PSA Magazine: 2023 July #019

Verify. Track. Vault.

2 EDITOR’S NOTE

3 SPEED THRILLS The Beasts of the Breakaway 13

FAST FIVE A Brief Q&A with Collectors Team Member Drew Sierra 17

COOKING THE BOOKS Curry's Collectibility Runs Hot 25 KABOOM/KABUST Card Ladder Reveals the Biggest Market Swings of the Past Month

29

GYM LEADER Machopping It Up with Swolespoke 37

MAJOR LASERS

When Beam Team Shocked the Showcase 45

CENTER ICE COMPLETIST Robert Meyer Crashes the Net with PSA

53

PRICE GUIDE 76 COVER GUIDE

Editor's Note

Another month in the hobby, another all-time high worth highlighting. It’s a milestone I’m especially thrilled to share, as it comes not from a recent sale but from an evolving service that now enables collectors to better manage their collection and pursue their passion.

It’s hard to believe we launched the Collectors Vault nearly a year ago in July of 2022. It was an especially exciting time as PSA was gearing up for a banner weekend at The National and the usual excitement for rare card encounters was climbing by the day.

As the show approached, the Collectors Vault made landfall with little marketing and a simple mechanism: a "Send to the Vault" shipping option for PSA submissions in the PSA Online Submission Center. Now, as the rush of our industry’s main event turns the corner once more, I can share with great pride that the Collectors Vault has officially surpassed 100,000 collectibles currently vaulted, with approximately 100,000 more on their way once they finish grading.

It’s a testament not just to the visionary team here at Collectors and PSA, but to a community of collectors who provided feedback and direction in wanting a new agnostic platform that allowed them to vault, manage and transact with their collectibles in the cloud. Since

January of this year, new PSA submissions have enjoyed a direct line to liquidity by way of Marketplace and Weekly Auction listings on Goldin.

After all, inactivity is hardly a trait of the collector gene. Buying and selling, wheeling and dealing, consolidating to fund a bigger acquisition—whether the venue is a convention floor or an online listing, staying fluid and fielding offers has always been part of the fun, and I believe the growth of the Vault supports such notions.

Similar to this time a year ago, the anticipation is building for what rare sights will surface at The National in 2023. However, I’m finding this feeling transcends marquee card shows as the Collectors Vault continues to grow.

Happy collecting,

Nat Turner CEO, Collectors

THE BEASTS OF THE BREAKAWAY

By Jon Gold

You know what they say about speed, right?

In both the game and the hobby, it kills. The world’s fastest athletes have often been fan favorites. Speed demons on the basepaths haunting pitchers' windups. Blazing wideouts sprinting past ankle-twisted cornerbacks. Run-and-gun point guards going rim-to-rim. Olympic heroes cementing their legacies with spectacular dashes and downhills. Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. Do you think she went slow?

Since the invention of the finish line, we’ve been obsessed with going faster. Chalk it up to the thrill of the chase, but there is something about catching an athlete in a dead sprint with another closing in that quickens the pulse of everyone watching—or collecting.

For sports card and memorabilia fanatics, there is no shortage of cardboard devoted to the fastest among us.

If you can catch them, of course.

SPEED FREAK CORNERSTONES »

1992 Upper Deck Deion Sanders #SP3

“Prime

Time’s Two”

His 1989 Score Football rookie card is a bit plain, and his 1989 Topps Baseball rookie isn't much better. It would take a few years for a card company to adequately capture the true versatility of “Neon Deion” and a bit of the speed that made “Prime” so special. Speaking of “sp”ecial, this was only the third Upper Deck SP card following Michael Jordan, Nolan Ryan, and Rickey Henderson. Gem Mint versions of the dual Deion go for around $300.

1990 Score Bo Jackson #697

Like Deion's rookie cards, capturing Bo's essence on cardboard was impossible until manufacturers used a little creativity. That would come in 1990 alongside one of the most iconic cards of the early 1990s with Jackson featured shirtless, abs glistening, football pads draped over his chest, and a baseball bat hung over his back. Also, like the Sanders SP card, this one goes for around $300 as a PSA 10.

1966 Philadelphia Bob Hayes #58

"Bullet" Bob Hayes was already deemed the "World’s Fastest Human" before he stepped foot in a Dallas Cowboys uniform. The franchise had taken a flyer on the flyer, who’d won the 100-meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Hayes, known more for his track exploits than his untested football talents, made an immediate splash with the Cowboys and topped the 1000-yard mark in his first two seasons—scoring 12 and 13 touchdowns. He remains the only player in NFL history to win an Olympic gold medal, as well as a Super Bowl ring, and his 1966 Philadelphia rookie card is coveted by Cowboys fans. No PSA 9 copies — of which there are fewer than 10 examples — have come up for auction since 2017.

1980 Topps Rickey Henderson #482

As a ten-time All-Star between 1980 and 1991, a two-time World Series champion and the 1990 American League MVP, Henderson is one of the most legendary speed demons of all time. The “Man of Steal” remains the all-time stolen bases king and Major League Baseball's career runs leader. His Topps rookie card is one of the toughest grades in the hobby—of more than 30,000 graded by PSA, just 26 PSA 10 examples exist. There's a reason they sell for six figures.

1962 Topps Lou Brock #387 Star Rookie

Like his fellow speedster Henderson, Brock was a trailblazer on the basepaths. And like Henderson, his Topps rookie card is almost an impossible grade. Just 3,645 copies of the card have been graded, with only two PSA 10s and 30 PSA 9s. The only known auction for a PSA 10 version went for $32,545 in 2012 and could possibly command double or triple that now.

T206 Sweet Caporal 150/30 Ty Cobb

Portrait – Green

Brock and then Henderson erased Cobb from the all-time steals record book, but the Detroit Tigers legend still holds the record for stealing home 54 times. Known for his blazing speed on the field, as well as his nasty streak off it, the Georgia Peach was also baseball's hit king until Pete Rose surpassed him in 1985. Several of his PSA-graded cards from the early 20th century sell for more than five figures, including a 1911 T–206 card with a PSA 6 grade, which commanded nearly $110,000 at an auction in 2022.

2009 Panini National Treasures

Stephen Curry #5

Autograph Jersey Century Platinum

He may have lost a step from his prodigious peak, but don't tell Curry that. He remains one of basketball’s fastest players and one who would be voted “Most Likely to Make Dizzy.” And speaking of dizzy, his rarefied air hit a new high with the $1.08 million sale of one of his most coveted RPAs.

1996 Topps Chrome Allen Iverson #171 Refractor

What Iverson lacked in size he more than made up for in speed and heart. He was never the fastest player in the NBA, but few could make it coast-tocoast quicker than AI. As he improved and matured in his illustrious career, he began using his speed more creatively. His Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card remains at the top of Iverson collectors' lists, and Gem Mint versions have sold for more than $50,000.

2015 Upper Deck The Cup Connor McDavid #197 Autograph Patch

Among the litany of awards he's won — in what is quickly becoming an overfilled trophy case — “McJesus” is a three-time winner of the NHL All-Star Skills Competition Fastest Skater event. He'd probably trade all three for one Stanley Cup, but he'll get there—probably a few times. McDavid took his game to a new level this year by smashing his career highs with 153 points and 64 goals. It was one of the best offensive seasons in NHL history. He has long been the apple of collectors' eyes, with highly graded versions of his Upper Deck The Cup RPA rookie cards selling for six figures.

1958 Topps Bobby Hull #66

The “Golden Jet” was a legend as much for the speed of his shot as the speed of his skates—two traits that served him well during a decorated career that spanned nearly two dozen years and included two MVPs, three scoring titles, 10 First Team All-Star nods and a Stanley Cup in 1961. On one of the great vintage hockey cards, a young fresh-faced Hull, not yet 20, grins and stares towards a fateful future. Scarce PSA 8 versions of the Topps card have sold for more than $50,000, but with his death earlier this year, fans and hockey historians have been re-exploring his career.

2018 Panini Kaboom! Kylian Mbappé #KM

As one of the current generation’s emerging world soccer icons, Kylian Mbappé is considered one of the game's true gazelles. It's one thing to have speed on the pitch but it's another to have controlled speed, and if Mbappé has one thing, it's body control. His cards have taken off into the ether, especially his first Kaboom! card.

2008 Sports Illustrated for Kids Usain Bolt #294

As an eleven-time World Champion and eight-time Olympic gold medalist, Bolt remains the world record holder in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. Bolt's Sports Illustrated for Kids has been graded 320 times, with 10 Gem Mint versions. Prices climbed to otherworldly heights during the pandemic-era card boom, selling for more than $20,000 in March 2021 before settling to $8,100 with the last sale in August 2021.

2012 Topps USA Olympics Allyson Felix #66 Autograph – Silver

In addition to being the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history, Felix is also the most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history with 11 total medals from five consecutive Olympic Games. For such a significant athlete, her cards are remarkably cheap.

2004 Leaf Rookies & Stars Michael Phelps Fans of the Game

Autographed

The Olympian of all Olympians, Phelps was to water what Bolt and Felix were to land. Phelps is simply the most successful Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals, including 23 gold. He has been captured on cardboard for years, but his autographed card from Donruss/ Leaf's popular Fans of the Game set remains a favorite. PSA 10 copies have sold for more than $2,000.

Fast Five

A BRIEF Q&A WITH TEAM

MEMBER DREW SIERRA

Photography by Nick Estrada

The Favorite

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

My title here is Content Production Coordinator, working across all creative output from PSA— photography, video, editorial, email campaigns and more. I also produce The PSA Pod

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT COLLECTORS?

It’s exciting that my work contributes to a category I’m deeply passionate about. Helping develop a brand I admired before I even started here is a special kind of satisfaction.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WORKING AT COLLECTORS?

I have so many great memories and I’ve seen some truly special cards come through the grading room but nothing brings co-workers together like an office rip. My first month here, we opened some Prizm together and seeing everyone’s passion and excitement left a big impression on me.

WHAT WAS YOUR LATEST HOBBY ACQUISITION AND WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?

Over the last year, I picked up an endless amount of Austin Reaves cards led by his Select Courtside Orange Pulsar. Rooting for an awesome young player on my favorite team while owning his cards made the season so much more fun.

WHAT IS THE GRAIL ITEM YOU HOPE TO OWN ONE DAY?

I feel like my answer to this is constantly changing as I’m discovering new cards every day but LeBron James is my all-time favorite player. I’ve been a fan of his for as long as I can remember. Give me his 2003 Ultimate Collection Auto.

COOKING THE BOOKS

CURRY’S COLLECTIBILITY RUNS HOT!!!

By Ryan Porter

RECIPE FOR HOBBY HEAT

Preheat with NBA pedigree and stay lean

Season twice with a bit of March Madness magic

Turn pro and offer a taste by breaking the rookie

3-point record

Simmer for a few years

Set the league on fire

Everyone’s a critic, right?

Poll the crowd, scroll the comments and scan the awards season headlines: complete and total agreement just isn’t a thing in this rated-and-reviewed world. Taste is relative, collectibility is subjective, and even the finest chef’s kiss is sure to sail over someone’s head.

Then again, “Chef Curry” doesn’t miss — not when records are on the menu.

For a Steph-driven masterclass, look no further than the 2015-16 season when Curry cooked the record books to unfathomable degrees. While leading the Warriors to an all-time 73-win season, he became the first 50-40-90 club member to average 30+ points per game and reset the 3-point record (his own) to a splash-happy threshold of 402.

But perhaps the most impressive feat of that year was aligning the MVP ballot-carrying media on that ever-polarizing topic of most-valuable. MJ never did it. LeBron and Shaq finished one vote shy. Steph Curry wowed a room of 131 critics and remains the only unanimous MVP in NBA history. Maybe it boils down to a level of likability so extreme that it overpowers allegiances, preconceptions, and the zagging tendencies of that one last naysayer.

In the Hobby, his approval rating stays hot. Throw it all together:

four rings, dynasty success, career longevity, game-changing range, and Golden State color-match flair for good measure. Don’t forget the records — he’s a threat to break one on any given night (probably his own). Add up every Curry-induced “BANG!” yelled in break rooms and Mike Breen telecasts — he probably owns that number too.

Must be fun to be a Curry guy, thought every collector ever.

Ryan Channels is one of those guys, as well as the co-founder of Sonoma’s newest card shop, California Roadshow. “I can’t wait to see what the Curry community brings through these doors. We’re living the dream. We experienced his rise to stardom and now get to build our collections as he builds his legacy.”

Give them credit: there were some lean years to start, both on the court and in the Hobby. In fact, when honing a collection around “Mr. Unanimous,” the only potential flashpoint is his rookie card catalog. The class of 2009 debuted in a product blind spot: too late for NBA-licensed Upper Deck cards, too early for Panini’s Prizm era, and just in time to catch Topps with a foot out the door. The company released just two products in its final licensed season (down from nine the year prior).

Stack those first Curry rookies next to LeBron’s Exquisite era in ‘03 or

Luka’s Panini magic from ‘18, and it’s not out of the question to see more famine than feast. The 2011 NBA lockout didn’t help the cause with only five major product releases.

Is Curry’s flagship Topps card iconic? No doubt. But for the greatest shooter of all time, is the design a bit heavy on “baby-faced” and light on “assassin”? That’s certainly debatable among top collectors. Personally, Channels digs the white space. “I’ve always loved the Topps t-shirt card, but I’m also a huge fan of getting cards signed, and the white tee is a perfect canvas for in-person ink.”

It’s not for the palate of fellow Curry guy Zach Garrett (@holygrailsportscards), but he found it liberating. “His rookies just don’t do it for me — especially the Topps and Bowman cards — so I made the decision early on to focus on his non-rookie stuff. I feel like it freed me up to build a collection with range and diversity in design.”

Channels initially had the opposite goal of landing every Curry rookie card, but has since traded a few away in the name of savoring more recent moments. “Sometimes the story can be more important to me than the card itself. It’s so much more rewarding to have a memory attached.”

It’s safe to say Curry keeps his collectors’ plates full of those.

CHEF’S TABLE

Go off the rookie menu and spice things up with selections from those Curry collectors having all the fun.

2014 SP AUTHENTIC

STEPHEN CURRY #126

FLAIR UPDATE ROW 1

AUTOGRAPH

"How many pack-pulled autos come signed in gold ink? The card itself has the beautiful superimposed look and finish that made Showcase famous in the nineties. I think it’s a must for Curry collectors, and don’t mind that it features him in his Davidson uniform — a super rare sight for an autographed Curry card. "

—Ryan Channels @ryanscardvault

2016 PANINI STUDIO

STEPHEN CURRY DOWNTOWN

"The first year of the highly collectible Downtown set was actually called From Downtown and features players firing from deep, so naturally Steph is #1 on the checklist. It remains his only Downtown with a 3-point shot, and for Bay Area collectors who actually want a sense of home in a Downtown piece, sailboats and the landmark Ferry Building set the right scene."

—Ryan Channels @ryanscardvault

THE BOOKS

2017 PANINI STATUS

STEPHEN CURRY STATUS

"I’m a “Status Truther,” a term dubbed by other Status addicts who love the scheme, shapes and shine of this product. The print run of the Status parallel is decided by the player's jersey number. After years of searching, I was fortunate to acquire Curry’s double jersey match numbered 30/30 and it’s easily one of my favorites."

—Zach Garrett @holygrailsportscards

2021 COURT KINGS

STEPHEN CURRY BLANK SLATE

"His list of accolades from the 202122 season is anything but blank — and it might be his best. NBA Championship, Finals MVP, Western Conference Finals MVP, All-Star Game MVP, 3-point record … out of his three Blank Slates, this one is my favorite, and the blue jersey is icing."

—Carlos Bautista Jr. @cardrepublicmnl

2019 PANINI DONRUSS OPTIC

STEPHEN CURRY SPLASH! – GOLD

"I just assume Panini made this insert set for Curry and the other players from the 2019 set were just fillers. Out of all the cards in my collection, this is the one I get the most offers for, and it’s also the last card I would ever want to part with. Pick up the Klay version and get the “Splash Bros” together."

—Zach Garrett @holygrailsportscards

2016 PANINI DONRUSS OPTIC

STEPHEN CURRY #94 PREVIEW

"Previews are sneaky rare with under 15 in existence, and the photo here is significant because it appears to be from the famous “double-BANG!” game against the Thunder when Curry drained a nearly half court game winner."

—Wes Ying @sixouttafivestars

2021 PANINI ONE AND ONE

STEPHEN CURRY #TMSCY TIMELESS MOMENTS

"The picture captured the night Curry broke the 3-point record with jerseys from Reggie Miller and Ray Allen in attendance. A great moment captured for the greatest shooter of all time, and a record that might never be broken."

—Cuong Lam @clsmooth32

2020 PANINI IMPECCABLE

STEPHEN CURRY #CC-SCU CANVAS CREATIONS AUTOGRAPH

"This card is beautifully designed; a technicolor cross between Upper Deck, Chronology and Color Blast. The canvas stock lends a nice artistic touch, too. It remains somewhat affordable but doesn’t show up often — so grab it when it does."

—Cuong Lam @clsmooth32

Cal Ripken, Bon Bonner, & Jeff Schneider #21 Orioles Future Stars

Bowman

2021 Bowman

2017 Bowman

2020 Bowman

1982 Topps

2005 Topps

1956 Topps

2018 Topps

1960 Topps

2018 Topps

2016 Bowman

2013 Bowman

BasKETbAll

Stephen Curry #321 Gold

Michael Jordan #4465 Poster Test Stickers PSA 9

2015

Devin Booker #308 Prizm Silver PSA 9

Kareem AbdulJabbar (Lew Alcindor) #25 PSA 8

2015 Immaculate Collection

Nikola Jokic #133 Rookie Patch Autograph PSA 8

2018

Anthony Davis #236 Prizm (Silver) PSA 9 $650 Monthly % Change +59% 2018 Cornerstones Trae Young #12

Royale Jaren Jackson Jr. #24 Kaboom! PSA 10

Michael Jordan #B14

Beam Team PSA 9 $886 Monthly % Change -42%

Luka Doncic #280 Orange Prizm PSA 10

Chrome Kevin Durant #131 Refractor PSA 9 $1,570 Monthly % Change -38%

2020 National Treasures

Tyrese Maxey #114 Rookie Patch Autograph PSA 9 $2,736 Monthly % Change -38%

2009 Topps

Crown

Prizm

1986 Sports Illustrated

1995 Stadium Club

1969 Topps

2007 Topps

2018 Prizm

2012 Prizm

Topps

1977 Topps

1981 Topps

E-X2001

2020 Prizm

MACHOPPING IT UP WITH SWOLEPOKE

GYM LEADER

BY DUSTIN PORRAS |

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK ESTRADA

MEW CAN DO IT!

Whether stacking signatures from the TCG’s canon of creatives or flexing on the Set Registry leaderboard, Rohmer’s no-days-off mentality is pushing Pokemon’s collectible potential to its performative peak.

Of course, his image wasn’t always defined by abs and slabs. Back in 1999, Rohmer was just another 90s kid packing on Pokémania with each new release of the original English sets.

He’s since evolved into a hobby beast, affectionately known as Swolepoke, as well as a legit authority in the collecting community. Swolepoke’s collecting regimen? Toning the PC with autographs by the franchise’s most renowned game designers and artists.

“Whether it’s from a sports icon or a celebrity, nothing beats an autograph. Acquiring a signature from someone you admire is just a rush,” said Rohmer.

Although Rohmer has landed some of the hobby’s biggest signatures, his collection also leaves room for unsigned cards that don’t need ink to achieve a legendary lift. As a result, his collection is equal parts diverse investment portfolio and battle-tested historical archive.

1999 POKÉMON GAME

PORYGON

1ST EDITION

39

SIGNED BY TOMOAKI IMAKUNI

Recording artist, illustrator, and longtime mascot for the Pokémon franchise, Tomoaki Imakuni is also known for his eccentric personality and unique costumes. He’s been involved with the TCG since the beginning, receiving cameos on cards such as Imakuni?’s Doduo and even having his own dedicated Trainer cards. When Rohmer attended the 2019 Pokémon World Championships, he approached Imakuni for an autograph with a 1st Edition Base Set Porygon—the very first card that Imakuni created artwork for.

1999 POKÉMON GAME CHARIZARD – HOLO #4

1ST EDITION

The 1999 Base Set Charizard is a symbol for all things elite in the collecting world and an immediate centerpiece for any fortunate enough to cage one. Rohmer acquired his copy by trading away his entire 2021 25th Anniversary Creatures Deck—a highly limited half-deck of 30 cards that hark back to the franchise’s origins, exclusively bestowed upon a small group of Creatures Inc. affiliates and Pokémon card artists. When a fellow collector reached out to negotiate a trade for the deck, Rohmer honed in on a PSA 10 1st Edition Base Set Charizard, a card he “never, ever dreamt” of owning. A deal was cut and the Charizard was his.

2000 POKÉMON JAPANESE PROMO LUCKY STADIUM –TRAINER TROPICAL MEGA BATTLE

The annual Tropical Mega Battle, held between 1999 and 2001 in Honolulu, Hawaii, marked the first time both U.S. and international Pokémon TCG players could compete with one another in an official tournament. This proved to be a formative time for Pokémon’s organized play division, as the template of these events eventually inspired the global championships we know today. This Lucky Stadium Trainer card was given out exclusively to competitors who placed during the event, meaning less than 50 copies are believed to have been printed. Extreme scarcity aside, the card also features bilingual card effects in English and Japanese, a rare occurrence that perfectly encapsulates the inclusive nature of this early Pokémon event.

2001 POKÉMON JAPANESE PROMO BIRTHDAY PIKACHU 25

NATTA WAKE VOL. 6

SIGNED BY KAGEMARU HIMENO

Collectors have been seeing Kagemaru Himeno credited on cards since 1999. As one of Pokémon’s most celebrated artists, Himeno has been behind some of the most recognizable card illustrations of all time: the Birthday Pikachu Black Star Promo and the Eeveelutions from the 1999 Jungle set, among many others. After not publicly signing in the U.S. for well over a decade, Himeno shocked the hobby by announcing a signing event at the Charlotte Regional Championships earlier this year. An estimated 450 collectors attended, and Rohmer was one of the lucky few to take home an autograph from a member of Pokémon royalty. Rohmer’s anointed card was a Japanese promo that was distributed in the Pokémon Card Ni Natta Wake manga, which Kagemaru Himeno also created. This playful card depicts a revised version of the Birthday Pikachu seen on earlier promos.

2001 POKÉMON JAPANESE PROMO SHINING MEW – HOLO 151 COROCORO COMICS

SIGNED BY

HIRONOBU YOSHIDA

“This is by far my favorite card in my collection,” states Rohmer. Diving further into Pokémon’s pool of creators, this Shiny Mew promo was signed by the card’s artist, Hironobu Yoshida, at the 2007 World Championships. With Mew being a Mythical Pokémon, it is fitting that Yoshida would leave his mark on this card considering that he is the creature designer for other iconic Mythicals such as Celebi, Darkrai, and Deoxys, the last of which he sketched alongside his signature. Similar to many of his fellow artists, Yoshida is an elusive figure who only publicly signs once in a blue moon—or, in this case, a blue Mew. Looking to make an offer? Look elsewhere. According to Rohmer, “it’s the card I could never see myself parting with.”

2004 POKÉMON EX TEAM ROCKET RETURNS R ENERGY –REVERSE FOIL 95

SIGNED BY TAKUMI AKABANE

Takumi Akabane is one of the original members of the Pokémon Trading Card Game development team and has also contributed artwork for the game’s many Special Energy cards. This Reverse Foil R Energy card from EX Team Rocket Returns sports ink from Akabane alongside a drawing of the Gen 4 ghost-type Pokémon Drifloon. Both the card and the signature were graded as perfect 10s, making this piece, in Rohmer’s words, a “unicorn.”

2004 POKÉMON JAPANESE CLASH OF THE BLUE SKY RAYQUAZA –HOLO GOLD STAR 67

1ST EDITION

SIGNED BY MASAKAZU FUKUDA

The EX-era Gold Star cards are up there among the most desirable Pokémon chase sets in existence. Each card features a different Shiny Pokémon depicted as the epic, awe-inspiring figure that they are. This is all thanks to the dramatic renderings provided by Masakazu Fukuda, who took ownership of the Gold Stars and raised them to greatness. Rohmer personally got this Rayquaza autographed at the 2020 Dallas Regional Championships, where Fukuda was publicly signing for the first time in years. Fukuda’s additional Rayquaza sketch on top of an already coveted card handily multiplies this card’s cool factor.

2006 POKÉMON EX HOLON PHANTOMS MEW – HOLO 111

SIGNED

BY KEN SUGIMORI

A collection of Pokémon’s finest autographed cards would not be complete without Ken Sugimori, the artist behind the original 151 Pokémon illustrations, the franchise’s many video game covers, and over a thousand unique cards. Along with flaunting a rather elusive autograph, this card has another one-of-a-kind quality. On it, Sugimori has sketched an image of Mew; it is an extremely rare occurrence for a Sugimori sketch to depict something other than his signature Pikachu head. Rohmer has stated that he has never seen a Sugimori Mew before and that this may very well be the first and only of its kind.

2006

MEW – HOLO GOLD STAR 15

&

CHARIZARD –

HOLO GOLD STAR 52

As a PSA Set Registry user, Rohmer became the first collector on the platform to build the unlimited Japanese Dragon Frontiers Holofoils set to 100% completion. This set contains 22 cards and features Delta Species remixes of classic Pokémon, including a Grass-type Dragonite, a Psychic-type Ninetales, and this dazzling Gold Star duo. Searching for ways to easily catalog his collection, Rohmer decided to load his set onto the Set Registry after seeing the benefits it offered. “Your whole collection is right there on one page,” he explains. “It’s easy to view and you know the values… it’s a cool way of having everything under one roof without having to put in a lot of effort.” What’s more, every card in Jeremy’s set is a Gem Mint 10.

Check out Swolepoke’s complete set on the PSA Set Registry:

POKÉMON JAPANESE DRAGON FRONTIERS

2006 POKÉMON JAPANESE DRAGON FRONTIERS

When the 1992 Stadium Club Beam Team insert set first lit up the scene just over 30 years ago, that’s exactly what it was: a supernova that forever changed how people looked at chase cards.

Collectors of a certain age remember the dreary dullness of card manufacturer offerings before that big bang moment. At the time, there was no such thing as a highly collectible insert set. Fleer AllStars? Upper Deck Silver Sluggers? Cool to the touch...

Beam Team delivered a jolt, a paradigm shift not unlike a few years later when ultra-rare parallels, autographs, and memorabilia would be commonplace.

Driven by a checklist of the game’s most electric and an innovative, never-before-seen design inspired by the Topps-sponsored “Beams Above the Rim” laser show, the Stadium Club Beam Team set quickly recharged the hobby.

Factor in a level of scarcity that was just beginning to shine through the heyday of the Junk Wax era, and it’s easy to see why the original Beam Team — and some of its later incarnations — continues to power personal collections.

Here’s a shocker: 1992 Stadium Club wasn’t actually the first sighting of a Beam Team insert.

Topps had incorporated Beam Team inserts in its flagship 1992 Topps product earlier that year. Lacking the foil, grandeur, and rarity of the Stadium Club set—and spreading its wattage thin with three players to a card—these Topps Beam Team inserts barely made a blip.

That certainly wasn’t the case with the Stadium Club Beam Team cards. Inserted into Series 2 packs and introduced in late October 1992, the insert rode the current of insane hype surrounding Shaquille O’Neal’s NBA debut.

He burst onto the scene two weeks later in brilliant fashion, scoring 12 points while grabbing 18 rebounds in a 110–100 win over Miami Heat. That performance sparked a streak of 11 double-doubles to begin his career, and by December, his Beam Team rookie card was arguably the hottest card on the market.

Meanwhile, the NFL draft class that year was a bust; baseball was coming down from an early-nineties Ken Griffey Jr. high, and the hockey world was waiting for Eric Lindros to flex his star power.

In 1992, it was Shaq—and only Shaq—and his Beam Team insert was the card to own. Michael Jordan wasn’t far behind, and his card still radiates with collectability.

Topps returned in 1993 with a well-received Beam Team sequel that included popular Jordan and Shaq cards alongside rookie versions of Chris Webber and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. But a poorly designed third effort did not register. It took another year — and the introduction of intricate diecutting — for the set to regain its magnetism. That 1995 set would be the last until 2000, when Beam Team was reintroduced as a numbered insert with print runs of 500 each.

The culture shock continues to the present day, with Topps making Beam Team a Stadium Club fixture across baseball and soccer releases and current greats now powering the set into a whole new era of collectability.

1992 STADIUM CLUB MICHAEL JORDAN #1

Inserted at a rate of one per Series 2 box and featuring a 21-card set, the Jordan insert was one of the first truly hard pulls in the card collection arena. Pick the wrong box, and you’d end up with Jeff Hornacek. Pick the right box and land a Jordan card that is now worth more than $6,000 if in PSA 10 condition. Only 102 of the close to 2,500 PSA-graded versions have commanded PSA 10 status.

1992 STADIUM CLUB SHAQUILLE O’NEAL #21

Gem Mint versions of Shaq’s arguably top rookie insert card hit a peak of more than five figures during the recent card boom, while they’ve fallen back down to earth a little. With 119 PSA 10 designations as of May, they’ll still set you back a pretty penny, with one selling for $5,000 late last year.

BEAM TEAM

BEAM TEAM

1993 STADIUM CLUB ANFERNEE HARDAWAY #23

BEAM TEAM

Speaking of pretty pennies, they don’t get much nicer than this. People forget the cultural force that was Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, Shaq’s Blue Chips co-star and Orlando Magic running mate. Drafted third but traded to the Magic for No. 1 pick, Chris Webber, Hardaway was an instant star, and he and Shaq barely scratched the surface of their potential. This remains one of Penny’s best rookie cards, and PSA 10 copies — of which there are fewer than 30 — can run at more than $400. Think that’s rare? There are only three Members Only PSA 10s.

2000 STADIUM CLUB PEYTON MANNING #BT20

BEAM TEAM

The Beam Team brand’s first foray into football also marked its first serial-numbered set, with just 500 per player and a 30-card set. Manning, Brett Favre, and Randy Moss are highlights of the set, which was printed on die-cut plastic, rendering them incredibly tough grades. Only seven of Manning’s cards have been graded by PSA: four 8s and three 9s.

2001 STADIUM CLUB KEN GRIFFEY JR. #BT9 BEAM TEAM

The first baseball Beam Team set features an absolutely loaded checklist of star cards sequentially numbered up to 500. Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr., Barry Bonds, Frank Thomas, and, of course, “The Kid” — Ken Griffey Jr.—are featured in the set. A PSA 10 Griffey with a population of six sold for nearly $1,000 in May.

2002 STADIUM CLUB MICHAEL JORDAN #BT2 BEAM TEAM

With just two words, Jordan announced his return to basketball, and in 2002, Topps announced his return to the Beam Team set with his first numbered version and the first one starring Jordan in a Washington Wizards uniform. A surprisingly few 43 have been graded by PSA, with nine coming back as Gem Mint 10s. A PSA 9, of which there are 14 copies, sold for $1,499 in March.

2007 STADIUM CLUB KOBE BRYANT #BTR-KB BEAM TEAM

In the mid-2000s, Topps re-introduced the Beam Team set with both memorabilia cards and autographed cards of the top rookies (albeit not including Kevin Durant). Even in graded condition, Kobe’s cards don’t sell for astronomical amounts, with PSA 8 copies selling for less than $400.

STADIUM CLUB SHOHEI OHTANI #BT-SO BEAM TEAM

This one hurts. Back in 2019, the Gold Rainbow 1/1 version of Ohtani’s first Beam Team, released in 2018 and graded PSA 10, sold for just $410 at auction. That was a nice pickup for the buyer, especially considering base versions in PSA 10 condition sell for more than $300 today.

2018

ERLING HAALAND #BEH

BEAM TEAM

Featuring an absolutely loaded set and inserted only in hobby packs at a rate of 1:216, the first Beam Team soccer set and has only increased in interest. Picking one card from the set is tough. The checklist includes Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and several other stars. But Haaland reigns supreme here, if only because the Superfractor 1/1 parallel recently sold at auction for $8,500 in PSA 9 condition.

2021 STADIUM CLUB CHROME UCL

Robert Meyer Crashes the Net with PSA

By Eric Shaw

The interviewer and the subject paused for a moment together. “Is that a word? I don’t even know if it’s a word, but if it is, that’s what I would call myself.” Sure enough, it is a word—by definition, “an obsessive and typically indiscriminate collector of something.” The unintentional gap created between the complete 1958 and 1964 Topps Hockey sets was the genesis of the self-proclaimed completist Robert Meyer.

Meyer is a Northeast native and long-time Boston resident. While his humble collecting origins could be described as indiscriminate, the journey that followed over the next half century was anything but.

PSA: I SUPPOSE WE’LL START WITH THE QUESTION EVERYONE ALWAYS WANTS TO KNOW AND DISCUSS: WHERE DID YOUR COLLECTING PASSION START?

ROBERT MEYER: Well, the collecting part was easy. As a kid, like so many others, I would take whatever spare change I had in my pocket, walk down to the corner store and buy packs of whatever they had. Typically, it was baseball or football, maybe some hockey or basketball. But I just loved collecting cards as a kid. To this day, I remember pulling a 1972 Topps Brooks Robinson from a pack and being absolutely thrilled. Fast forwarding a bit, several years later, I remember seeing a box of basketball cards on the counter, and it refreshed my curiosity. I thought I’d buy a pack of basketball cards and see what they’re like.

PSA: YOUR STORIES OF COLLECTING IN YOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND LATER ON IN LIFE BOTH START WITH A WALK TO THE CORNER STORE. WAS THIS THE POINT WHERE YOU WERE BACK INTO COLLECTING?

RM: I went home and opened that pack, and from

that point on, I went pretty hard at it for three to five years. That was probably in the early 1990s, and card companies were producing sets upon sets, so I became pretty disenchanted. It was just too much. I didn’t know what to collect. And I’m a completist, I guess—if that’s even a word. I like to complete things, and with so many sets, manufacturers, and player cards, it was just too much. All that went right up into the attic, and it’s still up there to this day.

PSA: YOUR COLLECTION TODAY IS PRIMARILY HOCKEY, SO HOW DID THAT STICK?

RM: When my oldest boy started playing hockey, I started to learn about the game. I was never really a hockey fan. But I lived in this incredible hockey town, so I started playing hockey myself and became infatuated with the sport. I learned everything I could about the game. Now, this all preceded me collecting hockey cards, but around this time, being from Boston, the two aspects started to blend. I thought to myself, “It would be cool to get a Bobby Orr rookie card; I wonder how much something like that is,” so I bought a raw, full 1966 Topps set. Then I was reading a book about the formation of the World Hockey Association (WHA), so I bought a 1972 set, the year the WHA formed. Then I was introduced to the concept of grading, and I think the first graded set I got was a 1957 Topps set. And I thought, “This is kind of interesting.” Then it just took off from there.

PSA: WAS THIS YOUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO PSA?

RM: Well, going back to the early 1990s, I was telling a guy at a card shop about some of the early basketball cards I had, and he suggested I grade them. PSA and card grading were in their infancy, and honestly, like a lot of people, I just didn’t

understand it. But as I started collecting these graded hockey sets, I started to understand it a little more. This led me to send in my own sets for grading. I think I started with the 1964 Topps Tall Boy set and got back a lot of varying grades and thought, “This is harder than I imagined.” I was trying to build these sets in middle grade or higher, and eventually, I learned about the Set Registry. But as you can see, I had the 1957 Topps, the 1964 Topps, and the 1972 set. This created these gaps, so I started building these sets, mostly from scratch, filling in these years. And that led to building out the bookends all the way through 1980 and all the way back to 1951. After that, I was satisfied with what I had accomplished and felt like I was done.

PSA: AFTER YOU BUILT THIS PART OF YOUR COLLECTION, WHAT WAS THE NEXT ASPECT THAT INSPIRED YOU TO KEEP WITH THE HOBBY?

RM: Well, I was happy with what I had built, but then I started looking at the pre-war stuff. I’m also a history buff, so I was reading some great literature on the origins of hockey. I was reading a book about Eddie Shore, one of the great early Bruins. So again, I asked myself that question related to collecting: “I wonder what his rookie card is.” Shore’s rookie is a 1933 O-Pee-Chee, which is the first of the five years in which O-Pee-Chee released a set that decade. And that spawned a whole new era, if you will. Then, the more I got into the pre-war stuff, the more I saw how cool it was. Learning the intricacies of that is pretty similar across all sports in collecting. It was fascinating to learn about and identify the different manufacturers, which sets were important, which weren’t, and so on. I became a little more disciplined with the earlier stuff because of how collectible it was and how much I wanted to chase certain items or sets. I focused on the pre-war O-Pee-Chee sets and then got into the C55, C56, and C57 sets, and that’s the course that I meandered down.

PSA: GOING BACK TO YOUR COMMENT ON THE SET REGISTRY, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THAT?

RM: Yeah, when I started working on a few of those original sets, I initially looked at getting all these cards graded as PSA 7s or better. I was slowly accumulating cards; then somebody mentioned the PSA Registry, and I was like, “Oh, what’s the Registry?” Then it was like wildfire; I was hooked (both of us laugh audibly). I thought, “Okay, this is really cool; there is a way I can stack up my sets against other guys’ sets.” I just started going hard at it. The main thing the Registry did was connect me with other collectors and let me see who the

top dogs were at the time. I was able to reach out, make contact with these guys, and get to know them pretty well. So many guys were super helpful, and I’ve developed great friendships with them— expensive friendships at times, but helpful with my focus and the quality of my sets.

PSA: NOW WE COME TO THE PROVERBIAL QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW. IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR CARD IN YOUR COLLECTION THAT YOU’D NEVER PART WAYS WITH UNLESS BECAUSE OF DIRE NEED?

RM: Yeah, I’ve been asked that before, and I always say that’s like people asking, “Which is your favorite kid?” I’d probably have to pick some of the old prewar stuff because—artistically—they’re such great cards. The Sweet Caps set, the 1924 Champs set, and the 1936 OPC have always been my favorites. They are just so great to collect and look at. But ultimately, if I sell one thing, I’m selling it all. It’s all or nothing.

PSA: ARE THERE ANY ELUSIVE CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN A BARRIER TO COMPLETING ANY OF YOUR GOALS—REGARDING COMPLETING ONE OF YOUR SETS—OR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT’S BEEN REALLY HARD TO FIND?

RM: Well, that’s a dangerous question too. There’s not necessarily anything new or different, just upgrades of cards that I already have. I’m always looking to upgrade when I can to make those sets better. Just this last year, I was able to upgrade my Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy rookies from PSA 9 to PSA 10.

PSA: WHAT ELSE CONTINUES TO DRIVE YOU AS A COLLECTOR; WHAT KEEPS IT DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING FOR YOU?

RM: Well, I’m a pretty competitive person in general, so pursuing top sets on the Registry has been really helpful in that regard. Early on, it helped with making connections and creating a community. But it also helped me create want lists and use the checklists for what I was looking for. Even recently, having the app available while I’m at shows has been really helpful for me as a collector. I can pull it right up and see if the card I’m looking at is one I’m looking for or an upgrade for one I have. When I first started building that 1966 Topps set, I specifically remember watching my set slowly creep up the rankings, which was a lot of fun. And I've developed friendships with these people that I compete against, as I’ve said. We go to these shows together, grab dinner, and catch up. It’s a great time.

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.

Powered

1979 - 2011

Powered

2003 - 2015

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Buyer's Guide

2011 Topps Update Mike Trout (Diamond Anniversary-Cognac Diamond) Rookie #US175 PSA Authentic - 10 Autograph Estimate $6,000+

Signed 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle #101 PSA EX 5, Auto 9 Estimate $40,000+

1968 Topps 3-D Roberto Clemente PSA NM-MT 8 Estimate $40,000+

1954 Topps Hank Aaron Rookie #128 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 Estimate $150,000+

1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth PSA VG 3 Estimate $20,000+

1955 Topps Jackie Robinson #50 PSA NM-MT 8 Estimate $8,000+

1965 Topps Sandy Koufax #300 PSA Mint 9 Estimate $8,000+

1948 Leaf Satchel Paige #8 PSA VG-EX 4 Estimate $40,000+

1917 Collins-McCarthy Babe Ruth #147 PSA 3 – Pop Two, One Higher! Estimate $200,000+

Derek Grady Executive VP, Sports Auctions DerekG@HA.com

Chris Ivy Director of Sports Auctions Chris@HA.com

Rob Rosen VP, Sports Private Sales RRosen@ HA.com

Dan Imler VP, Sports Private Sales DanI@HA.com

Joe Orlando Executive VP, Sports Auctions JoeO@HA.com

Lee Iskowitz VP, Sports Card Expert LeeI@HA.com

SUMMER SPORTS CARD CATALOG AUCTION

1980 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Wax Box With 48 Unopened Packs Estimate $12,000+

2000 Fleer Tradition Tom Brady

1996 Topps Chrome Basketball Hobby Factory Sealed Box - Kobe Bryant Rookie Year! Estimate

2017 Panini Select Light Blue Prizm Patrick Mahomes Rookie PSA Gem Mint 10 - #’d 6/15 Estimate $20,000+

1997 Skybox Metal Universe Football Precious Metal Gems (Green) Uncut Sheet with 100 Cards Estimate $15,000+

1980 Topps Basketball Wax Box With 36 Unopened Packs - Magic/Bird Rookie Year! Estimate $20,000+

1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 PSA EX-MT 6 Estimate $15,000+

Welcome back to the PSA Buyer’s Guide, a cataloginspired supplement to PSA Magazine. This print destination showcases a diverse assortment of trading cards and other sought-after collectibles from several PSA partners.

We hope you'll enjoy this catalog and find some special items to add to your collecting pursuits.

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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$234,000 – 1913-1914 John McGraw World Tour Game-Used Uniform, $612,000 – 19861987 Fleer Basketball #57 Michael Jordan

$522,000 – 1910 E93

$343,650 – Extraordinary Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Signed Baseball, $288,000 – 1958 Topps Football #62 Jim Brown Rookie, $156,000 – 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #18 Wayne Gretzky Rookie

Buyer's Guide COVER STAR

#635 Pele

PSA 7.5 Rookie Card

Estimate: $150,000+ Lelands.com

7.16.23 - 8.5.23

This rookie card is simply stunning—and fit for such a legend as Pelé. This card debuted in the 1958 Alifabolaget set, featuring Pelé in his Brazil kit at the 1958 World Cup in Stockholm, Sweden. Pelé became the youngest player to win a World Cup at just 17 and later the first to win it three times. This prestigious example achieved a PSA 7.5, which is extraordinarily hard to find. A Pelé rookie graded PSA 7.5 or higher has only sold publicly four times since 2020. It’s a sight to behold and you can see it in person at the Lelands 2023 Summer Classic and The National.

Funko 39

2015 SDCC

Freddy as Deathstroke

PSA 8

Trading Card Games Signature Auction

7.7.23 - 7.8.23

HA.com/tcg

Red Grange

1930 Football

Type 1 Original Photo

PSA AUTH Price: $7,500

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

Bichette/Robert/Alvarez #392

PSA 10

Price: $20,000

eBay: pc_sportscards

Rickey

PSA 10

Summer Catalog Auction

7.24.23 - 8.13.23

Minimum Bid: $25,000

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Mickey

PSA 6

Summer 2023 Classic Auction

7.16.23 - 8.5.23

Estimate: $150,000+

Lelands.com

Video Life

Wata 9.4 NS Glue Seal

2600 Commavid 1981 USA

Video Games Signature Auction

7.27.23 - 7.29.23

HA.com/videogames

2020 Topps SSP

1980 Topps

Henderson #482

1952 Topps

Mantle #311

1948 Leaf

Jackie Robinson #79

PSA 7

Summer 2023 Catalog Auction

7.24.23 - 8.13.23

Minimum Bid: $25,000

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

1921 Asahina Sporting Goods

Babe Ruth Postcard PSA 1.5

1955 Topps

Sandy Koufax #123

PSA 9

Summer Rarities Auction

July 2023

Minimum Bid: $25,000 MemoryLaneInc.com

Goldin 100 Part 2

7.7.23 - 8.2.23

Goldin.co

2004 SP

Kobe Bryant

Game Used Authentic Fabrics Jersey

PSA 10/AUTO 10

Price: $12,999

eBay: pc_sportscards

Pokémon Blue Version

Wata 9.6 A++ Sealed [Sandshrew, "Blue" text, Early Production], Game Boy Nintendo 1998 USA.

1909-11 T206 White Border

Eddie Plank

Ex-Conlon Collection

PSA 2.5

Trading Card Games Signature Auction

7.7.23 - 7.8.23

HA.com/tcg

Summer 2023 Catalog Auction

7.24.23 - 8.13.23

Minimum Bid: $25,000

RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Super Mario Bros. 3

Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed ["Bros." Left, Early Production]

NES Nintendo 1990 USA.

Video Games Signature Auction

7.27.23 - 7.29.23

HA.com/videogames

Christy Mathewson

1908 New York Giants Portrait

Type 1 Original Photo

PSA AUTH Price: $8,500

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

2020 Select Joe Burrow #246

Gold Prizm

PSA 10

Price: $19,999

eBay: pc_sportscards

"Shoeless"

PSA 5

Summer Rarities Auction

July 2023

Minimum Bid: $20,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

Wayne

PSA 8

2005

Yao Ming #14

PSA 7

Price: $19,999

eBay: pc_sportscards

Late June 2023

Minimum Bid: $5

Goldin.co

1979 O-Pee-Chee

Gretzky #18

1915 Cracker Jack

Joe Jackson #103

Upper Deck Exquisite Collection

Babe Ruth #32

PSA 8

Lionel

PSA 10

Summer Rarities Auction

July 2023

Minimum Bid: $40,000 MemoryLaneInc.com

Price: $10,900 Goldin.co

Wilt Chamberlain #8

PSA 8

Summer 2023 Catalog Auction

7.24.23 - 8.13.23

Minimum Bid: $10,000 RobertEdwardAuctions.com

MLB 06

Silver 2022 T-Mobile Park

Dan Wilson

PSA 8

Trading Card Games Signature Auction

7.7.23 - 7.8.23

HA.com/tcg

1987

Type

PSA AUTH Price: $5,000

Charlie Barokas

eBay: ManOnTheRock

Kevin Durant #2

Prizm Auto

PSA 9

Price: $24,999

eBay: pc_sportscards

1961 Fleer Basketball

1932 U.S. Caramel

2004 Panini Sports Mega Cracks

Barca Campeon (Spanish)

Messi #35

Michael Jordan

Chicago Bulls

1 Original Photo

2012 Panini Prizm

Schedule 2023 Auction Schedule 2023

June 21

Closing: Goldin Spring Game Used Elite Goldin.co

June 24

Closing: Heritage Sports Showcase Auction HA.com/sports

June 28

Closing: Goldin June Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

June 29

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

July 2023

Opening: Memory Lane Summer Rarities Auctions MemoryLaneInc.com

July 7

Opening: Goldin 100 Part 2 Goldin.co

July 6

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

July 7-8

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

July 14

Opening: Goldin Summer Game Used Auction Goldin.co

July 14-15

Closing: Heritage Sports Catalog Auction HA.com/sports

July 16

Opening: Lelands Summer Classic Auction Lelands.com

Closing: 90s Auction 90sauctions.com

July 19

Closing: Goldin July Elite Sports Auction Goldin.co

July 20

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

July 24

Opening: Summer Catalog Auction RobertEdwardAuctions.com

July 27

Closing: Heritage I Choose You! Pokemon TCG Showcase Auction HA.com/tcg

August 2023

Opening: Mile High Card Company Summer Auction MileHighCardCo.com

August 2

Closing: Goldin 100 Part 2 Goldin.co

August 3

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions

SiriusSportsAuctions.com

August 5

Closing: Lelands Summer Classic Auction Lelands.com

August 9

Closing: Goldin Summer Game Used Auction Goldin.co

August 13

Closing: Summer Catalog Auction RobertEdwardAuctions.com

August 16

Closing: Goldin Elite Music Goldin.co

August 17

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions

SiriusSportsAuctions.com

August 31

Closing: Sirius Sports Auctions SiriusSportsAuctions.com

September 7

Opening: REA Encore Auction RobertEdwardAuctions.com

2023 Show Schedule

Schedule 2023 Show Schedule 2023

PSA TYPE 1

Sports

Show

Sports Cards

Sports

2023 Show Schedule

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-Graded Cards

support@cardshellz.com

HERO Diamond Shell

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

the triple play

Recent snags on

By Ben Magalaner

PSA 9

SOLD: 05.18.23

PRICE: $8,040

Hank

PSA 9

SOLD: 05.18.23

PRICE: $15,000

Refractor

PSA 10

SOLD: 05.18.23

PRICE: $5,820

Heroes of the squared circle must be enjoying Panini's headlock on WWE licensing rights as their collectibility and bidding action have exploded. This 2022 Panini Prizm WWE Black Prizm sold for $8,040 after racking up a wild 57 bids, effectively bodyslamming the previous high of $5,000 for a "Heartbreak Kid" card, per Card Ladder. With Shawn Michaels flexing in his signature pose, this copy stands alone as the definitive piece of the WWE Hall of Famer.

Hank Aaron’s 1963 season was one for the books as he led the National League in home runs (44) and RBI (130) while stealing a career-high 31 bases for the Milwaukee Braves. His campaign is reflected in this superb 1963 Topps #390 collectible, graded PSA 9. Of the 3,000+ copies validated by PSA, just one has achieved a higher grade. With over 70 bids logged in Goldin's recent Weekly Auction, Aaron continues to reinforce his status as a showcase cornerstone.

In a word, iconic. It’s only fitting that one of the most definitive modern basketball rookie cards features one of the smoothest pure shooters releasing a picture-perfect jump shot. One of fewer than 200 copies to receive a top PSA 10, this Kevin Durant piece received more than 50 bids and once again proved Durant's supreme collectibility. As the two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player continues to chase greatness, expect this card to only climb in prestige and esteem.

2022 Panini Prizm

Shawn Michaels #199 Black Prizm

2007 Topps Chrome

Kevin Durant #131

1963 Topps

Aaron #390

2011 - 2021

CREDITS

Cover ASHLEY BATZ Cooking the Books ASHLEY BATZ Speed Thrills ASSOCIATED PRESS 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.

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