Some Of The BEST & WORST Sports Card Deals!!

[@doublecs23]

For me with comping vintage cards, I generally use grades as a "zip code", then use things like centering, color, and general eye appeal as a differentiator. So if it's a PSA 3 checking all the boxes, I'll lean more towards a 4 comp. Whereas if it checks none, lean more towards a 2.

[@MidLifeCards]

I like that philosophy a lot.

[@mookiechillson]

This community is amazing - such great insights into why we do what we do and how it defines who we are!! Graig, thanks for the shoutout. You're doing it so right it's not even funny.

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks Mook.

[@shoeboxlegends]

As you said so well, this hobby is about so much more than the cardboard. It was great to hear those types of memories and stories from so many different folks all in one video. Loved this one, Graig!

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks my friend.

[@CraigsCards62]

I have so many cards with meaning and memories. Some are sad, or even cringe worthy, some euphoric, and some recall the laughter. The hobby is a lifetime of memories and heroes of the past, allowing nostalgia to override history in some situations.

[@MidLifeCards]

Well said.

[@DansVintageBaseballPC]

Don just made every married guy watching this video have bad thoughts about their rings.

[@DonOlszewski-th1ir]

It was a relationship that went horribly wrong. To me it was a trade I couldn’t make fast enough. If you got a good woman, by all means keep her. But if things go bad, it will put a smile on your face. So why not

[@DansVintageBaseballPC]

@ Don I respect the heck out of you and your collection. We met briefly at the National. The greatest thing that ever happened to me in my life was marrying my wife 33 years ago. But if a good dark joke is out there just waiting to be told, I’m your man.

[@MidLifeCards]

LOL.

[@RipFan8]

Hi Graig. Some really amazing comments and stories. I really enjoy hearing what our peers have experienced over the years. The memories are what helps us all realise how wonderful this hobby truly is. I have one suggestion if you plan on doing a show about that topic, with Dylan and John. Make it a Live Show, that would be awesome. Thanks for everything Graig, talk soon my friend.

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks! I'll think about that!

[@SouthernCollector14]

Great video Graig. The memories associated with the cards are what make them so special. The amazing friendships we get from the hobby is priceless. I would answer your question this way. I use a combination of VCP and Card Ladder to find a “ballpark comp”. I have to take into account the slab and if it is a recent slab or old one. The eye appeal definitely means something too. Sometimes a 3 looks more like a 4 and can comp as a 4. So, it is definitely a case by case basis. I have also spent higher than comps on some cards that were amazing cards and didn’t really fall inside traditional comps, like my CJ Joe Jackson. I paid the most ever paid at the time for an Authentic Altered version of that card, but to me it was worth it. I would rather have that card at that price than a PSA 1 at that same price that looked like a rat chewed some holes in it.

[@MidLifeCards]

Good points and I like that concept a lot.

[@chadholt1171]

A comp for a vintage card gives you a range.

[@MidLifeCards]

Range is the key!!

[@BringingTheHeat-VBC]

"Comps schmomps". It is a general guideline and nice to know. That's about where it ends for me these days. On low eye appeal it may work but on items I've been trying to buy lately it makes Zero difference. When I looked and cared more, I won less. Probably a good thing when I spent into the falling knife this year. Most of it I won was 2nd hand low eye appeal. But I got a good price. 🤣If you want nice things, you're gonna have to pay the piper. Comps be damned. I'm happy I've hit the wall with my collection. The remaining cards are big and will take me the rest of my lifetime to obtain if at all. Comps ain't gonna be at the forefront of that for me anyway.

[@MidLifeCards]

Mike Petty comments are always the best.

[@billyballgamesportscards]

Awesome stories this week, Graig! I love hearing about the emotional and nostalgic ties to these cards. Thanks for sharing, my friend!

[@MidLifeCards]

I appreciate that!

[@TonyTalksCards]

Great stories and wonderful episode. It's great to always hear others like ourselves who share the same interest and sometimes the same stories we had.

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks so much.

[@Jeremy-VintageCards]

Hi Graig, Love all these stories man! At 13 I was trading for Bowman common 1950’s thinking these are ancient and gonna be the next Honus Wagner😆 …but wouldn't take any of those 1988 trades back. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and an even better weekend!

[@MidLifeCards]

That's awesome!!

[@RobCashCards]

Hi Graig! Awesome stuff! I loved hearing these stories. Thanks for sharing, my friend

[@MidLifeCards]

You bet. It's fun to talk about this stuff.

[@DonOlszewski-th1ir]

Another stellar video. This is an incredibly deep question worthy of a discussion with the best panel you can put together. Graded cards give you a starting point, if raw, it’s up to your grading skills. Population and rarity need to factor in. I always pay attention to what dealers price a card or set at and what someone tells me they paid for cards. This gives me a general idea of what values are close. Then it comes down to your negotiating skills and knowledge. Everyone wants a deal, but is holding firm to your price worth losing the opportunity ? If it’s a card that seems to be available regularly, then yes you can move on. But if it’s a card that rarely if ever comes up, I don’t think you can over pay if pricing is fair and not ridiculous to your budget. In this case, You may have just set the market. From a dealer perspective in a falling market. I doubt he would be willing to sell at a loss. That might be the stone wall you are up against. This whole question is much bigger than ones comment can answer. I look forward to hearing a discussion on this topic. Thanks !

[@MidLifeCards]

Good points. It's tough at times because no two cards are alike.

[@Baseballcardstuff]

Great video as always. I also pulled a Montana rookie out of a pack when I was a kid. I actually can’t specifically remember opening that exact pack but I just always remember having the card since that time. And the journey it’s gone on since then. Football cards were mostly an afterthought for me when I was a kid. My brother and I bought a handful of them but mainly it was baseball for us. Sometime when I was a teenager, I put a stack of all my football cards out at a garage sale, probably 200-300 cards, and wanted $5 or $10 for them probably and no one bought them. For sure that Montana card was in there. It survived a few times of me moving and then my 31 year break from even paying attention to cards at all. Last year, after getting back into cards, I had it graded, only card I’ve ever submitted, and it got a PSA 8 (the card store owner had estimated a 5 or 6 so I maybe got lucky). I’m glad it stayed with me all those years. As far as comping vintage cards, I already read some of the comments and can’t really add much better than what’s already been said. Grade is a rough guide and then go on eye appeal from there, more or less.

[@MidLifeCards]

Great comment and love the stories about our past collecting!!

[@macwaxxstacks]

The Bo Jackson trade sounds like something I would have been on the draw deal side of in that era😂😂! The Beam Team pull!! Lol, of course the Bills! What a great sale! So funny. Some Bills fan is telling his buddies about buying that knowing that he was gonna get the special set after they won. So funny

[@MidLifeCards]

Great memories. We all have so many.

[@bradburchfield1112]

In terms of comping a vintage card: I think the smart buyer starts with a price in mind. For example, I’m going to pay 1,000 for a ‘48 leaf Bednarik. I know that going in. Now the quest is to find the very best copy of that card for/around 1,000 Rather than compare or comp, start with the end in mind as a buyer. And the buyer now holds more power and direction in the transaction. It’s so difficult to comp because there aren’t a lot out there.

[@MidLifeCards]

Exactly!! Rare stuff is virtually impossible to comp.

[@WilliamScott-ug9df]

Comping vintage cards is easy: grading company, ,grade and centering.

[@MidLifeCards]

Maybe I don't value grades as much as some others do.

[@eddyscardboardchaos]

Graig, great question for this week. I don't think there is a reliable way to comp ungraded vintage cards, particularly on ebay, or through other online vendors because you really need to put your eyes on vintage card. With graded I think it's a little more realistic to comp form the completed sales and use that as a base. I have a nice 1958 Topps Ernie Banks PSA 3 that easily could have been a 4 or better. I paid more than what a 3 comps for because it was nicer than a 3. The grade allowed the dealer and I ground on which to stand so we could negotiate, we may not have been able to find common ground without a starting point.

[@MidLifeCards]

I think you make some really great points!!

[@vintagecollector5340]

While its true that memories are important, its also just as important to educate your family on your collection in the event that you die and theyre left with everything. Leave them something they can be grateful for. Making purchases of GOATS is a wise decision when it comes to leaving your family with something they can liquidate.

[@MidLifeCards]

I don't disagree with that.

[@butcheoreo8034]

Hello Graig hope you are great. I have enjoyed your videos over the years and your honest enthusiasm/energy towards vintage cards. I just picked up a grail the 1909-11 t206 Ty Cobb red portrait Piedmont in a PSA 1.5 but it is the 350/460/NC back, very exciting. I have mainly collected basketball in my life besides the Ripken Charlotte Os minor league..but I couldn't pass this Cobb up with this back, I am in NC also. I couldn't find really recent sales just last year around 3 to 4 thousand and a gai I believe, high grade that sold for over 20 grand on eBay. I didn't know if you could offer any insight into this one or value area, I am in right at 3500, but believe that is ballpark as far as value...I hope😅 best regards David

[@MidLifeCards]

Wow. That's an amazing pickup!! Congrats!! That's a card that is very high on my list, too.

[@mrmjmiller]

As you said comping new cards is pretty simple. Read the grade look it up that's the value. Quality control in the vintage years was really a crapshoot. To say two vintage cards are the same is a much different story. Printing flaws, centering, card size cutting, and on and on and on. Good luck even comparing two vintage cards.. it really seems vintage cards are in the eye of the beholder which makes it back to buy it if you like the looks of it.

[@MidLifeCards]

Well said. That's the same reason why grading is so much more complicated for vintage over modern.

[@RL3sports]

Great video Graig. I love hearing people's stories. As for next weeks question. This reminds me of your buy the card not the grade debate. The grade is just an opinion. Everyone wants technology to do the work for them. You can look up comps in any price guide, app or website you like. Comps are just a baseline price. Hopefully they have pictures to compare. You have to use your experience in the hobby to make a judgement. Is the player overpriced in your opinion? Are you willing to pay more because you think the color and clarity is amazing? Do you pay less because the centering isn't perfect? What's important to you? Technology can only give you an opinion. Use your eyes, your mind and your own taste in what's important.

[@MidLifeCards]

Great comment.

[@ACD1994]

Interesting question. From my card show experiences. Some of the dealers do not care about what a vintage card, is being valued. Whether it's a VCP price, or an eBay price. And I believe, this is probably because they (the dealer) want the most money they can get, to make profit from the card, or they bought high on the card, and are refusing to sell low, and take a loss. So, is it possible to ''comp'' vintage cards? Yes. Yes, it is. In my opinion. Probably 99 percent of the time. Unless it's like maybe, the vintage cards, which rarely show up through out the year, and maybe the super high end cards that, tend to sell for, 6 figures in, an auction house. To your other question, if comps are a waste of time, or I guess if buyers and sellers should, follow the comps. Or the data, which shows the current market value, I would think that, it would be helpful. But, I said. Some dealers do not care, or want to know. That they are under water. I kind of miss the days of the Beckett Magazine price guide, we won't go back to those days, we could, and maybe should, but we won't, is what it is.

[@Jimmycardcollector]

I’ve had dealers get offended when I refer to an eBay comp! Sorry you have to compete in an open market! Needless to say I don’t buy from this dealer.

[@MidLifeCards]

Good points.

[@Eowkamsnudujaiaknwnriiodsp]

As a fellow Brother in Christ I could not agree more with your statement about Making lasting memories with family and friends. Great show thanks

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks, Brother! God Bless.

[@BoxersDugout]

Of course you can comp vintage cards. Just like houses are not all exactly alike, they are comped every day. It's a starting point from which to begin applying pluses and minuses. House A and House B are in the same zip code and have similar square footage. Average sales price for houses C-Z in those bounding conditions is X. You have a starting point. But House A has a brand new roof and House B’s is 28 years old. House B has a nicely remodeled kitchen, but House A has 50 year old Avocado Green or Harvest Gold appliances that were all the rage in the mid-70’s. These are all pluses and minuses to apply to that starting point until an agreeable price is established… or not. Sports cards, and most all collectibles for that matter, work on similar principles. Yes, every situation can be nuanced, but to think it can’t really be done because no two vintage cards are exactly alike is conflating “comparable” with “identical”.

[@BringingTheHeat-VBC]

Good analogy as I’ve purchased enough cards this year to buy a 🏠 house

[@MidLifeCards]

I like the analogy.

[@Jimmycardcollector]

Graig what do you think of pre-war cards that are graded authentic for trimming. The trimming is not readily visible…good buy or stay away?!

[@MidLifeCards]

Good question. I'll put this on the list and share my thoughts soon.

[@Hodges1455]

Gave a video like. Another great episode. Instead of typing my response out I ended up making that video I mentioned in my comment on that video. It is my episode 250. Hope you get a chance to watch it. Take care, Graig.

[@MidLifeCards]

Appreciate that. Thanks a bunch.