PSA Magazine: 2023 March #015

Certified Fresh

In the latest version of the PSA Cert ID app, collectors can now track the order status of submissions from their device in addition to scanning barcodes to reveal population numbers and more. This is only the beginning, with more features coming fast.

Contents

Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents

Editor's Note

As an NBA fan and basketball card collector, I learned long ago that the trading card hobby is an international phenomenon. Through my participation on social media, I have met and spoken about the hobby with passionate collectors from all over the world. At this point in my hobby life, I have also added many significant cards to my collection by transacting with collectors in Europe and Asia.

The trading card hobby is growing rapidly in Asian countries in particular. There is already a long and rich history of Japanese baseball cards in place, and younger generations are very active in basketball cards and TCGs, Pokémon in particular. In late 2018, PSA introduced professional grading to Japan by opening a satellite office in Tokyo. Getting their cards graded had not been an easy process for Japanese collectors. The language barrier provided one set of challenges, while shipping raw cards internationally presented another. Having a PSA submissions drop-off office in Tokyo offered a closer location for them to ship their cards. Each month the cards are forwarded from the Tokyo office to PSA’s Southern California headquarters where they are graded and later returned.

We are now taking steps to enlarge the PSA footprint in the Asian card market. In September 2022, we signed a lease to begin building a brand new office in Tokyo. We are expanding our services from simply having a collecting and transfer site to opening our first fully operational grading facility outside the United States. Tony Aram, who successfully opened and operated our satellite office, will be running the new grading facility as well, which we expect to open within the next year.

It is exciting to see our hobby grow to the level that it makes sense for PSA to make an investment of this nature to expand operations across the world. I feel fortunate to be on this journey.

Best,

Nat Turner CEO, Collectors

Hindsight would tell us as the 2021 MLB season crept into focus, Godzilla was hiding in open water. Strewn around the aftermarket were dormant listings of cards that would grow to become monsters at radioactive rates. Rainbows, short prints, one-of-ones, graded gems, grails — all of them criminally undervalued in the mind of Peter Caikowskyi.

Such a listing pinged on Pete’s eBay radar in late March of that year. He had spent that offseason studying a Shohei Ohtani card market dragged by a familiar arc of hype and injury. Familiar to a point, because Ohtani’s twoway skillset was as foreign as they come. Among the many legends that preceded the Japanese ballplayer across the Pacific: triple-digit fastballs, vanishing sinkers, a ridiculous slugging percentage.

There were tantalizing flashes, but even Babe Ruth incarnate couldn’t dodge hobby cynicism after a three-year sample of strains and surgeries, Tommy John included. Tagged with an injury-prone label heading into spring training in the thick of a hobby boom, consensus in 2021 was that Ohtani’s two-way edge wouldn’t translate.

That was Pete’s edge. The Largo-based bar and restaurant owner was navigating three West Floridan establishments through a pandemic, but his real rabbit hole was the Ohtani dip. A Mets fan and baseball diehard, Pete came of age in the hobby heyday of the ‘90s and returned during the recent boom to dabble in breaks, collect and speculate. Instinct and intel aligned on this truth: Ohtani wasn’t just a once-in-a-generation talent, but a once-ina-lifetime investment.

In mid-March, as “Shotime” took over the news cycle, Pete armed himself with a bankroll of $50,000 and ambushed eBay. The heist began with four 2018 Bowman Chrome batting variation rookie cards graded PSA 10: a Rookie Autograph, a Blue Refractor numbered to 150, a Blue Refractor Autograph numbered to 150, and a Gold Refractor numbered to 50. All told, a $6,400 dent.

In the Cactus League, Shohei was dealing; off the Gulf, Pete was wheeling. He switched sets and continued his assault, locking in on Ohtani’s 2018 Topps Chrome rainbow and landing a Blue Wave Refractor. A Gold Wave Refractor was quick in its wake.

And then he locked in on me. Or rather, my eBay listing of a 2018 Topps Chrome Red Refractor Autograph, numbered to five, graded PSA 10/AUTO 10.

The 2021 Spring Training campaign was a wild one for this tortured Angels fan. Ohtani had arrived with all the right keywords: optimized, adjusted, and unleashed by staff for a true two-way campaign. I had picked up an ungraded lot of 2018 Topps Chrome Refractors, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted — needed — that monster. Nine days into Spring ball, I jumped on eBay and swooped the most stunning card I’d ever seen for $5,500. Too hot for these paper hands, I flipped it 13 days later to a Florida mailing address for $9,000, eBay’s top Ohtani sale for the time, and felt like a real winner for about one homestand.

“I still remember your message,” says Pete, rehashing our brief negotiation. “It’s your turn to set the market.” Now two seasons removed from the sale — perhaps the greatest two-year stretch by any athlete in history — I’ve tracked Pete down to see about the card. “That’s my retirement. I’m in for 20 years, and then it’ll be on display in a Japanese museum.”

He takes me back to the scene of the crime and the parallels are fun to surface. The Red Wave Refractor was the best low-numbered card we could find, the most we’d ever spent, the color-match nirvana we couldn’t resist. But because buying-in isn’t the same as going all-in, comps stop there. The Ohtani party wave would continue for the “Shark of Clearwater.” All told, he bagged around 30 significant Ohtani rookie cards.

“Peter showed up on my doorstep. I offered him a glass of scotch, and a relationship was born,” says Frank DiNote, Head of Private Sales at Goldin, where Peter vaults his cards for both safekeeping and transactions. Early in 2022, Frank took 18 of Pete’s Ohtani cards to auction for a $70,000 windfall. ”Pete has a great eye for long-term value — he was one of the first collectors to really buy Josh Allen — but I’d put his Ohtani collection in the top five,” he added.

Frankly, I could have used Frank’s card counsel back in 2021. Hindsight comes back into focus as I detail the sale to Frank, and he reframes the picture. “When you sold, you were happy with the price. You got good value for your asset,” he said. “I’d rather be the guy that sold a little too early than a little too late.” Even Pete can reminisce about the one he wants back: a 2018 Bowman Gold Autograph, 4x profits be damned. And although I had called Pete to catch up on the card, it’s the player we keep coming back to. To witness the ultra-modern mythology of Shohei Ohtani makes winners of us all.

Before letting Frank go, I pressed him for a favorite card in Pete’s collection. “It’s gotta be the Red Wave Refractor. It’s just a killer card! I’m a bull, because I see that color and I’m ready to run through a wall. Of all the variations, there’s just something about red.”

Thanks Frank, I’m aware. And looking forward to running through the walls of a Japanese museum for the next great Ohtani heist.

By the time he landed stateside in 2001, Ichiro Suzuki was already a one-name superstar in Japan, the Madonna or Ronaldo of the diamond.

He was simply Ichiro. But there was nothing simple about his game.

Blessed with incredible speed, tremendous focus, a world-class bat and a throwing arm that rivaled a bazooka, Ichiro came to the United States at the age of 27 and took Major League Baseball by storm, becoming just the second player in history to win American League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in their first season.

After seven brilliant seasons in his native country, he'd play nearly two decades in the bigs, finishing his legendary career in 2019 at the age of 45 in the Emerald City, the home that embraced him all those years ago, after piling up more than 3,000 hits and more than 500 stolen bases.

He is lionized on some of the best cards in the modern game after taking the hobby by storm as a rookie in 2001, memorialized on some of the most elite multiplayer cards of the 2000s and with graded rookies — both American and Japanese — at all price points.

But before we look at Ichiro's impressive cardboard, let's look back at his legendary career.

Prior to becoming a household name in the United States, Ichiro was already a seven-time Nippon Professional Baseball League All-Star, a seven-time Pacific League batting champion, a seven-time Golden Glove Award winner and a three-time MVP.

But with his long-time squad, the Orix Blue Wave, struggling in 2000 and likely to lose him to free agency anyway, they broke long-time Japanese and Major League Baseball tradition by allowing him to negotiate with MLB teams.

The Mariners bid $13 million just for the rights to negotiate with him, and after signing a three-year, $14 million contract, Ichiro became an instant sensation. He became the first player since Jackie Robinson to lead either league in batting average (.350) and stolen bases (56) in a single season, and he broke the rookie record with 242 hits, the most by any player in MLB since New York Giants veteran Bill Terry registered 254 in 1930.

And that was just the beginning.

Three years after his smashing debut, Ichiro broke George Sisler's record for hits in a season

with 257, and he'd go on to break Wee Willie Keeler's record with 10 consecutive seasons with 200+ hits. He retired in 2019 at the age of 45 after being limited to just 17 combined games in 2018 and 2019. He finished his career with a .311 lifetime batting average, 3,089 hits, 509 stolen bases, 96 triples and 362 doubles.

Simply put, he was an icon on the field. But he was also an icon in the hobby.

Collectors of a certain age will never forget the spring of 2001, when Ichiro and Albert Pujols captured America’s attention. Ichiro’s rookie cards became the hottest in sports, each subsequent release causing more and more hype.

His Bowman Chrome rookies, released in both English and Japanese, became sensations. His autographed rookie cards commanded top dollars. His first game-used relics — coming at a time when memorabilia cards still had a bit of novelty to them — were in high demand.

More than two decades after his grand debut, his cards are still coveted and his place in history is secure.

OVERSEAS OPS

Good but not great versions abound of one of Ichiro's easierto-find, first-year Japanese cards. And though the population is north of 1,000, only 126 examples have been graded PSA 10.

One of Ichiro's most coveted cards, his Takara rookie has been graded nearly 150 times, and most are quite clean. Eighty-six have earned PSA 10 status.

1993 BBM #239 BLUE WAVE

1993 TAKARA #51 BLUE WAVE

Ichiro actually has two cards in this set — four if you include the Gold Facsimile parallels — and PSA 10 copies are almost impossible to find. Just 19 PSA 10 examples exist of the four cards, with only one #5 Gold Facsimile getting the honor.

1993 HAWAII WINTER LEAGUE #5 HILO STARS

Want to see the ultimate preMLB Ichiro card? Make sure to check out this issue’s Fast Five interview on page 33.

Collectors love the simple, Topps-like design and the bold purple border, as well as the relative ease of acquiring the card. There are 73 PSA 10s in total, which are valued at around $2,000 apiece according to Card Ladder.

1993 TOMY I.D. #102 BLUE WAVE

MISSION: MLB

Ichiro’s rookie season coincided with Topps' decision to make gold parallels for the first time since 1994, only now numbered to match the year of the set. As a result, Ichiro's rookie Topps Gold parallel is a must-get for collectors.

2001 TOPPS CHROME TRADED

#T266 RETROFRACTOR

Although he has a regular Topps card, Ichiro was not included in the Topps Chrome set because of licensing restrictions. He was squeezed into Topps Traded Chrome, however, which were inserted into packs of Topps Traded with rare Retrofractor counterparts to chase. Wildly, just 17 Ichiro Retrofractors have earned PSA 10 designations.

2001 TOPPS #726 GOLD

Across the board, 2001 Bowman Chrome Ichiro Suzuki #351 Refractor PSA 10s — in both the standard version and the slightly more coveted Japanese variant — are hard to come by. Out of 26 graded Xfractors, a startling three are PSA 10. His regular Refractor rookie card — all rookies in 2001 Bowman Chrome were Refractors — has just 36 PSA 10 copies, as does the Japanese variant. Just one PSA 10 example of Ichiro's Japanese Gold Refractor parallel exists.

2001 BOWMAN CHROME #351 REFRACTOR

A super-premium product at a time when that was still foreign in the hobby, the 2001 Ultimate Collection Ichiro rookie card lit the industry on fire upon its release. In the days before Exquisite and National Treasures, this was considered the top of the line. And it's his only on-card true rookie autograph, limited to just 250 copies.

2001 SPX #150 SIGNED JERSEY

In the days before RPAs, this was about the best you were going to get: a white swatch of jersey with a framed autograph. At the time, it was something special. While not numbered, it is still rare, with just 265 graded by PSA, including 86 PSA 10s.

2001 ULTIMATE COLLECTION #120 AUTO. /250

Inserted as part of the Avant Card subset, this art-inspired numbered rookie card is an exceptionally tough grade. Out of the 22 examined by PSA, none have commanded a PSA 10 rating, and there are just eight PSA 9s.

2001 FLEER SHOWCASE LEGACY #116

Embossed with a stamp featuring a sweet Topps retro logo and designated only for employees at the company and with a print run of only 150, at that this is arguably Ichiro’s most sought-after rookie card. They rarely come up at auction, and only a handful have been graded.

2001 TOPPS TRADED #726 EMPLOYEE SET

SPECIAL FORCES

2001 TOPPS CHROME TRADED ALBERT PUJOLS/ ICHIRO

SUZUKI #T99

A card for the ages, with the two 2001 rookies who turned into baseball royalty. What Ichiro did for the American League, Pujols, the St. Louis Cardinals star, did for the National League.

2004 SP CHIROGRAPHY ICHIRO SUZUKI/KEN GRIFFEY JR. DUAL AUTO

There's only one thing that could make this rare dual autograph any better: if Griffey was still in his old Mariner uni. Don't worry — there are plenty of classic Ichiro/Griffey combos out there.

Of the numerous Ichiro/ Ohtani multi-signature cards, none are cleaner than this triple on-card auto, also featuring former Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui. You can’t go wrong with classic bat-on-shoulder poses and big, bold autographs.

2020 TOPPS MUSEUM COLLECTION TRIPLE AUTOGRAPHS ICHIRO SUZUKI/ HIDEKI MATSUI/ SHOHEI OHTANI #TAIMO

Featuring the next Seattle star and Mariner mainstay, Rodriguez' Topps Update rookie card has one sweet variation.

2022 TOPPS UPDATE JULIO RODRIGUEZ #US44

By Dustin Porras

For collectors of Japanese-originated TCGs, the release of a new product is an experience that is enjoyed twice: cards are first released in Japanese, and later in English. While many collectors relish the duplicated appeal of collecting two languages, others prefer to stay in one lane. Most Japanese sets eventually get adapted for English collectors, often creating a mixture of multiple releases in one. When the English Pokémon Skyridge set debuted in 2003, for example, it featured cards from the Split Earth and Mysterious Mountains sets, which both dropped in Japan several months prior.

However, while the majority of Japanese sets receive English counterparts, there are certain cards throughout the years that never crossed the cultural barrier and remain exclusive to Japan to this day. These cards often increase in value over time due to their singular, unrepeated nature. The reasons for cards remaining in their native language are varied, but it is commonly due to the fact that certain cards — especially promos — are tethered to regional, one-time events such as contests, tournaments, or Pokémon Center grand openings.

And though there is no shortage of Japanese-exclusive gems across characters and eras, nobody does it with as much style — or variety — as Pikachu.

STEP INTO THE THUNDERDOMO

Becausethrowing non-playable sets likeTopsun and Carddass inthe mix would betoo easy,we're honing in on battle-readycards only.

1997 POKÉMON JAPANESE PROMO TROPHY PIKACHU #1 GOLD 1ST — 1ST TOURNAMENT

This monument of a prize card was originally awarded to winners of qualifying events for the first-ever Pokémon TCG tournament in 1997. Pikachu is seen hoisting a gold trophy, and also appears on secondand third-place cards (holding silver and bronze trophies), which were awarded to each event’s runners-up. The PSA Population Report lists only five examples, and very few others exist from its 1998-1999 tournament reissues. This card created the standard for World Championship prize cards that followed for years after, which traditionally portray Pikachu with a trophy and boast extremely low print runs. Mitsuhiro Arita’s card artwork, while magnificent, depicts the “chubby” Pikachu design that has since been updated and refined over time. With this in mind, and due to the fact that modern World Championship prize cards favor new Full Art designs rather than reprints, it is safe to say this card will likely never see an English reissue. This is a museum-worthy piece of Pokémon’s history and stands as one of the finest examples of cards one can only find in the Japanese language.

1998 POKÉMON JAPANESE PROMO PIKACHU-HOLO ILLUSTRATOR

You can’t have a conversation about the greatest Pikachu cards — Japanese or English — without mentioning this legendary piece. The Illustrator Pikachu was awarded to a small handful of winners who submitted artwork as part of a Corocoro Comic contest in 1997, laying the groundwork for the illustration contests held by The Pokémon Company to this day. There are a total of 27 examples in the PSA Population Report, and in 2021 this card received the Guinness World Record for the most expensive Pokémon card sold in a private sale after a PSA 10 copy was sold to Logan Paul for $5.275 million. Today, Pokémon’s illustration contests continue to award winners with cards featuring their own artwork, but have strayed away from one standard prize card for all winners. Therefore, the Illustrator Pikachu will likely remain without an English reprint. However, given its recent popularity due to Logan Paul — who wears it around his neck at wellpublicized events — one can’t help but wonder if the artwork will appear again some day, and what effect it would have on the hobby.

2016 POKÉMON JAPANESE XY PROMO FULL ART/MARIO PIKACHU #294 MARIO PIKACHU SPECIAL BOX

Jumping forward 18 years lands you in the Full Art era, which includes some of the most unique and coveted Japanese-exclusive artwork in the TCG. This card was released as part of a limited-time Nintendo crossover, in which products featuring Mario Pikachu and Luigi Pikachu were made available in Japan. Since this particular card is tied to a one-time promotion, it never crossed over into an English release. Nintendo and Pokémon have shared a symbiotic relationship for years, so it’s not entirely unreasonable to think Mario Pikachu may jump out of a warp pipe and reappear on cards in the future.

2016 POKÉMON JAPANESE XY PROMO

PONCHO-WEARING PIKACHU #207 MEGA CHARIZARD X PIKACHU SPECIAL BOX

Pikachu plays dress-up yet again, this time donning a Shiny Mega Charizard outfit. This promo was one of several poncho-themed Pikachu cards released between 2015 and 2017 as part of limited-time Japanese products. Others from this series depict Pikachu wearing costumes of Rayquaza, Lucario, and others. Similarly, there were “Pretend Pikachu” products that featured Pikachu dressing as fan favorites like Magikarp and Gyarados. Like the aforementioned Mario Pikachu set, this card was bundled as part of a specialty product, which is likely why the card did not receive an English reprint.

CLIMB THE LEADERBOARDS

Be sure to take advantage of the many Pikachu set checklists waiting to be completed on the PSA Set Registry.

PIKACHU (JAPANESE) BASIC SET:

The Pikachu (Japanese) Basic Set is a great place for Pikachu collectors of all experience levels to begin completing sets on the Set Registry.

PIKACHU (JAPANESE) MASTER SET:

2018 POKÉMON JAPANESE SM PROMO PIKACHU #288 MUNCH: A RETROSPECTIVE

For a serious challenge, the Pikachu (Japanese) Master Set is recommended for expert Pikachu collectors looking to be the very best… like no one ever was!

The worlds of Pokémon and fine art collided when this card debuted in Japan. Pikachu is rendered here in an homage to Edvard Munch’s renowned masterpiece, The Scream. Starting in 2018, Munch’s work was displayed as part of the “Munch: A Retrospective” special exhibition, which marked the first time his iconic The Scream was ever shown in Japan. Exhibit guests who attended during “Pokémon Week” could receive five different promos (Psyduck, Eevee, Pikachu, Mimikyu, and Rowlet) all recreating Munch’s most famous work. Given the highly specialized nature of this event, these promos were destined to remain exclusively in Japanese.

2018 POKÉMON JAPANESE SM PROMO RED’S PIKACHU #270 POKÉMON CENTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN

This card marks one of the few instances where the Gen 1 video game protagonist, Red, appeared on a card. Red has shown up on Supporter cards and had cameos on 2019 Cosmic Eclipse and 2022 Lost Origin Pikachu cards, but this piece has the distinction of never receiving an English reissue. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first Pokémon Center, those who purchased five packs from participating Pokémon Centers received this card, which rightfully pays tribute to Pokémon’s first generation. Given the broad appeal of the artwork, it feels entirely possible that we may see an English reprint, but only time will tell.

2019 POKÉMON JAPANESE SM PROMO FULL ART/PIKACHU #400 LIMITED COLLECTION MASTER BATTLE SET

Like so many other Japanese-exclusive cards, this Pikachu’s existence was relegated to a limited-time promotion in Japanese Pokémon Centers. As a sendoff to the Sun & Moon era, stores offered exclusive Master Battle Sets that came with two promos: the first, “Friends in Alola,” celebrates the Sun & Moon era’s notable characters, while the second (seen here) shows Pikachu appearing alongside Pokémon like Tapu Lele, Buzzwole, and Zekrom, which were all significant to the TCG during the Sun & Moon era. The 2022 Precious Collector Box, a subsequent sendoff product for Sword & Shield, also included an exclusive Pikachu with similar artwork.

2020 POKÉMON JAPANESE S-P KANAZAWA’S PIKACHU #144 POKÉMON CENTER KANAZAWA OPENING

Kanazawa’s Pikachu is one of many Japanese promos that pay tribute to the actual cities in which new Pokémon Centers opened. Returning to the classic half-artwork layout, this promo shows Pikachu dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono with a custom logo for the Kanazawa Pokémon Center in the bottom right corner of the artwork. The logo as well as Pikachu’s outfit were redesigned for different grand openings, giving each city its own unique flavor and style. Shibuya’s Pikachu was inspired by urban graffiti, while Yokohama’s Pikachu was given a nautical, seafaring theme. This card for Kanazawa was also printed as a Reverse Holo.

2021 POKÉMON JAPANESE S-P PIKACHU #208 YU NAGABA X PCG CAMPAIGN

The art world collides with Pikachu yet again with this collaboration between Pokémon and Japanese illustrator Yu Nagaba. As part of a promotional campaign, those who spent a certain amount on Pokémon merchandise at physical and online stores in Japan received this card. The campaign also included Yu Nagaba-designed apparel and a special collector’s box of additional branded items. The most unique and striking thing about this card is the minimalist illustration of Pikachu, which shows off the signature linework style of Yu Nagaba.

2021 POKÉMON JAPANESE S-P FULL ART/PIKACHU #227 POKÉMON STAMP BOX

This gorgeous promo was available through the Japan Post Service as part of limited-time stamp box sets. The card’s illustration is reminiscent of classical Japanese art and was also included in the set as a usable stamp alongside stamp recreations of famous Base Set icons: Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. Its ties to Japanese post offices make it hard to imagine this card getting an English reissue, making it all the more special.

While some collectors may wish for all cards to be translated into English, it’s undeniable that the great appeal of these cards is their exclusivity to their Japanese origins. In a world of English/Japanese duality, these cards remain preserved as one-of-a-kind treasures that only get better with age. We look forward to the coming Scarlet & Violet era, which is sure to deliver even more exciting Japaneseexclusive gems.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

*PSA would like to give honorable mentions to a few additional cards, which are also worthy of special attention:

• 1998 Pokémon

Japanese Vending Series III Ooyama’s Pikachu #25

• 1999 Pokémon

Japanese Corocoro Comics Promo Snap Pikachu #25 Best Photo

• 2013 Pokémon

Japanese Black & White Promo Full Art/Pikachu #229 15th Anniversary

• 2014 & 2015

Pokémon Japanese XY Promo Pikachu #90 and #175 Battle Festa

• 2015 Pokémon

Japanese XY Promo Pikachu #XY-P Art Academy Y. Fujishima

• 2016 Pokémon Japanese XY Promo Pikachu-Holo #279 20th Anniversary Festa

• 2017 Pokémon

Japanese SM Promo Pikachu #61 Card Festa

• 2018 Pokémon

Japanese SM Promo Pikachu #224 Pokémon Center 20th Anniversary Campaign

• 2019 Pokemon

Japanese S-P

Shibuya’s Pikachu #002 Pokémon Center Shibuya Opening

By Jon Gold

The idea was born of the moment in time when pop culture was clashing with cardboard like never before.

The trading card market was in the zeitgeist, finally, to the delight and sometimes consternation of its long-time hobbyists.

But for one of them - Jeff Carvalho - having an opportunity to merge his passions and create one of the iconic brand tie-ins in cardboard history was the perfect combination of time and place. And that’s how the Levi’s 501 Day Originals card set came to be.

The promotional product, which was inserted into the back pocket of random Levi’s 501 jeans to coincide with the company’s 501 Day, features base cards of superstar athletes including tennis headliner Naomi Osaka, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai GilgeousAlexander, as well as entertainment

and pop culture icons like Hailey Bieber, Jaden Smith, Emma Chamberlain and Barbie Ferreira. Chamberlain, Bieber, Rashford, Osaka and Gilgeous-Alexander each have short-printed autograph cards limited to 50 copies and Denim Relic Signatures editions limited to 15, while Ferreira is the only one with just a relic and no autograph versions.

More than 60 cards from the set have been graded by PSA so far. “For as much as cards are an industry driven by sports fans, I've always found it a fascinating place to play with general nostalgia,” said Carvalho, the co-founder of the highly influential global fashion and lifestyle media brand HighSnobiety, who formed a creative agency with his wife that partners with brands to bring campaigns to life.

“I remember the Jay-Z Topps cards with a piece of his jeans. I thought, ‘Wouldn't it be sweet if we took some of these celebrities and did the same?’”

I remember the Jay-Z Topps cards with a piece of his jeans. I thought, ‘Wouldn't it be sweet if we took some of these celebrities and did the same?’”

They’d been tasked by Levi’s to help launch a 501 Day campaign, but this was pretty far out. Levi’s had never considered such a thing, but there was at least intrigue about the possibilities. They told Carvalho to go ahead and research it. During the dog days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carvalho found a forum for his passions on the Clubhouse app, as, he says, “The conversation around card culture and card collecting had really moved online. People were talking about it in ways that hadn't been done before, and as I'm putting the idea together, I needed someone to execute.”

Carvalho had met the founders of Parkside Collectibles on Clubhouse and sparked up a conversation. Could the young company based out of Burbank, Calif.which had only been formed a few years prior and had launched NWSL women’s soccer sets, as well as Big 3 and Major League Lacrosse sets — handle a project of this magnitude and secrecy?

"We’re small and nimble and looking for every fun thing we can dip our toes into,” Matt Peek, co-founder and COO of Parkside Collectibles said. “We sat and looked at it, priced it out, shepherded it from the nugget that was in Jeff’s head, and with some good guidance from Levi’s design team, ended up making a fun promotional product we’re very proud of.”

From concept to the finished product was a sprint to the finish line, culminating in a pack-issued product in under 90 days. The most daunting part of the process, Peek said, was waiting on autographs. But it was all worth it, and since release, the cards — especially the signed cards — have been in high demand on the secondary market. In the summer of 2021, a Naomi Osaka #6 Autograph Patch PSA 8 sold for $16,500. It’s POP 1, with just three graded higher. Most recently, a Hailey Bieber #3 Autograph PSA AUTH sold for $800 on eBay.

“That chase of the unknown made it so cool,” Carvalho said. “Once people figured out there wasn't just a base set but a piece of relic, it felt super cool. When we went with the idea to Levi’s, we led with the chase cards. I showed them a Justin Herbert rookie patch auto and I said, ‘Imagine that piece of jersey being a Levi's red tag that Naomi Osaka wore in the shoot we were using?’ They said, 'Okay, we get it, but who do we send it to?' It came down to them trusting the insight we brought to the table that cards are very much something in the moment and it could be quite interesting.”

For Carvalho, it was the opportunity to introduce new fans and consumers to the trading card market — and the ability to introduce trading card collectors to the Levi’s brand — that excited him. “Like many, I grew up a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and I still have all my cards,” he said. “I've always been a collector, and for me to love culture, I have to have it in my hands. Sports cards have been able to document culture forever, but other parts of culture have been devoid of ephemera. My connection is being able to live and breathe it. So being able to watch Emma and Hailey open packs and see themselves was really cool. They were able to get it. There's genuine fun to it.”

Peek understood the opportunity from the Parkside side from the very beginning. “Trading cards are history,” he said. “We talk about it in the office that trading cards are movies and music; you can look at a card and most people can identify the year it’s from. It’s not always the player on the card we remember. We remember where we were in life at that time. The opportunity to make something like this would always be a really rad reminder of the trading card hobby. The end result is radical. It’s a product we're very proud to have been a part of.”

For both, it was another opportunity to think outside the box within an industry that is always evolving. “The novelty is not the strangeness, it’s the uniqueness, it’s what it reminds us of,” Peek said. “You give me Charlie Sheen as Ricky ‘Wild Thing’ Vaughn, and that’s a treasure. Someone just posted today a PSA-graded Jeff Cohen in The Goonies card. It’s not weird, it’s again, who we were, when we were. When we made the Levi’s set — I have a 16-year-old daughter who was 14 at the time — and I told her who was in it and she lost her mind on Emma Chamberlain. I said, ‘Who is Emma Chamberlain?’ For her, it was so significant that someone she followed, someone she thought would be a sizable entity, was in the set.”

A hero in his own home, sometimes Peek has to pinch himself that he was involved in such a fun project.

“Trading cards like these, they legitimately make people feel seen,” he said. “These smaller fandoms, which may actually be gargantuan fandoms, they feel acknowledged. We still tell people about it because it was an honor. It’s not every day you wake up and say we’re doing a card of Jaden Smith. I mean, we made a Naomi Osaka auto! That’s ridiculous!”

Fast Five

A BRIEF Q&A WITH

TEAM MEMBER TONY ARAM PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES OLIVER

WHAT IS YOUR TITLE AND WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU DO AT COLLECTORS ?

My full name is Anthony Tatsuya Aram and I am the PSA Business Director, Asia and Oceania. My main responsibility is to introduce and enhance the PSA brand in the Asia Pacific region by promoting the benefits of card authentication and grading to local collectors. Since opening the Tokyo office in 2018, where I do a little bit of everything, we continue to grow with collector submissions as well as staff.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT COLLECTORS ?

It’s exciting to be a part of the only U.S. card authentication and grading company that has a presence in Japan. It gives me a great sense of joy when I see and hear first-time customers who are thrilled with getting their cards back and who tell me they will be persuading their friends to also try PSA’s grading services.

WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND AS A COLLECTOR ?

I started out with stamp collecting but also collected Calbee Potato Chips Japanese baseball cards — the equivalent to Topps Bubble Gum cards — in the 1970s during my childhood in Tokyo. They remain the roots of my personal collection today.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ITEM IN YOUR ENTIRE PERSONAL COLLECTION ?

Without a doubt, my 1995 UD Collector’s Choice Ichiro Suzuki [#59] in PSA 9. This is probably the first and only Ichiro card with an official NBA logo on the back of the card. After his breakout season in Japan [hitting .385 in 1994], Ichiro was invited as a special guest to the NBA’s 1994-95 opening day game between the L.A. Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers in Yokohama, Japan. While he was there, Ichiro crossed paths with an Upper Deck representative who shot a few photos of him holding a basketball, which turned into a specially designated “media” card. It’s estimated that only 100 to 200 cards were printed and delivered personally to Ichiro and it’s important to note that none of the cards were ever included in packs. So, this is an extremely rare card and only a few have ever surfaced.

WHAT WOULD BE THE "GRAIL" COLLECTIBLE THAT YOU HOPE TO OWN ONE DAY ?

What I hope to own one day is the 1973 Calbee’s Baseball Potato Chips #1 card featuring Japanese superstar Shigeo Nagashima of the Tokyo Giants. He is considered Japan’s equivalent to Mickey Mantle. Finding one in PSA 10 condition would be a true unicorn as the highest-graded card in the pop report is a PSA 8 and there’s only four of those in circulation.

2018 Topps Update

1991 Topps Tiffany Chipper

1970 Topps

1980 Topps

1989 Fleer Glossy

1957 Topps

1957 Topps

1971 Topps

1982 Topps

When it comes to pageantry, nothing competes with the Super Bowl. What started from humble beginnings more than 50 years ago, the modern football final boss now draws fans, celebrities, media and commercial attention from around the world, resulting in the biggest single-day sporting spectacle each year.

Collectors gravitate toward all things SB. Ranging from game balls and championship rings to programs and trading cards, from autographed jerseys and commemorative steins to media pins and pennants

and Type I photographs. If it relates to the big-game, the hobby is ready to pay a big price. And it’s no more apparent than in the rise in popularity of big-game tickets.

In the ever-growing ticket section of the PSA Population Report, the Super Bowl Basic Set (1967-Present) is the most popular category in all of sports with 20+ more participants than any other entry including the World Series. And the competition is fierce, as so few high-grade full ticket examples exist for the early Super Bowls.

“I started my ticket collection because I went to Super Bowl II with my grandparents, and have always kept my stubs. That got me interested in collecting full Super Bowl tickets, which I believe are great works of art. The greatest Super Bowl ticket I have ever owned is not part of my basic collection. It is a full ticket from Super Bowl XX, between the Bears and Patriots. It is the white variety, of which there are only two known. It’s especially important to me as I was at Super Bowl XX and as a Bears fan, that was the highlight of my football fandom.”

Douglas Meyer, PSA SET REGISTRY

“I was inspired to start collecting SB tickets after attending SB 26 in Minnesota and seeing a few old tickets up for sale at the first NFL Experience. Today I have a complete collection of full Super Bowl tickets, including a full Super Bowl III blue variation ticket, the only one ever graded and known to still exist.”

David Butuk, PSA SET REGISTRY

PSA POP REPORT

1967 Super Bowl I

POP 78

1968 Super Bowl II

POP 28

1969 Super Bowl III

POP 20

1970 Super Bowl IV

POP 108

1971 Super Bowl V

POP 35

1972 Super Bowl VI

POP 60

1973 Super Bowl VII

POP 140

1974 Super Bowl VIII

POP 349

1975 Super Bowl IX

POP 305

1976 Super Bowl X

POP 162

1977 Super Bowl XI

POP 195

1978 Super Bowl XII

POP 33

1979 Super Bowl XIII

POP 290

1980 Super Bowl XIV

POP 232

1981 Super Bowl XV

POP 240

1982 Super Bowl XVI

POP 106

1983 Super Bowl XVII

POP 242

1984 Super Bowl XVIII

POP 128

1985 Super Bowl XIX

POP 105

“There are some 'monster tickets' for people collecting Super Bowl tickets. Obviously, Super Bowl I is a biggie. I have a PSA 7 and I would like to get one of the two PSA 8s that are floating around out there. Others that are Pop 1, None Higher include 1968 white, 1972 red, 2004 green, 2005 green, 2005 blue, 2009 blue, 2021 orange to name a few. The one interesting and unique component with tickets is the distinction between stubs and full tickets. Full tickets, particularly older ones, are very hard to find because ushers tore your ticket when you entered the game. Most of these full tickets are likely from people who bought them and did not attend. And each of the early Super Bowls were played outdoors and it rained for a portion of Super Bowl III. Tickets or stubs were damaged or destroyed due to this fact and thus further helped reduce populations.”

Derek Stebner, PSA SET REGISTRY

PSA POP REPORT FACT

There are fewer than 25,000 Super Bowl tickets (full and stubs, to all Super Bowls) accounted for in the PSA Population Report. That is less than half the number of attendees for Super Bowl I alone, which is the only Super Bowl that did not sell out.

A handful of factors contribute to the dearth of early Super Bowl tickets, especially full examples. First is that the game comes from humble beginnings. In fact, SB I did not sell out and it wasn’t until the game’s fourth installment that it was actually called the “Super Bowl,” having been introduced to football fans under the humdrum “AFL-NFL World Championship Game” banner for the first three years. However, the main reason full tickets are rare is because they were necessary for entry and not valued beyond that point. At the time of SB I [Jan. 15, 1967], the collectibles market, if it could even be considered a market at that point, was in its infancy. For the most part, the hobby did not consider tickets as legitimate pieces of memorabilia until much later. That has changed in recent years, and several individuals have made ticket collecting a major part of their hobby pursuits.

“My Dad attended a few Super Bowls in the 1980s and brought home the ticket stubs as souvenirs. I remember thinking they were so cool and the thought that they were the conduit to getting into the biggest game on the planet made them even more appealing. I actually still have all of them. That was certainly when the ticket-collecting seed was planted. Years later, when I had a little bit of disposable income, I purchased Super Bowl tickets here and there at local card shows. Then when the PSA Set Registry included Super Bowl tickets, it compelled me to complete and upgrade my collection.”

Dean Macchi, PSA SET REGISTRY

1986 Super Bowl XX POP 118

1987 Super Bowl XXI POP 369

1988 Super Bowl XXII POP 243

1989 Super Bowl XXIII POP 244

1990 Super Bowl XXIV POP 236

1991 Super Bowl XXV POP 262

1992 Super Bowl XXVI POP 265

1993 Super Bowl XXVII POP 405

1994 Super Bowl XXVIII POP 428

1995 Super Bowl XXIX POP 410

1996 Super Bowl XXX POP 734

“The ‘first appearance’ tickets are strong and we have seen some big sales. I believe this is because people view these in the same light as ‘rookie’ cards. I think that final appearance tickets and memorabilia are undervalued and I think Super Bowl tickets are very much undervalued. Football is clearly America's number one game and football cards and memorabilia in general has room to grow in my opinion.”

Derek Stebner, PSA SET REGISTRY

1997 Super Bowl XXXI POP 464

1998 Super Bowl XXXII POP 470

1999 Super Bowl XXXIII POP 295

2000 Super Bowl XXXIV POP 334

2001 Super Bowl XXXV POP 491

2002 Super Bowl XXXVI POP 996

2003 Super Bowl XXXVII POP 572

2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII POP 518

PSA POP REPORT FACT

There are fewer than 150 graded examples of full tickets for Super Bowls I, II & III combined. Super Bowl III is the rarest of Super Bowl full tickets with a combined 20 examples of all varieties currently in the PSA Population Report.

In spite of the popularity that Super Bowl tickets are now garnering within the hobby, there is a significant challenge to the production of tickets for future events. Advancements in technology have made digital tickets and means of entry far more economical for teams and events than printing and issuing paper tickets. The Super Bowl is just one of many athletic and entertainment events that no

longer requires, nor provides a paper ticket for admission.

The NFL began issuing commemorative tickets with Super Bowl LV, which was limited to just 25,000 attendees due to COVID-19 restrictions. The league issued Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) for entry to Super Bowl LVI, and again followed up with a commemorative paper ticket that was not valid for entry.

Longtime live sports attendees and hobby members balked at no longer having the physical ticket to commemorate their Super Bowl experience, while Set Registry members naturally questioned the future of their ticket collections. However, PSA ultimately decided to extend the life of Super Bowl ticket sets by including the NFL-issued commemorative tickets.

“Phasing out paper tickets has helped the current ticket ‘renaissance’ and higher prices are being paid as people realize that tickets will no longer be physically produced. It plays into the scarcity element. PSA considered closing out the Super Bowl ticket set because of this fact. I actually called PSA and explained that although the tickets required for entry are now digital, the NFL is still producing commemorative paper tickets that are collectible. I thought that collectors will lose interest if the chance to add new tickets each year is over. PSA changed its position and allowed the set to continue to expand yearly with these commemorative tickets.”

Derek Stebner, PSA SET REGISTRY

“Like most collectors, I think digital tickets are terrible. However, the benefits from a business and consumer standpoint are compelling and understandable. Though commemorative tickets and replicas are trying to replace them, as are NFTs, they are just not the same. After all, they are true artifacts of the game, something that was actually at the venue when history occurred. That's incredibly compelling. Certainly, something trading cards can't claim.”

Dean Macchi, PSA SET REGISTRY

PSA POP REPORT FACT

In spite of them being commemorative souvenirs and not tickets valid for entry, the PSA Population Report includes more than 200 “tickets” from Super Bowls LV and LVI, suggesting that collectors are very interested in this set being updated annually.

Numbers alone suggest that interest in Super Bowl tickets as collectibles has significant room for growth. With a reported average of 16.7 million weekly

“I am disappointed in the loss of printed tickets. I actually think it’s one of the great souvenirs that any fan can have, and it just isn’t the same having to print them out on your phone.”

Douglas Meyer, PSA SET REGISTRY

PSA POP REPORT

2005 Super Bowl XXXIX

POP 699

2006 Super Bowl XL

POP 693

2007 Super Bowl XLI

POP 582

2008 Super Bowl XLII

POP 540

2009 Super Bowl XLIII

POP 520

2010 Super Bowl XLIV

POP 434

2011 Super Bowl XLV

POP 267

2012 Super Bowl XLVI

POP 372

2013 Super Bowl XLVII

POP 346

2014 Super Bowl XLVIII

POP 384

2015 Super Bowl XLIX

POP 449

2016 Super Bowl L POP 240

2017 Super Bowl LI

POP 283

2018 Super Bowl LII

POP 301

2019 Super Bowl LIII

POP 355

television viewers during the 2022 NFL regular season and not yet 25,000 Super Bowl tickets in the PSA Population Report, it would make sense not only that prices will continue to rise, but also that more people will develop an interest once introduced to this area of the hobby. It is that confluence of increasing demand and limited supply that makes things interesting. The question is, how advanced will your collection be when that rocket finally leaves the launch pad?

2020 Super Bowl LIV

POP 350

2021 Super Bowl LV

POP 147

2022 Super Bowl LVI

POP 96

PSA Grading Standards

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

NUMERICAL GRADES FOR TRADING CARDS

GEM-MT 10: GEM MINT

A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss. A PSA Gem Mint 10 card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn’t impair the overall appeal of the card. The image must be centered on the card within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the reverse.

MINT 9: MINT

A PSA Mint 9 is a superb condition card that exhibits only one of the following minor flaws: a very slight wax stain on reverse, a minor printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 60/40 to 65/35 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

NM-MT 8: NEAR MINT-MINT

A PSA NM-MT 8 is a super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

NM 7: NEAR MINT

A PSA NM 7 is a card with just a slight surface wear visible upon close inspection. There may be slight fraying on some corners. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. A minor printing blemish is acceptable. Slight wax staining is acceptable on the back of the card only. Most of the original gloss is retained. Centering must be approximately 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

EX-MT 6: EXCELLENT-MINT

A PSA EX-MT 6 card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect which does not detract from its overall appeal. A very light scratch may be detected only upon close inspection. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may show some loss of original gloss, may have minor wax stain on reverse, may exhibit very slight notching on edges and may also show some offwhiteness on borders. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

EX 5: EXCELLENT

On PSA EX-5 cards, very minor rounding of the corners is becoming evident. Surface wear or printing defects are more visible. There may be minor chipping on edges. Loss of original gloss will be more apparent. Focus of picture may be slightly out-of-register. Several light scratches may be visible

upon close inspection, but do not detract from the appeal of the card. Card may show some off-whiteness of borders. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

VG-EX 4: VERY GOOD-EXCELLENT

A PSA VG-EX 4 card’s corners may be slightly rounded. Surface wear is noticeable but modest. The card may have light scuffing or light scratches. Some original gloss will be retained. Borders may be slightly off-white. A light crease may be visible. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

VG 3: VERY GOOD

A PSA VG 3 card reveals some rounding of the corners, though not extreme. Some surface wear will be apparent, along with possible light scuffing or light scratches. Focus may be somewhat off-register and edges may exhibit noticeable wear. Much, but not all, of the card’s original gloss will be lost. Borders may be somewhat yellowed and/or discolored. A crease may be visible. Printing defects are possible. Slight stain may show on obverse and wax staining on reverse may be more prominent. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.

GOOD 2: GOOD

A PSA Good 2 card’s corners show accelerated rounding and surface wear is starting to become obvious. A good card may have scratching, scuffing, light staining, or chipping of enamel on obverse. There may be several creases. Original gloss may be completely absent. Card may show considerable discoloration. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.

FR 1.5: FAIR

A PSA Fair 1.5 card’s corners will show extreme wear, possibly affecting framing of the picture. The surface of the card will show advanced stages of wear, including scuffing, scratching, pitting, chipping and staining. The picture will possibly be quite out-of-register and the borders may have become brown and dirty. The card may have one or more heavy creases. In order to achieve a Fair grade, a card must be fully intact. Even though the card may be heavily worn, it cannot achieve this grade if it is missing solid pieces of the card as a result of a major tear, etc. This would include damage such as the removal of the back layer of the card or an entire corner. The centering must be approximately 90/10 or better on the front and back.

PR 1: POOR

A PSA Poor 1 will exhibit many of the same qualities of a PSA Fair 1.5 but the defects may have advanced to such a serious stage that the eye appeal of the card has nearly vanished in its entirety. A Poor card may be missing one or two small pieces, exhibit major creasing that nearly breaks through all the layers of cardboard or it may contain extreme discoloration or dirtiness throughout that may make it difficult to identify the issue or content of the card on either the front or back. A card of this nature may also show noticeable warping or another type of destructive defect.

HALF POINT GRADES

Cards that exhibit high-end qualities within each particular grade, between PSA Good 2 and PSA Mint 9, may achieve a half-point increase. While PSA graders will evaluate all of the attributes possessed by a card in order to determine if the card may be eligible, there will be a clear focus on centering.

Generally speaking, a card must exhibit centering that is 5-10% better, at minimum, than the lowest % allowed within a particular grade. It is important to note that there may be cases where the overall strength of the card, such as the quality of the corners and print, will give the card the edge it needs despite the fact that it may exhibit only marginal centering for

the grade. This is especially true for cards that find themselves within the bottom half of the PSA 1-10 scale.

Finally, keep in mind that qualifiers will not apply to grades that achieve the half-point increase since, by definition, these cards have to exhibit high-end qualities within the grade in order to warrant consideration. For example, there will not be cards graded PSA NM-MT-Plus 8.5 OC or PSA EX-MT-Plus 6.5 PD since the half-point is reserved for high-end cards within each grade.

At this time, only cards qualify for half-point grades. Coins, pins, tickets and packs will not receive half-point grades.

QUALIFIERS

PSA will grade nearly every card submitted. Cards having significant flaws will receive “qualified” grades as follows:

OC ( OFF CENTER ) :

When the centering of the card falls below the minimum standard for that grade will be designated “OC.” PSA determines centering by comparing the measurements of the borders from left to right and top to bottom. The centering is designated as the percent of difference at the most off-center part of the card. A 5% leeway is given to the front centering minimum standards for cards which grade NM 7 or better. For example, a card that meets all of the other requirements for PSA MINT 9 and measures 60/40 off-center on the front automatically meets the PSA front centering standards for MINT 9. If a card meets all of the other requirements for PSA MINT 9 and measures 65/35 off-center on the front, it may be deemed to meet the PSA front centering standards for MINT 9 if the eye appeal of the card is good.

ST ( STAINING ) :

Cards with staining below the minimum standards for the grade will be designated “ST.”

PD ( PRINT DEFECT ) :

Cards with significant printing defects will be designated “PD.”

OF ( OUT OF FOCUS ) :

Cards with focus below the minimum standards for the grade will be designated “OF.”

MK ( MARKS ) :

Cards with writing, ink marks, pencil marks, etc. or evidence of the impression left from the act of writing will be designated “MK.”

MC ( MISCUT ) :

Cards that exhibit an atypical cut for the issue or ones that contain partial portions of more than one card will be designated “MC.”

UNGRADEABLE CARDS:

PSA will not grade cards that bear evidence of trimming, recoloring, restoration, or any other forms of tampering, or are of questionable authenticity. In addition, PSA does not grade autographed cards dated earlier than 1998.

THE GRADING OF HAND CUT CARDS

PSA will grade virtually any card that has been hand-cut off of a panel, box, etc. (Post Cereal, Hostess, Bazooka, Strip cards, etc.) keeping the following information in mind. This service does not include traditional sheet-cut cards. PSA will not grade cards cut from sheets that can be obtained in a normal fashion. For example, PSA will not grade a 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card cut from a sheet because that card was issued in non-sheet form. On the other hand, PSA will grade a 1959 Bazooka or 1961 Post Cereal Mickey Mantle because those cards could only be obtained in one fashion - removed by hand from a box or panel.

In order for PSA to actually assign a grade to any of the cards that possess visible/defined borders on all four sides, evidence of that border must be present. If the cut exceeds the visible

border for the card in question, PSA will encapsulate the card as “Authentic” only. If the card is severely undersized and suffers in overall eye appeal, the graders may deem the card not suitable for authentication or reject the card as minimumsized altogether.

Keep in mind that, for cards that do not possess visible/ defined borders, the cards must still fall within a certain size requirement for that particular issue in order to qualify for an actual grade. In other words, the borders must be virtually full in order for a grade to be rendered. Otherwise, as stated above, a label of “Authentic” will be assigned or, in some cases, the cards may fall short of the size requirement altogether. This is not an exact science. PSA will do its best to provide consistent guidelines for these types of cards.

In addition, PSA will allow cards that have had a coupon or tab removed from the original card to be submitted under this service. For example, if a 1952 Red Man Tobacco card is cut at or outside of the established tab line, the card would be eligible to receive a numerical grade. On the other hand, if the 1952 Red Man Tobacco card is cut inside of the line (the line where the tab meets the interior of the card), then the PSA graders will be precluded from entering a numerical grade. Cards that are cut within the limits established for a particular issue will be encapsulated and designated as “authentic” by PSA. All of the cards eligible for this service will be designated as “Hand-Cut” on the PSA label to distinguish them from the intact, “with tab” or “with coupon” examples.

PSA suggests that, in order to achieve the highest grades, the cuts of the cards should be relatively close to the visible borders without exceeding the limit. Cards that exhibit a clean, accurate and properly shaped cut have the best chance at achieving the highest grades. Eye appeal is very important. When it comes to excess paper or cardboard around the edges of the visible borders, the graders will place significant importance on overall eye appeal. Keep in mind that all cards of this type will be designated as “Hand-Cut” on the PSA label for accuracy. In addition, if the customer chooses, PSA will grade and encapsulate entire panels if those panels will fit in any of our current PSA holders. With the exception of the aforementioned items, normal grading criteria will apply.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE APPEAL AND SUBJECTIVITY IN GRADING

Over the years, more and more collectors have come to understand the basic guidelines behind PSA grading. After grading for well over a decade, PSA grading standards have truly become the official standard for the most valuable cards in the hobby. That being said, there are a host of grading questions that arise and the one basic question that comes up the most has to do with eye appeal and centering.

While it’s true that a large part of grading is objective (locating print defects, staining, surface wrinkles, measuring centering, etc.), the other component of grading is somewhat subjective. The best way to define the subjective element is to do so by posing a question: What will the market accept for this particular issue?

Again, the vast majority of grading is applied with a basic, objective standard but no one can ignore the small (yet sometimes significant) subjective element. This issue will usually arise when centering and/or eye appeal are in question. For example, while most cards fall clearly within the centering guidelines for a particular grade, some cards fall either just within or just outside the printed centering standards. The key point to remember is that the graders reserve the right, based on the strength or weakness of the eye appeal, to make a judgment call on the grade of a particular card.

What does this mean exactly?

Well, take this example. Let’s say you have a 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie card that is right on the edge of the acceptable guidelines for centering in a particular grade. The 1955 Koufax

card has a yellow background that tends to blend with the border of the card. In other words, the contrast isn’t great, so poor centering may not be much of an eyesore – the borders are not clearly defined. In this case, if the card exhibits extremely strong characteristics in other areas (color, corners, etc.), an exception may be made to allow an otherwise slightly off-center card to fall within an unqualified grade (no OC qualifier). This is a rare occurrence but it does happen.

On the other hand, there are cards that technically fall within the printed PSA Grading Standards that may be prevented from reaching a particular unqualified grade because the eye appeal becomes an issue. For example, a 1957 Topps Sandy Koufax card has great contrast between the white borders and the picture because the background is very dark. It is possible that a 1957 Topps Sandy Koufax, one that technically measures for a particular grade – let’s say 70/30, may be prevented from reaching that unqualified grade because the market would view that card as off-center – based on eye appeal issues. Again, this is a rare occurrence but it does happen from time to time when a judgment call has to be made on a card that pushes the limits for centering.

In conclusion, the issues discussed do not apply to the vast majority of cards that filter through the PSA grading process each day but this is an issue that needed some clarification in the marketplace. The bottom line is that there are times when a PSA grader must make a call on a card that falls on the line between two grades and that final determination is made based on experience, eye appeal and market acceptability.

Baseball

Powered

1955 BOWMAN

1969 - 2001

Powered

Buyer's Guide

Buyer's Guide

Congratulations. You’re holding the PSA Buyer’s Guide. This month is our third installment at putting together a special standalone catalog that complements the outstanding editorial and design elements found inside PSA Magazine. As always, we’ve highlighted a terrific array of trading cards and other desirable collectibles from top auction houses and hobby dealers from across the industry to stir your collecting fancy.

In this edition we’re spotlighting many of the soughtafter items headed for auction over the next couple of months. From Memory Lane, you'll find a trio of vintage baseball cards that will add prestige to anyone’s collection including our Cover selection, 1952 Topps #312 “High-Number” Jackie Robinson (PSA 8), as well as a 1969 Topps Mickey Mantle #500 (PSA 8) and a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 (PSA 8). The good folks at Goldin will be tempting collectors by offering cards ranging from a 2003 Topps LeBron James #221 (PSA 9) to a 2018 Panini Revolution Luka Doncic #128 (PSA 9) to a mouth-watering 2017 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition Aaron Judge autographed Ruby Red #/10 (PSA 10). And don’t forget to check out Man On The Rock for their amazing assortment of coveted Type 1 photos.

Our always relevant “Supply Chest” section is back

with the items you need to keep your cards and collectibles safe and sound. From Card Shellz (Hero Diamond Shell cases) and Cardboard Gold (Card Savers and assorted sleeves) to Zion Cases (colorful carrying cases that hold up to 110 PSA-encapsulated cards) and Graded Guard (protective single-card cases), we’ve got the bases covered for all of your preservation and protection needs.

For the second straight month we’re providing a timely show schedule that pinpoints upcoming industry events that will keep you moving from Point A to Point B in your search for the ultimate grails. Collect-A-Con Orlando is fast approaching at the end of February and the second running of The Mint Collective will be in full swing in Las Vegas from March 30 to April 2. And for the first time, we’re including an auction schedule that breaks down the most important dates to keep an eye on over the next 60 days.

Keep on collecting and best of luck with your upcoming trades, sales and deals.

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

Buyer's COVER STAR

Jackie Robinson #312 Rookie Card

PSA 8

Robinson card, graded PSA 8, just happens to be one of the 13 examples on PSA’s prestigious “POP” Chart. Always a collector favorite, Jackie’s 1952 Topps issue has skyrocketed in value, with two separate PSA 9 examples fetching nearly $1 million apiece, and a PSA 8 realizing nearly $400,000. Robinson’s compelling “bat over right shoulder” pose set against a robust fire-engine red background is one of the most resounding baseball card images in existence, proudly standing alongside his 1948 Leaf release as one of Jackie’s two most iconic cardboard keepsakes.

Minimum Bid: $50,000 memorylaneinc.com 4.15.23 - 5.6.23

1969 Topps

Mickey Mantle #500

PSA 8

Spring 2023 Auction

4.15.23 - 5.6.23

Minimum Bid: $15,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

2018 Panini Revolution

Luka Doncic #128

PSA 9

Price: $229 Goldin.co

Holon Phantoms Gold Star Mewtwo PSA 10

TCG Signature Auction

4.7.23 - 4.8.23

Estimate: $5,000+ HA.com/TCG

1908 New York Giants

Portrait Type 1 Original Photo

PSA AUTH

Anthony Edwards #111

PSA 9/AUTO 10

Wilt Chamberlain #8

PSA 8

Price: $8,500

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

Price: $79,999.99

eBay: pc_sportscards

Spring 2023 Catalog Auction

4.5.23 - 4.23.23

Minimum Bid: $10,000

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Christy Mathewson

2020 National Treasures

1961-1962 Fleer Basketball

PSA 7

PSA 9

Jordan vs. Magic

1991 NBA Finals Bulls/Lakers

Type 1 Original Color Photo

PSA AUTH

Spring 2023 Auction

4.15.23 - 5.6.23

Minimum Bid: $15,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

Price: $999 Goldin.co

Price: $5,000

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

PSA 10

PSA 8.5+

Price: $49,999.99

eBay: pc_sportscards

Premium Spring 2023 Auction

3.8.23 - 3.25.23

Minimum Bid: $7,500

MileHighCardCo.com

Spring 2023 Catalog Auction

4.5.23 - 4.23.23

Minimum Bid: $5,000

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

1951 Bowman

Willie Mays #305

2003 Topps

LeBron James #221

2017 Bowman Chrome Ronald Acuna Jr. #RA

1959 Al Kaline Gold Glove Award

1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie #177

Derek Jeter #279

Foil

PSA 8

Goldin Weekly

3.7.23 - 3.16.23

Starting Bid: $5 Goldin.co

PSA 1 (

PSA 6

Winter Platinum Night Catalog Auction

2.25.23 - 2.26.23

Estimate: $80,000+ HA.com/Sports

Spring 2023 Catalog Auction

4.5.23 - 4.23.23

Minimum Bid: $5,000

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Signed Ruby Red Rookie /10

PSA 10

3.7.23 - 3.29.23

Minimum Bid: $5,000

Goldin.co

PSA AUTH

Copper Prizm /60

Winter Platinum Night Catalog Auction

2.25.23 - 2.26.23

Estimate: $100,000+ HA.com/Sports

Price: $32,499

eBay: pc_sportscards

1993 SP

1909 E92 Dockman & Sons Honus Wagner (Batting)

1981 Michael Jordan NCAA Debut UNC Tar Heels vs. Kansas Jayhawks Full Ticket

1979 Larry Bird NBA Debut Boston Celtics Full Ticket

MK)

2017 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition Aaron Judge #AC-AJ

2019 Panini Select Luka Doncic #229

PSA 10

TCG Signature Auction

4.7.23 - 4.8.23

Estimated: $200,000+ HA.com/TCG

Draft Picks - Refractor

PSA 9 Goldin Weekly

3.7.23 - 3.16.23

Starting Bid: $5 Goldin.co

Game Used & Signed Bat

PSA GU 10

Tim

PSA 10

PSA 8

Price: $24,999.99

eBay: pc_sportscards

Spring 2023 Catalog Auction

4.5.23 - 4.23.23

Minimum Bid: $10,000

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Winter Platinum Night Catalog Auction

2.25.23 - 2.26.23

Estimate: $800,000+ HA.com/Sports

Ty Cobb Portrait Red

PSA 6

Premium Spring 2023 Auction

3.8.23 - 3.25.23

Minimum Bid: $5,000

MileHighCardCo.com

1926-27 Lou Gehrig

1999 Pokémon Game

Charizard - Holo #4 1st Edition

2005 Bowman Chrome Justin Verlander #BDP129

1997 Flair Showcase

Duncan #5

1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson #50

1909-11 T206 Old Mill

Schedule 2023 Auction Schedule 2023

February 18

Opening: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

February 19

Closing: Robert Edward Auctions February Encore Auction

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

February 25-26

Closing: Heritage Winter Platinum Night Catalog Auction HA.com/sports

March 1

Closing: Goldin February Elite Auction Goldin.co

March 2

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

Opening: Heritage Pokémon Masters Trading Card Games Showcase Auction HA.com/tcg

March 3

Opening: Heritage Sports Showcase Auction HA.com/sports

March 4

Closing: Goldin Winter Comics, Video Games & TCG Elite Auction Goldin.co

Opening: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

March 7

Opening: Goldin March Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

March 9

Opening: Robert Edward Auctions March Encore Auction

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

March 13

Opening: Collect Auctions Spring Auction CollectAuctions.net

March 16

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

March 18

Opening: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

March 19

Closing: Robert Edward Auctions March Encore Auction

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

March 25

Closing: Heritage Sports Showcase Auction HA.com/sports

March 29

Closing: Goldin March Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

March 30

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

Closing: Heritage Pokémon Masters Trading Card Games Showcase Auction HA.com/tcg

Closing: Collect Auctions Spring Auction CollectAuctions.net

March 31

Opening: Heritage Sports Showcase Auction HA.com/sports

SPRING AUCTION

2023 Show Schedule

Schedule 2023 Show Schedule 2023

Collect-A-Con Orlando

Chicago Sports Spectacular

The Mint Collective

Midwest Gaming Classic

The Dallas Card Show

Boston - The Fenway Card Show

Long Beach Expo*

Too Many Games Expo

Collect-A-Con Kansas City

Comic Con San Diego

The National

Collect-A-Con Long Beach

Long Beach Expo*

Collect-A-Con Denver

Comic Con New York

Portland Retro Gaming Expo

Chicago Sports Spectacular

Orlando, FL

Chicago, IL

Las Vegas, NV

Milwaukee, WI

Dallas, TX

Boston, MA

Long Beach, CA

Oaks, PA

Kansas City, MO

San Diego, CA

Chicago, IL

Long Beach, CA

Sports Cards, Pop Culture

Sports Cards

Sports Cards

Video Games

Cards & Autographs

Cards & Autographs

Coins, Cards, Video Games

Video Games

Sports Cards, Pop Culture

Pop Culture

Sports Cards

Sports Cards, Pop Culture

Coins, Cards, Video Games

Sports Cards, Pop Culture

Pop Culture

Video Games

Sports Cards

2023 Show Schedule

Supply

Chest Supply Chest Supply

Cardboard Gold

CardboardGold.com

cardboardgold@gmail.com

Card Saver I (Case/2,000): $149

For more than 35 years, Cardboard Gold has been one of the industry's most popular sources for the highest quality supplies at the lowest, factory direct prices. Its popular Card Saver 1 is slightly oversized for easy insertion and removal of sports trading cards. This product is recommended by PSA and most PSA dealers for card submissions. There’s a reason 400 million Card Savers have been sold since Cardboard Gold introduced the product at the 1987 National Sports Collectors Convention.

Card Shellz

CardShellz.com

support@cardshellz.com

HERO Diamond Shell: $10

HERO Diamond Shell cases are made from lightweight ultra-strong polycarbonate and offer additional protection for your standardsized PSA-graded cards. HERO Diamond Shells are 30 times stronger than acrylic and scratch resistant, while also providing UV protection so your cards will not be damaged by destructive lighting. The snap shut latch perfectly blends ease of use with the comfort of security.

Use code "SHELLZ_PSA" to receive $10 off your first order of $50 or more.

Perfect Fit Sleeves for PSA-Graded Cards

CardboardGold.com

cardboardgold@gmail.com

50 Packages/Case (2,500 Sleeves): $89

Zion Cases

ZionCases.com

help@zioncases.com

Slab Case X Color Rush: $100

GradedGuard

GradedGuard.us

info@gradedguard.us

Standard PSA Case: $10

Easy Pull, Tabbed Card Sleeves

CardboardGold.com

cardboardgold@gmail.com

100 Count Pack, 100 Packs/Case: $109

PSA TYPE 1

Registry Set Registry Set Registry

THE WATCHLIST

THE FOLLOWING Q&A WITH SUPER BOWL TICKET COLLECTOR DEAN MACCHI ( AKA “THATSMYTICKET” ON THE PSA SET REGISTRY ) IS A COMPANION PIECE TO A MUCH LARGER FEATURE ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES DEAN ( “STUB CLUB” ) IN THE MARCH 2023 ISSUE OF PSA MAGAZINE .

PSA BUYER’S GUIDE: What was your latest hobby acquisition and why was it important?

DEAN MACCHI: “I'm currently working on a complete set of NBA Slam Dunk Tickets and only have three to go. The hardest one to find of the remaining three was the 1985 NBA All-Star Saturday. I eventually found it and purchased a Full Ticket PSA 5 from Heritage Auctions. Dominique Wilkins won that year’s NBA Slam Dunk contest but the primary significance of the ticket and what makes it more valuable than many of the other tickets in the set is that 1985 marked Michael Jordan's first appearance in the Slam Dunk competition.”

PSA BG: What is the next SB ticket you hope to acquire, or any ticket in general?

DM: “Fortunately, I have a full set of PSA-graded Super Bowl tickets so I'm good there though I could always use a few upgrades. I'd actually like to get a Super Bowl LVI ticket from last year even though they are just commemorative; they were issued by the NFL and help to keep set collecting somewhat alive. Otherwise, I'm looking for quite a few different tickets. Chief among them would be the 1990, 2016

and 2017 NBA All-Star Saturday Slam Dunk Tickets to complete that set. Seems strange to me that it's been such a challenge to find the 2016 and 2017 tickets. I’m also looking for a ticket from the NFL’s very first AFC Championship Game which occurred in 1970 when the Oakland Raiders visited the Baltimore Colts.”

PSA BG: What’s the one ticket that constantly eludes you?

DM: “Without a doubt, the 1980 NBA All-Star Game which marked Larry Bird and Magic Johnson’s first All-Star game appearances. I've seen quite a few of these over the years but I just keep missing them. I'm working on a set of NBA All-Star Game tickets so this is one of the holes I need to fill.”

PSA BG: What is the "grail" item you hope to own one day?

DM: “That answer is easy: a Jerry Rice NFL Debut Ticket. I'm working on a full run of each of his games played tickets and am now about 80% complete. The Rice ticker is obviously the most important one. I've only seen one of them out there. I have all the other key tickets in this set, which includes Terrell Owens and Kurt Warner’s NFL debuts.”

PSA BG: What was your best auction steal?

DM: “Up until about a year or two ago you could find steals but with so many people now getting into ticket collecting, it's hard to steal much these days. But rest assured, I keep trying.”

Registry

the midas touch

Going once, going twice, going three times with

By Ben Magalaner

In his young NFL career, Joe Burrow has repeatedly proven himself worthy of recognition as one of the most poised and precise quarterbacks in the league. And though you have plenty of rookie cards to choose from, only a few shine like this Gold Wave parallel numbered to 17. It received more than 50 bids in Goldin's firstever Weekly Auction, affirming the sought-after status of the coldblooded signal-caller.

Featuring a superb tri-color patch and PSA 10 grade, this National Treasures Patrick Mahomes II RPA was the most expensive piece in Goldin's first Weekly Auction by far, commanding a hammer price of $156,000. With each successive deep playoff run by the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes continues to distance himself from his rivals in terms of prominence and desirability in the hobby.

This ultra-sleek, rarely seen Ja Morant Panini Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm collectible represents a star entry in the inaugural Goldin Weekly Auction. Morant has come to be regarded as one of the most coveted subjects in the basketball collecting category, and this singular debut-year piece has achieved PSA's highest grading assessment. As Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies continue to blossom as perennial NBA Finals contenders, high-grade 1/1 examples — even ones in his college uni — will forever be coveted.

2020 Panini Mosaic Joe Burrow #202 Gold Wave PSA 10

$2,893

2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes II #161 Rookie Patch Autograph PSA 10 SOLD: 01.26.23

$156,000

2019 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Ja Morant #65 Black Prizm PSA 10 SOLD: 01.26.23

$6,000

2003 - 2012

2004 - 2021

Powered

CREDITS

Advertisements, articles and the price guide section of this magazine may occasionally contain inadvertent typographical errors, and market values that fluctuate. The publisher is not responsible for actions taken by any person as a result of such errors.

Cover Variants

Ohtani (Base)

B

Ichiro (Base) C

Ohtani Japanese Variant #/500

Ichiro Japanese Variant #/500