PSA Magazine: 2023 May #017

Verify. Track. Vault.

Editor's Note

I was scrolling through my Instagram account (@natsturner_cards) recently when I was struck by the realization of how much I really enjoy trading cards.

I know how funny that probably sounds. You’re no doubt thinking, “Of course you like cards, Nat. You’ve spent your life in the hobby and now you’re the CEO of Collectors.” That is, of course, true.

But in reality it goes much deeper than that. My Instagram page is all hobby-related posts and shows the breadth of my interest in the hobby: all eras of single cards from multiple sports; complete sets; vintage wax packs; unopened boxes; notable tickets; and Type I photos. My PSA Set Registry listings are similarly diverse.

The point is, my interest in card collecting is multifaceted. I love sports. I have an interest in history and enjoy the hunt of trying to find a rare item. I’m fascinated with vintage items that have avoided typical wear and tear over the years and remain in beautiful condition. I find enjoyment in building and completing a set. I’ve met many wonderful people in the hobby that I can now call friends. In fact, my reasons for enjoying the hobby are nearly as numerous and diverse as my collection.

I began collecting as a kid and have been active in the hobby ever since. Now my kids all collect and I get to share the joys of the hobby with them as well.

Trading cards are an excellent way to generate income, whether you simply sell off your duplicates or have made the hobby the focal point of your professional life. But beyond that, cards have the ability to simply make our lives better. Time spent ripping packs, building sets, talking through a trade, or simply looking through our collections can brighten an otherwise dreary day.

There is an old hobby saying that I’ve heard several times over the years and it perfectly describes my feelings about trading cards and our hobby: If you think these things are just cardboard, then you haven’t been paying attention.

Best,

Nat Turner CEO, Collectors

By Jon Gold

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. hesitates to call himself an historian but as the child of a long-time sportswriter in Minneapolis, Larry Sr., Fitz developed an early respect for both the greats of the game and those who chronicled their history.

His summers consisted of trips to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, where he’d hang out with guys like Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Dan Gladden and Chuck Knoblauch.

And, of course, collecting cards of all sports.

Now he’s back — not in the Metrodome, which is long gone — but in the sports card hobby, reunited with his childhood passion by his friend, Collectors CEO Nat Turner.

Fitzgerald, who has a big collection from his career with the Arizona Cardinals that will one day place him in Canton, was interested in acquiring some

of his best cards and enlisted the help of Card Ladder Co-Founder Joshua Johnson, whom Turner recommended as a curator of sorts.

Johnson, who founded Card Ladder along with Chris McGill, has been a sports card procurer both professionally and for friends and fellow collectors for years. And he happens to be an Arizona native, Phoenix local and die-hard Cardinals fan.

When he heard from Fitzgerald, he almost fell out of his chair. He already had a deep understanding of Fitzgerald’s top rookie and combo cards. Uh, of course, he would help the greatest Cardinal of them all curate what had the potential to be the Larry Fitzgerald collection to define all Larry Fitzgerald collections.

In short, Johnson — who reentered the hobby in 2016 primarily focused on basketball and Pokémon — helped Fitzgerald catch ‘em all.

The idea of being a personal shopper for one of the game’s great players stirs up visions of chocolate factories and blank checks. Sure, I’ll go find the 10,000 best Larry Fitzgerald cards on the planet.

But no. Fitzgerald approached his collection like a fine art collector approaches theirs. It was more about quality than quantity, and not just quality, but the finest and rarest of specimens.

And Fitzgerald already had a head start. He’d acquired maybe the grail of all grails: one of the two total PSA 10/AUTO 10 copies of his SSP 2004 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket autographed rookie card. There are only 50 total copies of that card, period, making it one of the rarest Rookie Tickets in the quarter-century history of the set.

That alone told Johnson that Fitzgerald meant business.

They began exchanging emails detailing the important things: how much Fitzgerald wanted to devote to the collection in total, and even by card; how aggressive he wanted to be when must-haves came up for auction; and would Johnson buy cards with his blessing or with a set amount of money?

For Johnson, these are simply the basics. He’s helped people curate collections — both through offering recommendations and through direct buying — and he understands factors such as asset allocation and diversification, balancing portfolios and the correct ratios. Think modern to vintage, base to parallel, true scarcity versus perceived scarcity.

Fitzgerald had only one rule and one rule only: only Larry Fitzgerald cards.

“That’s been a weird part of it. Generally, when building collections for people, you’re getting a diverse set of players, a mix of vintage and modern, Michael Jordan, Kobe, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Luka Doncic,” Johnson said. “I think it’s more interesting this way. We are always thinking about it in terms of the investor or the collector. We never think about a player collecting himself.”

Fitzgerald had one other mandate: He didn’t want hundreds of cards. Keep it simple, but exquisite. And, yes, that includes Upper Deck Exquisite.

“I’ve only bought 20 cards, which isn’t a lot, but they are 20 of his top 30 or 40 cards ever,” Johnson said. “It’s way more important to pick up specific cards that are of high importance than to just buy whatever.”

And the list is incredible.

Multiple 1/1 NFL Shield and logo patch cards. Gameworn, of course. Three Panini Donruss Optic Gold Vinyl 1/1 parallels, his Topps Finest Gold Refractor PSA 10 rookie card with a population of four, a 2004 Topps Chrome Xfractor in PSA 10 condition—Pop 2.

As Johnson continues to educate him on the important sets and key cards and must-owns, Fitzgerald has grown to learn more about the hobby and what makes particular sets unique. Why is his 2004 SP Authentic Rookie Patch Auto more coveted than his 2004 Leaf Rookies & Stars Jersey Auto?

He’s gotten into this weird thing of ours, and he’s diving into the end zone with it.

"There's something special about collecting your own cards because it's unique," Fitzgerald said. "No one can appreciate your career like you can yourself."

“You can show me a card from 2007, a still photo against the St. Louis Rams, and it brings me right back to that moment—that was third down, third quarter, and I scored to go up 14,” Fitzgerald said. “It brings me back to good times in my life, when I was living my dreams.”

He remembers when some of those dreams began.

Whenever he looks at his 2004 Topps or Topps Chrome rookie cards, he is instantly transported to the 2004 NFL Players Association Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot. Just because he owns a PSA 10 version of the Chrome Gold Refractor does not make it any more special to him than his own memories.

“It brings me back to a lot of great memories,” he said. “The Rookie Premiere at the Los Angeles Coliseum, catching passes from Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers and J.P. Losman. That’s where I built my relationship with DeAngelo Hall and Chris Perry and Steven Jackson. You were young and living the dream and you got to do it with some really cool dudes. It brings back great memories.”

And now, through his collection, he can relive those memories with his two youngest sons, Apollo and Milos, who only experienced the tail end of Fitzgerald’s iconic career. They didn’t get to experience some of the magic that Fitz’s oldest, Devin, did. Devin, 15, is old enough to have seen his dad duke it out with some of the legends of football.

Now they have arguments about the best wideouts in the game, past and present, so much so that the Cardinals great is enlisting Johnson to help him track down some of the legendary dual, triple and quad autographs and shields that pair Fitzgerald with contemporaries like Calvin Johnson and Randy Moss and his heroes like Jerry Rice.

He's already built perhaps the most finely curated Larry Fitzgerald collection. Up next? Perhaps tackling the top target tandems the game has seen.

And after that, maybe cornering the market on corners?

“I have a couple of those now that I really wanted,” he said. “I don’t want to call myself a historian, but I appreciate the history of sports. I go back and forth with my son, and he talks about the modern-day players, and it’s a generational debate we’ve had for years. I appreciate what the greats have done for the game; there was a Cris Carter, a Marvin Harrison, a Randy Moss, an Art Monk—people I looked up to and watched and who helped me build my game. And there’s another era of players after me who watched Calvin and Andre Johnson and Anquan Boldin and myself and built their game. And the generation after that will do the same thing.

“That’s why I have a deep respect for those who played before me.”

And a deep love for the cardboard that cements them all in history.

Both his own and his fellow legends.

2005 Topps

2011 Finest

1957 Topps

1975 Topps

BasKETbAll

2003

2003

1971

1987 Topps

1981 Topps

1972 Topps

Misunderstood? Only by any draft board that left him dangling for the Vikings at No. 21.

Mesmerizing? Only a name like “The Freak” could illustrate such onehanded artistry.

Collectible? Only if all-time grails of an all-time great pique any interest. Can’t be outrun. Can’t be overthrown. Randy Moss was a problem

Important draft day lesson: passing on a 6’ 4” consensus All-American and Heisman finalist might come around to haunt you. And if he’s in your division (alas, Green Bay), he’s coming around twice.

And more than any shiny new toy brought to market during the hobby’s shiniest era, Moss’s rookie year was the most electric. For those who weren’t there for it, imagine witnessing his chip-on-the-shoulder tour live.

Now, who would you collect?

Simply put: Randy Moss is one of the deepest threats there ever was; a yards-per-catch, chuck-it-to-the-end-zone, West Virginian barn-burner who boomed in stride with the rising collectible tide of the late ‘90s.

NFL DEBUT

WEEK 1 VS TB

4 REC / 95 YARDS / 2 TDs

“THERE ARE GOING TO BE NIGHTMARES FOR CORNERBACKS”—

Sam Rosen, sports commentator

What’s hotter to fans and hobbyists than a rookie torching defenders from day one and eliciting announcer hyperbole? In his lone Division 1 season at Marshall University in ‘97, Moss reeled in a record 26 touchdowns. In his rookie year with the Vikes, he continued those recordsetting tendencies with 17 total scores—the most ever for a first-year wide receiver. Twenty-five years later, it remains untouched.

THANKSGIVING DAY

WEEK 13 vs COWBOYS

3 REC / 163 YARDS / 3 TDs

“HE’S THE BEST WIDE RECEIVER IN FOOTBALL”—John

Madden

He never made it on a Madden cover, but it wasn’t for lack of admiration. Some guys have favorite teams; Moss had a favorite team to beat. The Cowboys famously passed on him with the No. 8 pick, and he reminded them at every opportunity with 10 career TDs and 18.9 yards per catch—his highest against any team, and no doubt assisted by this epitome of efficiency.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

WEEK 5 @ GB

5 REC / 190 YARDS / 2 TDs

“RANDY, YOU’VE ARRIVED”

Any good Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign needs a primetime comingout party. Brett Favre’s Packers hadn’t lost a home game since September 3, 1995, but Moss righted the Vikings’ NFC North ship fast. He had to be living rent-free in Lambeau’s front office after pillaging its cornerbacks for 343 yards and three touchdowns in two games that year. Haunted by the freakish phantom of MNF, Green Bay took defensive backs with three straight picks in the ‘99 Draft.

METAL UNIVERSITY

1998 Metal Universe #190

Precious Metal Gems

Don’t be vexed by the college uniform—it certainly didn’t hold Moss back. After conduct issues derailed intent with Notre Dame and Florida State, the West Virginian settled in his home state and racked up 54 TDs in 28 games over two seasons at Marshall. As tough to grade as Moss is to guard, only three PSA 10s exist. It last sold for $24,000 in 2022.

VIKING GOLD

1998 Fleer Brilliants #140TG 24KT Gold

It’s not a piece of his Offensive ROY award, but it’s not far from hardware. This one-off release featured unparalleled gold shine for the time and actual 24kt gold foiling on the top right insignia. The parallel is one of Moss’s lowest numbered rookie cards, and with a PSA 7 owning its secondhighest recorded sale at $19,200, a high grade would make it one of his most valuable.

INSTANT CRED

While the Credentials Future counterpart wins the mystique matchup with six copies and no public sales, the more obtainable Now variation just tells like it was: his rise to the league’s No. 1 wideout was immediate. Twenty-five years later, his legacy is as secure as this card’s appeal as a consensus crown jewel across sports for collectors.

MEDALLION STALLION

Shiny silver stuff always hits. The second iteration of the Platinum Medallion parallel was the first to be numbered to 66, and while Series 1 pictures players in college unis, Series 2 wins out with pro jerseys. Bring some sparkle to the PC with Moss in a black-and-white action shot overlayed by a stunning embossed silver nameplate.

1998 EX-2001 #55 Essential Credentials Now

1998 Ultra #406P Platinum Medallion

FREAK SHOW

There’s nothing like the premium feel and superimposed look of ‘90s Flair Showcase, especially when Legacy recognizes legacy. The refractive design of the Row 0 insert, numbered to 250, is a start, but even more sought after is the rarer counterpart, numbered to 100, and its flashy royal blue marquee. Keep a guard up, as backdoor/inauthentic copies exist but can be ID’d if the player’s name is MIA on the back.

ICING THE CORNER

Keywords like atomic and best go big in describing Moss’s explosive game and staying power. Trace today’s ice-obsessed designs to this set, which also introduced numbered Refractors to Bowman’s Best. Player backgrounds were split between veteran gold and rookie silver, and combined with Atomic Refractor treatment, delivered one of the most iconic designs of the last 25 years.

1998 Flair Showcase #5 Legacy Row 0

1998 Bowman’s Best #109 Atomic Refractor

VIKING SCRIPT

1998 SP Authentic #RM

Players Ink

A rarified rookie auto from a player who ran routes faster than the ink could dry. And though the base version is iconic and special in its own right, the Moss-obsessed can’t overlook the elusive Gold parallel limited to just 18 examples.

ASTRONOMICAL NUMBERS

1999 SkyBox Premium #1

Shining Star Rubies

A star was born in ‘98, and a Shining Star Rubies moment was quick to follow as newly anointed No. 1 receiver was #1 on the checklist. Find Moss in outer space with a blinding holofoil refractor design and star pattern. Names of veterans come enshrined with a ruby red foil, while blue foil reveals an even rarer rookie variation numbered to 15.

TOUCHDOWN TANDEM

1999 Stadium Club #C55 Randy Moss/Jerry Rice Co-Signers

Fresh off a historic record-breaking rookie season, Stadium Club got right to work igniting a GOAT debate that would continue for years to come. It’s the only dual auto to feature Rice and Moss on the front of the card, with 354 career touchdown receptions between them—none higher. With condition sensitivity and impossible odds in play, a perfect auto is priceless.

X-FACTOR

Topps Finest revolutionized the refractor design in the early ’90s, and while variants were introduced along the way, from embossed to die-cut, it wasn’t until 2002 that the iconic Xfractor parallel made its debut. Propelled by six-figure sales of Tom Brady’s Xfractor (his first Finest year), the set’s popularity has skyrocketed.

2002 Topps Finest #22 Xfractor

There is seemingly no end to the Pokémon cards that emerge from off the beaten path. While the most popular cards stem from the mainline Trading Card Game, it is far from the end-all, be-all. Carddass, Meiji, and TOMY each offer obscure gems from Pokémon’s early Japanese era, and many Topps Pokémon cards have also maintained a lasting impact in the TCG space.

But while millions of diverse Pokémon items have hit PSA’s grading room floor over the years, not all of them have been able to be graded. Before an item can be accepted, there needs to exist reliable background information and a verified checklist with which the PSA Research team can use to identify, authenticate, and process the item. PSA’s standards for provenance and authentication have always been high, and extensive measures are put in place to ensure each collector’s item is authentic. Because of these measures, many obscure cards have been deemed ungradable by many.

That is, until now.

In recent months, PSA has made breakthroughs in locating reliable resources that have allowed the Research team to finally begin processing Pokémon cards on the fringes of the hobby—namely, those from spinoff Pokémon tabletop games. From standard 52-card Frenchsuited decks to UNO, collectors have been waiting years for the doors to open, and that time has finally arrived.

1996 POKÉMON PLAYING CARDS

52-card decks featuring Pokémon characters have been around as long as the franchise itself. In 1996, Nintendo began publishing playing card decks utilizing the very same Ken Sugimori artwork seen in other early Japanese sets. The ‘96 decks were split into Blue, Green, and Red versions, mirroring the different versions of the first Game Boy games. Cards in the red deck are identified by red card backs featuring Charizard, while the green and blue versions depict Venusaur and Blastoise respectively.

The standard suits and ranks of a normal poker deck are included, but each of the 52 cards also has multiple variations, leading to endless collectability for setbuilders. As an example, the 8 of Diamonds can come as an Exeggutor, a Kangaskhan, or a Lapras. The Gen 1 starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, etc.) represent most of the Aces across the three decks, and human characters (Professor Oak and the Gym Leaders) are the Jokers. There are a few other thematic groupings, but one cannot help but wish Nidoking and Nidoqueen were given the King and Queen titles. Regardless, the 1996 decks represent the original playing cards of the franchise, giving them an undeniable appeal, not to mention they look slick in PSA holders.

1998 POKÉMON STADIUM PLAYING CARDS

In 1998, Nintendo followed up with a handful of additional playing card sets. The Yellow Version Deck retained the previous playing card design, but added Pikachu-themed yellow card backs. The three Pokémon Stadium decks went in a different direction, introducing an entirely new card frame and incorporating assets from the Pokémon Stadium video game. The angular N64 polygonal graphics just ooze late '90s nostalgia. These Stadium Decks also reorganized their checklists to create more thematic groupings: the Blue Version Aces are composed of Legendaries, while the Red Version Aces are composed of the Eeveelutions.

1999 BICYCLE POKÉMON PLAYING CARDS

Alongside the English TCG launch from Wizards of the Coast, the first North American Pokémon poker cards arrived in 1999. Unlike previous releases, these decks were published by the United States Playing Card Company under the popular Bicycle brand. These Bicycle playing cards opted to use scenes from the Pokémon TV series, allowing for characters like Ash, Misty, Brock, and Team Rocket to become the subjects. Bicycle also published mini decks in the same year, featuring microsized cards with revised character placements and new artwork.

2000 POKÉMON PLAYING CARDS

Major Pokémon TCG expansions continued to receive companion playing card decks as the years went on. The Gold & Silver playing cards carried on the tradition of including two separate varieties per era: Lugia donned the Silver Version backs while Ho-Oh donned the Gold Version backs.

2017 POKÉMON ALL STAR PLAYING CARDS

In 2017, playing cards came full circle with the release of the All Star Playing Card set, which introduced a deck that spanned all generations of Pokémon (from Blue & Red to Sun & Moon) in a single product. By tracking down reliable resources and conducting further research, PSA gained a greater understanding of each of these playing card sets and finally began offering grading services for them as of January 2023.

POKÉMON CENTER PLAYING CARDS

In between the tentpole releases, there were also a number of specialty decks that were introduced, such as a 2006 Pokémon Center deck, which celebrated the franchise’s 10th anniversary. Another exclusive deck dropped in 2016 to commemorate the opening of the Kyoto Pokémon Center in Japan, which included some of the most stunning playing cards to date. These “Maiko Pikachu” and “Okuge Pikachu”themed cards depict Pikachu in traditional Japanese garb against gorgeous backdrops. Similar exclusive decks were released as part of limited-time Mario Pikachu, Pretend Pikachu, and Winter Pikachu campaigns held in Pokémon Centers across Japan, each dedicating cards to Pikachu playing dress-up.

POKÉMON UNO CARDS (2006-2020)

UNO is a card game published by Mattel that has a slew of licensed crossover products under its belt, from ScoobyDoo to Marvel to CocaCola. The first Pokémon UNO deck was released in 2006 in celebration of the franchise’s 10th anniversary, and remains one of the rarer Pokémon UNO sets to date. This was the first and only North American release, but the franchise saw a handful of subsequent UNO products in Japan. Because the 2006 deck debuted during the Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald era, new Pokémon like Rayquaza and Deoxys could be featured in the set, as well as legacy fanfavorites such as Pikachu and Charizard. Later UNO releases exclusive to Japan were based around the Sun & Moon and Sword & Shield eras. Some of these decks included variations for additional collectability: the decks released in Japan have Japaneselanguage card backs, while the decks released in other regions of Asia have “Asia” printed on the card backs underneath the Pokémon logo. Both variations are appropriately called out on PSA labels. Recent investigation by PSA’s Research team paved the way for these various cards to be recognized as authentic. Also critical was communication with Mattel representatives, who were able to confirm the legitimacy of these UNO products and open the doors for these items to be graded in late 2022.

2019 POKÉMON

OLD MAID CARDS

Pokémon’s Old Maid deck is one of the most recent tabletop card releases and offers even more unique pieces for fans to collect and grade. Known as “Babanuki” in Japan, the Old Maid set is a throwback to Gen 1 in that only Pokémon from the original 151 are featured. The cards were sold in complete decks, with two copies of each card — except Gengar, which was limited to one — included inside. Perhaps the most distinct aspect of these cards is the artwork, which was provided by original Pokémon game designer Kouichi Ooyama. Ooyama’s simplistic, whimsical style

shines through in this product, giving it a flavor like no other. When stacked up against UNO or the traditional playing card decks, the Old Maid deck is quite small. Only 18 unique subjects are included, along with an additional “Spare Card.” Old Maid cards are also among the more affordable Pokémon cards in the TCG space, providing a low barrier of entry for those wishing to build complete sets.

As the TCG hobby continues to grow at an astounding rate, one of its main challenges is the threat of counterfeits and misinformation. PSA’s Research team is an essential piece of the card-grading process that stands in the way of this problem. Through their diligent efforts in tracking down reliable checklists and resources, new cards — like all those mentioned above — are added to PSA’s repertoire every year. This should inspire hope to collectors everywhere chasing down gems from the hobby’s most uncharted regions.

ATTENTION SET BUILDERS

THE 2019 POKÉMON OLD MAID SET IS NOW AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE ON THE PSA SET REGISTRY:

Fast Five

A BRIEF Q&A WITH

TEAM MEMBER MICHAEL DIAZ

Photography by Nick Estrada

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

I am a PSA Autograph Sales Representative. I work with some of the largest autograph dealers across the country to assist them with submitting bulk autograph submissions to our autograph authentication division, as well as attend many of their autograph signings with athletes and celebrities. Whether it be by bulk submission, autograph signing or at a show, my main goal is to expand our PSA Autograph brand, one authentication sticker at a time.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT COLLECTORS?

What I enjoy the most is knowing that I work for a company that truly cares about the hobby and always puts the collector first. When you work with a team like I do where we all have the same mindset, it makes it a joy and a privilege to go to work every day.

WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND AS A COLLECTOR?

I started collecting sports cards when I was eight years old. Buying old packs of 1990 NBA Hoops from the ice cream truck will always be fond memories for me. My love and passion for autographs started with my dad when he would take my brothers and I to games or player appearances to score signatures. Sports cards will always be my first love, but autographs — especially Jerry Rice’s — have stolen my heart.

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

It is very difficult to say what’s my favorite piece. If I had to pick one, it would be my multi-signed seat back from Candlestick Park. I am a huge 49ers fan so owning a piece of the stadium from one of the greatest NFL franchises to ever exist means a lot to me. Signatures on it include Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Dwight Clark, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Frank Gore, and a bunch of other 49er legends who played at Candlestick Park.

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

Jerry Rice is my ALL-TIME favorite athlete so owning anything game-used of his would be amazing. I know Joe Montana just sold his personal collection that included many game-worn items through Goldin but judging by the prices they went for, I'd have to find a steal.

In the lexicon of early Michael Jordan cards, only one skies above the rest.

Jordan's 1984 Star #101 features him almost in the background of his very own rookie card, with teammate Quintin Daily arguably getting better placement. His other '84 Star cards — #195, celebrating his 1984 Olympic Gold Medal, and #288, commemorating his Rookie of the Year honor — are not much more visually appealing, featuring Jordan boxing out for a rebound and looking for an open man to pass the ball, respectively.

Of course, you've got his legendary 1986 Fleer #57, widely considered to be Jordan's true rookie card, not to mention his most expensive rookie, which features him flying through the air, tongue-wagging. To be sure, it is a piece of basketball history. But — and this may be nitpicking here — Jordan's left arm is cut off, as is half the basket, and even the cleanest versions are a bit grainy. And there are his regional cards and oddball cards including his 1985 Interlake Bulls #1 and the 1985 Merchante Campeona Baloncesto Liga sticker, his first mass-produced sticker, albeit in Spain.

Incredible, valuable, collectable.

To be sure, each of these early cards of “His Airness” would be the crown jewel of any collection.

But for those who appreciate the intersection of sports, pop culture, fashion and branding, none is more appealing than Air Jordan’s 1985 Nike #2 promotional card. And now, as the story of the Jordan-Nike partnership heads to the silver screen with Ben Affleck’s Air, the card has never been more interesting.

Oversized — roughly the size of a 3x5 postcard — and distributed in shrinkwrapped packs in a set along with tennis star John McEnroe, electric pitcher Dwight Gooden, prolific wide receiver James Lofton — and Detroit Tigers catcher Lance Parrish? — Jordan’s 1985 Nike promo card has skyrocketed in interest over the last half-decade.

Why?

The aesthetic.

The card features Jordan in his iconic “Jumpman” pose, soaring through the air for a dunk across a purple sky spanning the Chicago skyline. In the top left of the card sits the original Air Jordan logo, wings and all. On the bottom left, the Nike logo. And on the back, Jordan’s measurables and career highlights, a section that was already lengthy less than two years into Jordan’s lasting career.

The impact.

The date Oct. 26, 1984, is a red-letter day in the illustrious history of Michael Jordan. Fresh off leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, His Airness entered his rookie season with sky-high expectations. He made his debut on a Friday night in Chicago in front of a crowd of 13,913 against the Washington Bullets. It wasn't his best game, as he finished with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting with seven assists, six rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Quintin Dailey, who would later join him on his Star rookie card, had 25 points off the bench that day in a 109-93 win.

You can forgive Jordan for not being at his best. He was maybe a little distracted. Earlier that same day, Jordan signed a five-year, $2.5 million deal with Nike, which was three times higher than any other deal in the NBA at the time. Within months of the release of the original Air Jordan 1 shoe, sales exploded. Projecting $3 million in sales, Nike earned more than $125 million off that first shoe, catapulting what could have been a fruitful partnership into the stratosphere.

The value.

Criminally underrated for decades, the card has experienced massive growth in the last three years. Sealed packs of the promo set could be had for under $200 for years, but with the rise of the card market during the COVID-19 pandemic and the release of Netflix’s The Last Dance documentary, Jordan cards were sent through the roof.

PSA 10 examples of the coveted collectible are now well into the low fivefigures, while PSA 9 examples command more than $2,000.

1991 Nike

Michael Jordan/Spike Lee

The character of Mars Blackmon was debuted by legendary filmmaker Spike Lee in his 1986 film She's Gotta Have It, and now collectors feel the same about this mood-setting 1991 set. Released as a six-card set, the design just screams 1991 and highlights the successful commercial collaboration between Nike, Jordan and Lee. More than 3,000 of the six total cards have been graded by PSA, with only 224 PSA 10 designations across the halfdozen cards. Card #5, which also features legendary musician Little Richard as a genie, is among the most popular.

1993 Nike/Warner Bros. Michael Jordan

Three years before the debut of Space Jam, Jordan's Looney Tunes lineage was established. While the 12-card promo release of cards/stickers does not highlight Jordan exclusively — ample attention is also paid to Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian and Porky Pig — it is still highly coveted.

By Todd Tobias

Player collecting used to be simple and streamlined, focusing only on a small number of base issues each year with the occasional regional offering shaking things up. And though some traditionalists might grumble at the sheer amount of parallel rainbows and low serial numbers in the hobby nowadays, others find the artful complexity intoxicating.

Buddy Wilson — who goes by the moniker Buddyw41 on the PSA Set Registry — is one of those people. And when we say he’s a Dirk Nowitzki super collector, we’re probably underselling it. Since starting down this path in 2016, he has accumulated 5,100+ Nowitzki cards, which includes more than 200 autos, nearly 1,300 memorabilia cards and an astonishing 127 1/1s. He sat down recently to talk about his collecting adventures and introduction to the Set Registry.

PSA: WE WILL SPEAK ABOUT YOUR INCREDIBLE DIRK NOWITZKI COLLECTION SHORTLY, BUT LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING. HOW WERE YOU FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE HOBBY?

BUDDY WILSON: Like a lot of people, I collected sports cards as a kid. I think the first packs I ever opened were 1991 SkyBox Basketball. I collected for a few years and then stopped around 1995 or ‘96, when I started eighth grade. I got back into the hobby in 2016 when I decided that I needed a way to spend some of my extra time. I began buying boxes and cases online and enjoying the rip.

PSA: DID YOU HAVE HOBBY GOALS AT THAT POINT? WERE YOU BUILDING SETS OR JUST HOPING TO HIT GREAT CARDS THROUGH RIPPING PACKS?

BW: I didn’t have any goals when I reentered the hobby. But as I started to rip different products I developed a particular interest in Select and Studio basketball. I became obsessed with Studio because of the Downtown inserts, which were case hits. Another thing I enjoyed from that set was the Teal /15 variation. Each of the 100 base cards have a Teal variation, and they hit at a rate of one Teal card per 16-box master case. It took me about two-and-ahalf years, but I was able to complete the Teal set. I recently graded the entire set with PSA and added it to the Set Registry.

PSA: LET’S SHIFT GEARS AND TALK ABOUT YOUR DIRK NOWITZKI COLLECTION, WHICH IS

INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE. WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN COLLECTING HIM?

BW: I loved the idea that he was a seven-footer who could easily drain three-pointers. I used to be a fan of Keith Van Horne back in the day. He was about 6’ 9” and had a big outside game. When Dirk came into the league he developed into one of those quiet assassins. It took him a couple of years to get acclimated to the NBA, but he was one of those guys who never talked trash and simply let his game make a statement.

PSA: HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR COLLECTION? DID YOU HAVE A PLAN OR JUST BEGIN PICKING UP CARDS?

BW: I went all-in right from the beginning. I began by downloading a list of all the Dirk Nowitzki cards that had been produced to that point, and then started buying anything I could find. Most of my purchases

came through eBay or various Facebook sports card groups. I didn’t really have a goal other than to get as many different cards as I could find.

PSA: HAS THAT GOAL CHANGED IN THE YEARS SINCE?

BW: It really hasn’t changed at all; I am still trying to get every single card. But as I have learned more about the Set Registry over the last couple of months, I have been trying to achieve the No. 1 ranking in any Dirk Nowitzki-related sets. I’ve also put an emphasis on anything from his rookie season. So I am more selective in only trying to obtain PSA 10 examples of his rookie cards for the Set Registry. Otherwise, I would probably already be No. 1 in some of the sets where I currently have a lower ranking.

PSA: LET’S TALK A BIT MORE ABOUT TRYING TO GET ONE OF EVERYTHING. THAT IS AN AMBITIOUS GOAL WHEN COLLECTING A MODERN ERA PLAYER, BUT YOU ARE FURTHER ALONG THAN MOST PEOPLE MIGHT THINK POSSIBLE.

BW: Like I said, I downloaded the entire list and put it into an Excel spreadsheet where I have tabs for each year. Excluding printing plates and 1/1s, Nowitzki currently has about 7,150 different cards. That includes base cards, serial-numbered material, memorabilia cards, autographs, autographed memorabilia cards and everything else. I currently have just over 5,100 items from that checklist, so according to my calculations I am 72% complete with this collection.

PSA: IT’S NOT LIKE YOU ARE SKIPPING OVER THOSE 1/1s, EITHER. HOW MANY DIFFERENT 1/1s HAVE BEEN PRODUCED, AND HOW MANY OF THEM DO YOU OWN?

BW: I currently own 127 Dirk Nowitzki 1/1s. Current rookies can easily have 300 to 400 different 1/1s in a single year. Not as many Nowitzki cards are produced now that he is retired and no longer in the league, so he probably only has around 40 new 1/1s issued each year. But as of right now, there have been slightly less than 1,200 different 1/1s produced since his rookie season.

PSA: SO YOU HAVE MORE THAN 10% OF THE 1/1s ALONE. THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.

BW: Obviously a high completion percentage in that area is simply not achievable. These 1/1s can get very

expensive. When I see one come up for sale I will try to get it at a reasonable price, but I really put the majority of my focus on the non-1/1s to try and keep that percentage high.

PSA: A 100% COMPLETION PERCENTAGE IS LIKELY NOT POSSIBLE FOR ANY MODERN PLAYER. DO YOU HAVE AN OVERALL PERCENTAGE YOU THINK IS ACHIEVABLE?

BW: I think I can get to at least 85%. Out of the roughly 2,000 cards I am missing, some of them were issued in lower-end sets: Donruss, Hoops and things like that. But you also have to consider that there are a lot of Dirk Nowitzki collectors in the hobby, which adds a lot of competition to his lower-numbered cards. I might not ever see some of these cards come up for sale because of his large fan base. Cards can also be lost to the hobby. That actually happened to my childhood collection when my parents' house burned down when I was in college. Low-numbered cards can be lost in a move, destroyed in a fire, accidentally thrown away, or be taken out of the hobby by some other disaster. But I think I can realistically get to 85%. The more difficult stuff will be the pre-Panini era cards numbered to five or less.

PSA: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CARDS YOU ARE MISSING THAT YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION?

BW: I still don’t own a Flawless Logoman 1/1; that is something I’d love to add to my collection. I have seen three or four sold in the recent past, but I wasn’t able to manage them financially when they came up. Nearly all of his cards were selling for crazy amounts of money during the boom, so I am hoping that something will resurface in a few years or at least after things have cooled down a bit. There is also some low-numbered rookie stuff like the E-X Credentials /23 that I would love to own. Definitely any Topps Finest or Bowman Chrome Superfractors from the mid-2000s would be highlights on my list.

PSA: IT SOUNDS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WHAT YOU ARE MISSING IS INEXPENSIVE BASE ISSUES?

BW: Yes. He had a lot of cards in 2018, but that is also Luka Doncic’s rookie year, so prices of unopened material are very high. I think a lot of that stuff will take a while to obtain. Hoops, Donruss, Optic and sets like Court Kings are areas

where he has a lot of base cards and inserts with multiple rainbows. Otherwise, the higher-end stuff like Immaculate or National Treasures autos and patches rarely come up for sale, and when they do they are very expensive.

PSA: HOW DOES GRADING FACTOR INTO YOUR COLLECTION? ARE YOU TRYING TO GRADE EVERYTHING OR JUST CERTAIN CARDS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR REGISTRY SETS?

BW: I haven’t made a final decision on how far I will go with grading. Including the Teal set I mentioned earlier, I have just over 750 graded cards in my collection. I have another 200 to 300 that are either currently at PSA or will be shortly. There is only one master set for DIrk on the Set Registry. Before I got into the Registry I would guess that there were 98 cards in that set. But as I began to get stuff back from being graded, Optic and Prizm rainbows and things like that, I would get them added to the set. I don’t see that set growing a lot unless I get a lot more cards graded. Right now getting $1 and $2 base cards graded isn’t something I want to do.

PSA: YOU’VE SPOKEN A BIT ABOUT IT ALREADY, BUT WHAT WAS YOUR INTRODUCTION TO THE SET REGISTRY AND HOW DO YOU USE IT?

BW: I love the Registry. I was introduced to it through a customer of mine. I own a card shop in North Carolina and one of my customers asked if my Dirk collection was on the Registry. I graded my cards through PSA, but wasn’t very familiar with the Registry at that point. But I was hooked immediately after learning about it and graded about 600 cards within two months of joining. I

have multiple graded rainbows now for Prizm and Optic. I have completed 12 rainbows at this point, and the largest would be 2020 Prizm, which I believe has 40 cards. The set doesn’t include any inserts or autographs, but I have all of the base cards and everything else with the exception of two 1/1s. All told, it is north of 55 cards.

PSA: THE REGISTRY ITSELF IS SET-BASED, BUT HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO SET REGISTRY SHOWCASES? THEY CAN BE SELF-CURATED AND I HAVE TO THINK A SHOWCASE WITH 127 1/1S OF THE SAME PLAYER WOULD BE EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.

BW: I’m definitely interested in getting that done. What has been awesome is that starting this year PSA has been imaging every single card they grade. About half of the cards I initially submitted were at the Value Bulk rate, so they weren’t scanned. But my goal is to backtrack and get high-resolution scans of all of my PSA-graded cards and then put together a showcase. I still have to get some of my 1/1s graded, but once they are all in PSA holders then I will definitely put together that showcase and then any other unique sets that I’ve collected.

PSA: YOU ARE COLLECTING DIRK’S POSTCAREER CARDS AS WELL. SO YOU WILL HAVE A CONTINUOUS CHALLENGE FOR YEARS TO COME.

BW: For sure. There are definitely fewer cards being produced each year now that he is retired, but he still averages around 350 new cards each year. Trying to hit and then maintain an 85% completion rate will continue to be an uphill battle. My one Christmas wish for this year is that Panini takes a break from producing Dirk cards so that I can get my completion percentage back up.

As of Dec. 2022, every service level for any card submitted is imaged after encapsulation, front and back. This post-grade imaging service was previously available to submission tiers beginning with Economy, but with the lens wide open, we’re looking at a 1567% daily imaging increase from the year prior.

Bobbleheads are on the brain at PSA, where our grading facility has been infiltrated by four-inch figurines hailing from every corner of the pop culture canon.

Yes, if you haven’t heard the news, PSA is now authenticating and grading Funko Pop! vinyl figures using the same numerical grading system the company applies to trading cards and tickets.

From superheroes to hardwood heroes to event exclusives and chase variants, there are infinite ways for collectors to pursue their passions.

COVETED CAPES AND COWLS

HEROES 01 BATMAN

Coming straight from Funko's very first line of Pops, Batman's 2010 premiere marked the beginning of the Funko-fueled hobby as we currently know it. Released alongside Batgirl and Green Lantern, DC's most popular and recognizable character was produced in two coveted variants: Blue and Blue Metallic— both exclusive to 2010 San Diego Comic-Con attendees. With a limited run of 480 examples each, this pop-culture relic is currently valued at around $3,500 (Blue) and $5,000 (Blue Metallic) in high grade condition. If you can find it, that is.

Blue 2010

SDCC ‘10

FUNKO 12

FREDDY AS TONY STARK

Metallic 2012 SDCC ‘12

From 2011 to 2013, Funko released a series of 25 unique and Freddy-fronted Pops that are universally considered to be the most coveted Pops in existence. And though the production run varied for each, all 25 had a special Metallic variant limited to 12 examples each and distributed exclusively through drawings and raffles hosted by Funko. The community adoringly refers to them as the “Freddy 12s.”

Though owning any of the Freddy 12s in Metallic form is like owning a Prizm Gold rookie card of a potential superstar, Freddy Funko as Iron Man — sporting the legendary Bleeding Edge armor — commands the most collector attention. In high grade form, this incredibly scarce Pop will run you about $8,000 for the base version and $45,000 for the Metallic version.

MARVEL 40 WOLVERINE

Flaunting his signature sideburns and classic X-Men suit, Wolverine's unmasked 2013 Toytastik exclusive is arguably the most desirable X-Men Funko Pop! in existence. The conclusion of the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con was punctuated with the immediate reveal of this Pop through Toytastik, with an attainable 1,500 examples created. For collectors who prefer something more scarce, a glow-in-the-dark counterpart is limited to just 500 examples and commands a healthy premium.

2013 Toytastik

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

2005 - 2019

2003 - 2015

Powered

Buyer's Guide

Buyer's Guide

What’s not to love about the late, great Mickey Mantle? He belted 536 home runs, earned three AL MVP awards, helped the Yankees win 12 pennants and finished his illustrious, 18-year career in pinstripes with seven World Series titles. An unassuming ballplayer from Commerce, Oklahoma, he literally defined the American dream.

Mantle is the Cover Star selection from Love of the Game Auctions for our May issue of the PSA Buyer’s Guide, now in its fifth edition. The 1952 Topps #311, graded PSA 3, sports a beautifully centered blue ink autograph from The Mick that’s earned a PSA 10 rating. Beyond Mickey’s powerful presence on the cover, this month's effort features dozens of choice collectibles up for bid over the next couple of months from many of the top auction houses in the country. Other coveted items up for sale include a Jackie Robinson single-signed baseball (PSA AUTO 8) from Memory Lane; a 1954 Topps Henry Aaron #128 (PSA 9) from Goldin; and a 1926 Type 1 Original Photo of golf legend Bobby Jones from Man on the Rock

You will also find a comprehensive lineup of fastapproaching auctions followed by an up-to-date compilation of industry shows, where PSA and other Collectors divisions will be on-site, filling pages 14 and 16, respectively. As always, our “Supply Chest” page (21) is back with the products you need to keep your collectibles in great condition. From Cardboard Gold (perfect fit sleeves) and Card Shellz (Hero Diamond Shell cases) to Graded Guard (protective single-card cases) and Zion Cases (colorful carrying cases that hold up to 110 PSA-encapsulated cards), you’ll find all the protection you’ll ever need.

As you’re reading through this particular PSA Buyer’s Guide, it truly is a great time to be a sports fan. The 2023 MLB campaign is underway, the NFL Draft kicks off on April 27 in Kansas City, Missouri, and the NBA and NHL playoffs are already in full swing. Good luck to your favorite players and teams, and best of luck to you with finding your next great grail.

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

Buyer's COVER STAR

Mickey Mantle #311

Estimate: $200,000+ LoveOfTheGameAuctions.com 4.10.23 - 4.29.23

is too high. No sooner does one sale of the card break a record before another one tops it again. Where the card becomes truly rare, however, is with the introduction of a vintage autograph, particularly one in ultra-high grade. This example checks all the boxes: well-centered, clean image with a beautiful vintage ballpoint signature that’s centered perfectly on the canvas with the autograph graded PSA 10 by the leader in authentication and card grading. Likely the finest autographed 1952 Topps Mantle in existence, it’s simply spectacular and one of the greatest items we have ever offered. Look for this museum-quality piece and more, including more than 300 signed 1952 Topps cards, in Love of the Game’s Spring Auction, which closes April 29.

1952 Topps

Signed Jackie Robinson #312

PSA AUTH/AUTO AUTH

Spring Auction

4.10.23 - 4.29.23

Estimate: $100,000+

LoveOfTheGameAuctions.com

1952 Topps

Mickey Mantle #311

PSA 8

Goldin 100

5.12.23 - 6.14.23

Estimate: $250,000 Goldin.co

2000 P.M. Japanese Neo

Hironobu Yoshida

Lugia — Holo #249

PSA 9/AUTO AUTH

Trading Card Games Signature 2023

4.3.23 - 4.22.23

HA.com/TCG

1926 Golf Swinging

Type 1 Original Photo

PSA AUTH Price: $75,000

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

Jackie Robinson

Single-Signed Baseball

PSA AUTO 8

1986 Fleer

Michael Jordan #57

PSA 9

Spring Rarities Auction

4.15.23 - 5.6.23

Minimum Bid: $10,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

Price: $19,999

eBay: pc_sportscards

Bobby Jones

Lionel Messi #71BIS

PSA 10

PSA 7.5

Goldin 100

5.12.23 - 6.14.23

Estimate: $25,000

Goldin.co

Spring Auction

4.10.23 - 4.29.23

Estimate: $10,000+ LoveOfTheGameAuctions.com

Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston

1964 Heavyweight Championship

Type 1 Original Photo

PSA AUTH Price: $5,000

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

PSA 7

Kyle

PSA 10

Spring Rarities Auction

4.15.23 - 5.6.23

Minimum Bid: $10,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

Price: $4,999

eBay: pc_sportscards

PSA 3

May 2023 Encore Auction

5.11.23 - 5.21.23

Minimum Bid: $10

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

2004 Panini Sports Megacracks

1887 N172 Old Judge Hoss Radbourn

1909 E95 Philadelphia Caramel Honus Wagner

2021 Panini Contenders

Trask #121 Auto /21

1888 N28 Allen & Ginter

Mike "King" Kelly

Shoeless Joe Jackson

1917 Chicago White Sox

Type 1 Original Photo

PSA AUTH

1957 Topps Football

Johnny Unitas #138

PSA 6

Spring Auction

4.10.23 - 4.29.23

Estimate: $15,000+

LoveOfTheGameAuctions.com

May 2023 Encore Auction

5.11.23 - 5.21.23

Minimum Bid: $10

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

1954

Henry Aaron #128

PSA 9

Goldin 100

5.12.23 - 6.14.23

Estimate: $100,000

Goldin.co

WATA 9.8/A+

PSA 4

PSA 9 (OC)

The Ages of Sega Showcase Auction

3.30.23 - 4.27.23

HA.com/videogames

Spring Rarities Auction

4.15.23 - 5.6.23

Minimum Bid: $5,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

Spring 2023 Auction

4.7.23 - 5.2.23

Minimum Bid: $1,500

ClassicAuctions.net

Topps

1917 Collins-McCarthy Rogers Hornsby #80

1998 Sega Saturn Panzer Dragoon Saga

Sealed

1979 Topps

Wayne Gretzky #18

Willie Mays #90

PSA 9

Juan Soto #HMT55 Gold Refractor/50

PSA 10

Spring Rarities Auction

4.15.23 - 5.6.23

Minimum Bid: $10,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

Price: $14,999

eBay: pc_sportscards

Michael Jordan

1985 Chicago Bulls

Type 1 Original Photo

PSA AUTH

Price: $10,000

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

1948

Jackie Robinson #79

PSA 2

May 2023 Encore Auction

5.11.23 - 5.21.23

Minimum Bid: $10

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Gordie

PSA 6

Spring 2023 Auction

4.6.23 - 4.23.23

Minimum Bid: $2,500

ClassicAuctions.net

LeBron James/Kobe Bryant #LJ-KB

Dual NBA Logo Autographed

Patches 1/1

PSA AUTH/AUTO 10

Goldin 100

5.12.23 - 6.14.23

Estimate: $500,000

Goldin.co

1954 Topps

2018 Topps Chrome Update

Leaf

1951 Parkhurst

Howe #66

2004 UD Exquisite Collection

Schedule 2023 Auction Schedule 2023

April 23

Closing: REA’s Spring Catalog Auction RobertEdwardAuctions.com

April 26

Closing: Goldin April Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

April 27

Closing: Rockhurst Auctions RockhurstAuctions.com

Opening: Goldin Vintage Elite Auction Goldin.co

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

April 29

Closing: Love of the Game Auctions Spring Premier Auction LOTGAuctions.com

Closing: SCP Auctions’ Spring Premier SCPAuctions.com

Early May Closing: Classic Auctions Spring 2023 Auction ClassicAuctions.net

May 5

Opening: Goldin May Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

May 6

Closing: Memory Lane Spring Rarities Auctions MemoryLaneInc.com

May 11

Opening: REA Encore Auction

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions

SiriusSportsAuctions.com

May 11-13

Closing: Heritage Spring Sports Catalog Auction HA.com/sports

May 12

Opening: Goldin 100 Auction Goldin.co

May 17

Closing: Goldin Vintage Elite Auction Goldin.co

May 21

Closing: REA Encore Auction

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

May 25

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions

SiriusSportsAuctions.com

May 31

Closing: Goldin May Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

June 2

Opening: Goldin June Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

June 8

Opening: REA Encore Auction

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions

SiriusSportsAuctions.com

June 10-11

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

June 14

Closing: Goldin 100 Auction Goldin.co

June 18

Closing: REA Encore Auction

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

June 22

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions

SiriusSportsAuctions.com

June 28

Closing: Goldin June Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

Schedule 2023 Show Schedule 2023

Dallas The Dallas Card Show Boston - The Fenway Card Show

Long Beach Expo*

Too Many Games Expo

Collect-A-Con Kansas City

San Diego Comic-Con

The National

Collect-A-Con Long Beach

The Burbank Show

Long Beach Expo*

Collect-A-Con Charlotte

Collect-A-Con Denver Comic Con New York

Portland Retro Gaming Expo

Collect-A-Con Houston Toronto Card Show

Chicago Sports Spectacular

Pop Culture

Show Signer 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

Coins, Cards, Video Games

Show Signer Autographs

Sports Cards, Pop Culture

Pop Culture

Video Games

Show Signer Autographs

Sports Cards

Sports Cards

2023 Show Schedule

PSA TYPE 1

Supply

Chest Supply Chest Supply

Perfect Fit Sleeves for PSA-Graded Cards

CardboardGold.com cardboardgold@gmail.com

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

Hero Diamond Shell for PSA Slabs

support@cardshellz.com

HERO Diamond Shell: $10

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

GradedGuard and Phantom Display

GradedGuard.us/collections/acrylic-cases info@gradedguard.us

Phantom Display: $45

Zion Cases

ZionCases.com help@zioncases.com

Slab Case X Color Rush: $100

Registry Set Registry Set Registry

THE FOLLOWING Q&A WITH DIRK NOWITZKI COLLECTOR BUDDY WILSON (AKA “BUDDYW41” ON THE PSA SET REGISTRY) IS A COMPANION PIECE TO A FEATURE ARTICLE (“TOP SET: MAVERICK”) THAT INCLUDES BUDDY IN THE MAY 2023 ISSUE OF PSA MAGAZINE

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

BUDDY WILSON: “The 1998 EX Credentials Future Rookie /23. I was close to acquiring this card two years ago from a friend I met in the hobby as the card wound up at his friend's shop in NYC. We had come to financial terms regarding the card and I was going to get my hands on it at the Midwest Monster [show] in Indianapolis. The day of the show when I was supposed to acquire the card, I discovered the card was actually lost/stolen several years prior and when the card picture surfaced on a Basketball Facebook group, the original owner saw it or someone who knew it was lost asked for it back, and rightfully so. So the card never reached me, but now I can finally say I have one in my hands. I even think it's the exact same one!”

PSA BG: What is the next Dirk Nowitzki card you hope to acquire (and why)?

BW: “The 2021-22 Prizm Black 1/1. It would be the last 1/1 from that year's Prizm set and pretty much lock me into the second straight Prizm year's rainbow including all of the 1/1s.”

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

BW: “I don't think there's one that eludes me per se, but the 2012 Prizm Gold Dirk has popped up several times over the last year but the timing just wasn't right each time in order for me to purchase it. The 2012 Prizm Gold is one of only three Prizm Gold's /10 that I don't currently have, in addition to the 2014 true Gold Prizm and 2018.”

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

BW: “That’s easy, the 1998 SkyBox Premium Star Rubies /25. I am hoping when Dirk goes into the Basketball Hall of Fame this summer, a collector will look to cash in on that and one will hopefully surface for sale.”

PSA BG: What was your best auction steal?

BW: “Ooo, this is a tough one. I think I'd have to go with the 2018 Flawless Larry O'Brien Trophy Gems 1/1. For those who aren't familiar with these cards, it is the Larry O'Brien Trophy on the front of the card covered in real diamonds. It’s an absolutely amazing looking card!”

the midas touch

Going once, going twice, going three times with

By Ben Magalaner

2015

Nikola Jokic #152

Rookie Autographs

PSA 9/AUTO 10

SOLD: 03.23.23

PRICE: $12,300 02

1997

Shareef Abdur-Rahim #77

Precious Metal Gems

PSA 10

SOLD: 03.23.23

PRICE: $7,866 03

PSA 10

SOLD: 03.23.23

PRICE: $19,229

Nikola Jokic's NBA career began as an unheralded second-round pick, contributing to the scarcity of highend early career collectibles of the now two-time NBA MVP. With Jokic not appearing in National Treasures' Rookie Patch Autograph line, this Rookie Autographs collectible emanating from the premium brand is one of Jokic’s most coveted rookie cards. With only two graded higher, this card drew an impressive 62 bids in Goldin's Weekly Auction and sold for an eye-opening $12,300.

Limited to a print run of just 50 cards, this 1997 SkyBox Metal Universe Championship PMG of Shareef Abdur-Rahim is one of only two PSA 10s in existence. Per Card Ladder, the card achieved the highest sale price of any Abdur-Rahim card sold as a single-card lot at $7,866.

Short of the Superfractor, it doesn’t get any better than this 1st Bowman Red Refractor of buzzy Cubs prospect Cristian Hernandez. Limited to only five examples, the tantalizing card led to a sale price of $19,229 in a recent Goldin Weekly Auction.

Panini National Treasures

SkyBox Metal Universe Championship

2021 Bowman Chrome Cristian Hernandez #CPA-CH

Prospect Autographs Red Refractor

CREDITS

TONY

Larry Fitzgerald Cover PAUL JASIENSKI/ASSOCIATED PRESS RICK SCUTERI/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jerry Rice Cover PAUL SPINELLI via AP (BOTH) Best Hands in the Hobby RICK SCUTERI/ASSOCIATED PRESS Superfreak TOM OLMSCHEID/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Top Set JOERG SARBACH/ASSOCIATED PRESS BILL JANSCHA/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Copyright 2023 by Collectors Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any kind without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. PSA Magazine is published monthly and nothing contained herein is a solicitation to buy or sell the listed cards by the publisher, editor, or staff.

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

Randy Moss (Base)

Larry Fitzgerald (Base)

Jerry Rice (Base)

Randy Moss Gold (#/84)

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