlando.

[@garwin8285]

Good Video. I personally like SGC Slabs. It feels vintage to me. I would go for PSA if I want to make quick money. PSA is more suitable for modern cards which I frankly don’t care for. 1800s to 1980s def SGC 1980s to present PSA/Beckett. I bought raw cards back then and was advised that the card is definitely a top 5 if I decided to grade it. Of course it was graded 1.5 and that’s the last time I decided to buy a raw card.

[@MidLifeCards]

I totally understand the slab depending on the card and the goal.

[@chadholt1171]

Cards from the 1950 Drake’s TV set are the only “odd ball” cards that catch my eye regardless of who’s on the it. It’s strange because there are no players that I am collecting runs of and no Cubs cards in the release. I don’t own any of them, but every time I see one I always consider buying it. Many of the poses the players are so strange Cubs cards and none of players I PC are in the set. The tanish yellow black and white photos make the cards look much older than 1950 to me. I think that many of the players possess are so strange. The black borders and odd size/shape of the cards are interesting as well. One day I hope to have all the key cards and maybe even complete the 36 card set.

[@MidLifeCards]

Awesome. The rare cards that are tough to find nice....make sure quite the treasure hunt.

[@WilliamScott-ug9df]

Another excellent video .Good advice that grading establishes a potential value for those who inherit but have no card collecting experience themselves(like my kids) For this weeks question I suggest 1961 Golden Press. A PSA registry set of 33 pre war HOFs at affordable prices.

[@MidLifeCards]

Those golden press cards are cool. No doubt.

[@LamarrVann]

Regional releases, food brand issues etc., are way cool to collect and among my favorites from the '40s is the Bond Bread Joe Dimaggio and Teddy Ballgame just take a look at those pose and that swing. For the nifty '50s it's without a doubt the Star-Cal stickers with side-by-side combos of Pee Wee & Gil Hodges, Feller & Doby and Mays and Monte as well Campy and Jackie all on one card??!! Close runner ups is the '52 Rawlings Stan Musial with 6 different variations!! I mean as hard as it was to get him to pose for bb cards he does it here is a rare feat. Frankie's real rookie on the Kahn's wiener card circa '56 a full year before the Topps debut and take a look at Big Klu's howitzer size guns under those trademark cut-off sleeves, or the action photo of Roy McMillan are worth collecting and a must have for the hobby binder!

[@MidLifeCards]

The bond bread set is really growing on me recently.

[@tonyleebrick9050]

Another great video. I learned a new hobby word, “slabnostic”. 😂 My answer to your question would be the Red Heart set. It is pretty easy to get and the cards are very colorful. They look “era appropriate” in design as well.

[@MidLifeCards]

Great choice in the Red Heart set. That's such a beautiful release.

[@robertflatow676]

I think it's overly simplistic to say grading takes money out of the hobby budget. Lots of people make money on grading by buying raw cards that will grade well and then reselling; that puts money back into the hobby budget. And more generally, grading makes all our collections more valuable. If there were no grading companies, there's no way anyone would ever pay $12.6 million for a card. I'll obviously never be within a long-range-missile's distance of owning a $12.6 million card, but the point holds at the levels we operate at, too. (Of course, maybe lots of us would rather our cards be less valuable if prices were lower overall and we could also buy additional cards for less money, but a discussion for another time...) And as many people pointed out, grading allows for a much safer and more efficient e-commerce market, too, rather than having to buy in person. That may not be money you feel in your pocket, but it's still a huge value to collectors. I think grading is a great innovation for collectors, whatever faults it may have. Thanks as always, Graig.

[@MidLifeCards]

I think that's an extremely fair point. Another person (Iconic Al) left a similar comment. I think you guys are probably right. In MANY cases, grading adds value to the hobby and to a collection. There are times where the value of a card raw is worth more or the same as the cost of grading, but more often than not, it does add value. In those cases, I don't think grading is "wasting" money, and you're right. I think I should probably do a video at some point to talk about that concept, because I simplified it more than I should have.

[@fliplife67]

This comes down to long term or short term if your just flipping cards U got to go with PSA but if your just collecting it doesn’t really matter but just remember in the long run if U chose to sell U go PSA.

[@MidLifeCards]

I agree. That's a lot of it.

[@CollxCardz]

Enjoy your channel tremendously. Within a decade or so we will be able to grade cards ourselves on the spot using AI mobile apps for a lot less money per card. I wonder if that will result in a lot of human graded cards getting cracked back out (and 9s closing the gap with 10s some)?

[@MidLifeCards]

That would be super interesting.

[@stoneyj1a1]

I will never use, buy, or trust PSA again. Been collecting for 40+ years. I'm your age. I sent in 2 Kirby Puckett autographed cards for verification. They say questionable verification. Me & my sister got the cards autographed in person in winter 1987 after they won the WS. I even still have the newspaper advertisement telling of his appearance. PSA ripped me off for nearly $100 & kept my cards hostage for 3 months. Done with PSA. Maybe ill try Beckett. Grading is a scam.

[@MidLifeCards]

Ugh. That's brutal. Super sorry to hear that.

[@MrJmangini]

I have that cricket set. That album is awesome. Never saw one.

[@MidLifeCards]

It was a super generous gift from my friend Karl in Australia.

[@norbertx9415]

Things never stay the same. PSA is the gorilla now, but there is no guarantee of that for the future. Remember, Beckett was king for a while before PSA took over. It's a risk to pay a premium for a PSA grade 10 with the assumption it will always be the "best". The past teaches us nothing stays the same. I would wager that in 10 years, PSA will not be the undisputed king. They will probably still be very respected, but alternatives have emerged and they can only go up from here.

[@MidLifeCards]

Fair point. Things do certainly change. AOL was a mogul at one time....

[@marshallkahn3342]

I cracked open a 68 Authentic Mantle and resent it in. Came back a SGC 6. Explain that, and I won't be wary

[@MidLifeCards]

I can't. I wonder what Nat Turner would say.

[@marshallkahn3342]

@@MidLifeCards it's just the inconsistency that bugs everyone. We get a card graded and swear by the grade. Slot the price from the grade. Check comps from the grade. So is that Mantle a 6 or an authentic. That's surely a drastic improvement. Somebody at SGC blew that grade. Everyone cracks and resends until they get the right grade. So where's the validity

[@Bostnfn]

This is late to the party. I'm happy with raw, and I think you can get some great deals on them. When buying cards I'll compare the prices of a raw to the graded examples. If the prices are close, I will buy the graded one because I know the card is authentic, and can see hi-res photos on the grader's website. When I submit for grading, I prefer to grade with SGC - the quick turnaround is big for me - I'd rather the cards be with me in my collection and not in some warehouse. I also think grading is important as I curate my collection as either something to hand down or to be sold when I'm old and grey. I think the slabs look really nice displayed, so in grading cards, I can enjoy them now, and help protect the cards/values down the road for my kiddos. ~Allon

[@MidLifeCards]

Raw purchases do often leave more meat on the bone.

[@chrishayes4166]

Yeah car insurance is up big time for everyone. But WOOF at 10K/year for a family of 4. If your records are clean and cars modest as you say I feel like shopping around that number should be closer to 6-7k. But who knows anymore.

[@MidLifeCards]

I may have to shop around. It's crazy.

[@user-qb6vi4cv2c]

Thinking about grading as an insurance in case of death is (I am sorry) dumb. First of all if your collection is important to you but not your loved ones graded or not graded means nothing if your loved ones have no knowledge of what you are doing.

[@MidLifeCards]

I appreciate your feedback.

[@stevegallo8483]

I don't say this because I'm anti PSA, but PSA should be challenged. PSA needs to be challenged by another grading company. PSA needs some strong competition in the grading business. Competition leads to innovation. In this video you mentioned at one time people treated SGC like it's the stepchild. The way you described the layout of the National this year, Collectors (who owns both PSA and SGC) treated SGC like a stepchild!

[@MidLifeCards]

I agree and was hoping that SGC would be that competitor, but when Collectors bought them, things seem to have changed.

[@themandalorian400]

I have to push back on the "SGC is a visual eye appeal only" grading service idea. I'll give you that they are softer on surface defects than PSA, but when it comes to edges and corners SGC is just as tough and technical. I'd also say their standards on centering are tougher (though I'd admit this could be an eye appeal thing, SGC does have a minimum ratio required for each grade in their grade descriptions so I'd put in the technical category). I usually have no trouble figuring out what caused SGC to grade a card the way that they did. But with PSA I own a few 9s and and 8 that I for the life of me can not find the reason why they are not a 10. Centering is 50/50 left-right/top-bottom front and back, corners are sharp, edges perfect, and there are no determinable surface defects all under brightly lit high magnification on all of them. And the 8 is the only one of that card that they've graded so I can't say it was pop control like I could with the 9s. It doesn't bother me that much since the slab, for me, is there for protection of the card's existing condition but it is a little annoying to not figure out the reason behind the grade as I love to try and predict what a card will get when I send it off even if I'd don't fully care about what the numerical score is. (though I'm an "only grade with SGC, but purchasing slabnostic" guy which is why not figuring out PSA slab is only a minor annoyance).

[@MidLifeCards]

Good points on SGC.

[@johnbaranzelli3090]

SGC, they have best service and most consistent grading IMHO.

[@MidLifeCards]

They are increasingly becoming a fan favorite.

[@cryptonite8495]

I don't want my loved ones to have to deal with selling my hundreds of cards, period. Even graded. I can't do anything about the hit-by-a-bus scenario, but I can plan an exit strategy before the usual death scenario.

[@ACD1994]

Good point I think. Graded or raw. The quantity of cards is, also a factor one should consider, for long-term.

[@MidLifeCards]

Fair point. So are you slowly shrinking the size of your collection?

[@cryptonite8495]

@@MidLifeCards No, the opposite. I have the accumulation addiction. But like a tsunami receding back to the sea, I will have to change direction in the near future. I'm niot getting any younger or healthier.

[@bobwhite4671]

As far as insurance goes, you also have to consider the angle of god forbid, of fire and theft. The insurance companies would have no way good way of valuing your collection and unless they are graded. Personally I have a picture of each slab and have it online and on my IPad.

[@MidLifeCards]

True....I know a lot of people with big collections are going towards safe deposit boxes.

[@treavorphipps4544]

Graig, thanks for asking the question last week. It was interesting to see how the community views and collects graded cards. Answering this weeks question is fairly simple for me. My absolute favorite set period is the 1954 Red Heard Dog Food set. The images are amazing. In my opinion it has the best looking cards of Mickey Mantle and Stan Musial ever produced. It has the only 1954 Stan Musial card. It is a relatively small set of 33 cards with only the Mantle and Musial cards being expensive in about any grade. Those two are not unobtainable though. Of the 33 cards I believe 12 are of HOF players. My runner up would be the 1963 Fleer set. It contains 66 player cards plus a checklist card. 12 HOF players in the set. I guess I like it because it’s not a Topps card from that era. Both the 1954 Red Heart and 1963 Fleer are both my picks in this question because they are both pretty affordable for most collectors. My price is no object picks would have to be the 1954 Dan Dee Chips, 1954 Stahl-Meyer Franks, and the 1954 Wilson Franks card sets. Apparently I have also answered the “What is the best year of baseball cards ever?” question as well this week. Thanks again for allowing us to have the opportunity to participate and interact with you on these Q&A questions.

[@MidLifeCards]

I appreciate you reaching out with a great topic.

[@DansVintageBaseballPC]

“No Ferraris at Midlife Headquarters”? My friend much of your PC are Ferraris!

[@MidLifeCards]

LOL. Likewise, my friend.

[@bradburchfield1112]

Great show

[@MidLifeCards]

I appreciate that.

[@mrmjmiller]

Love the analogies, as usual. Eye appeal should be king IMHO not this high powered nonsense.

[@mikewrobel2881]

I disagree. Eye appeal is subjective, and therefore should be left for the buyer to decide whether he/she likes the looks for the price.

[@MidLifeCards]

Microscopes can see a lot. LOL.

[@bretiverson4698]

Great video recap! Go Brewers! I am a big Brewers fan.

[@MidLifeCards]

Brewers.... I like when there's a homerun so the guy goes down the slide.

[@brushben22]

BGS for me all day long. Higher re sell than SGC AS WELL :) I’m also not a follower though so keep that in mind

[@MidLifeCards]

I totally appreciate that input.

[@thehobbyist1]

I don't think PSA grades more technically than any other grading company. I think the variance that occurs is because of the number of cards they grade AND the number of graders they have. We all know grading is an opinion, so when you have a lot more graders giving their individual opinion, you're going to have more inconsistencies. Other grading companies have a smaller number of graders, so it's easier to keep everyone on the same page.

[@MidLifeCards]

That's a good point. The more graders, the wider the variance of grades.

[@bobo44donemilking51]

Vintage definitely sgc

[@MidLifeCards]

They do look good in those slabs.

[@mikewrobel2881]

It depends.

[@MidLifeCards]

LOL

[@mikewrobel2881]

@@MidLifeCards I wasn't trying to be funny, but ok. It seems like many of your recent videos pose broad, general questions, open to interpretation and numerous opinions. I guess that is the point, to encourage conversation. I generally watch, but often find myself not learning much, as there is no one size fits all answer.

[@MidLifeCards]

I'm not sure if my channel has ever been about "learning" about the hobby as much as "experiencing/sharing/discussing" the hobby with like minded collectors.

[@mikewrobel2881]

@@MidLifeCards Maybe "learning" is strong. I have been collecting cards, mostly on eBay over the past 25 years and watching KZbin videos for at least 5 years. That being said, I don't pretend to know a lot about cards. Perhaps the broader topics have a broader appeal for newer collectors, especially if more than 10 minutes. As I watched the video, I considered commenting many times, but you ultimately followed up with thoughts (seemingly obvious) the same as mine. This topic has been discussed for many, many years.

[@Jackson09]

100% against the "way" grading has gone...

[@MidLifeCards]

I get that.

[@jwiedle86]

Where are you located? The most recent PBD podcast (Patrick Bet David) was talking about insurance hikes, specifically California going up like 50% and agencies just leaving the state because they were trying to regulate their costs which they wanted no part with theft among other things - they’d be losing money. Rate increases seem to be universal. Mine have increased here in Ohio.

[@MidLifeCards]

I live in California. No doubt that’s part of it.

[@mikekeeler6362]

I don't get any of my cards

[@MidLifeCards]

Raw cards are great, too.

[@mikekeeler6362]

But I should say I do have some graded cards

[@jasonkirkman2355]

❤

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks.

[@DonOlszewski-th1ir]

First ! 😂

[@MidLifeCards]

Yes!!

[@user-jh8rj8xs3g]

I perfer sgc. Love the hostess cards . They really take me back to when i was a kid.. we would be at the store with mom and dad checking all the box bottoms.Getting Kelloggs cereal and digging through all the cereal looking for the card. Getting slushes in little batting helmets. Seems like i always got the Twins. I think i colect because it takes me back to when i was a kid . My dad later in his life sold cards for a living. I still have after all these yrs the first card i ever got a 1973 Clemente. Ŵe was at a flea market when we was young and i paid 18 dollars for a 1957 clemente and i told my brother not to tell dad because he would be mad i paid that much for one card. One time we stopped at a yard sale and some older man was selling cards 50 cents a piece we got mantles ,mays ,aarons and all the other stars. Ill shut up . I do like Jeters topps rookie in a sgc slab and own a lot of them. Ive been collecting for many years over 50 yrs the passion has never died.

[@MidLifeCards]

Hostess cards are cool. No doubt.