PSA Magazine: 2023 August #020

Editor's Note

When collectors gather, the headlines have a way of writing themselves. One example illustrates this point wonderfully; a story of a Frank Thomas collector who found his way to a Chicago sports card show with an iconic error card in-hand and Thomas himself featured as a key show signer. The 1990 Topps card in question famously omits his name, and this longtime fan seized the moment and asked Thomas to “correct” the card by adding his signature; and in the process, the two created a unique one-of-one collectible decades in the making.

Of course, please don’t take my word for it — the story is one of many featured in this issue that encircles the joys of collecting and titletowns like Chicago that provide a north star for such pursuits. Team legacies that span over a century are always worth celebrating, but 2023 presents a homecoming on many levels for the Windy City. The Bears have a franchise face to be excited about, the year of Jordan is upon us all and the National Sports Collectors Convention returns to unite the hobby in good company and collectibles.

And once again, PSA will be in the arena to rally around scores of showstopping pieces worth admiring,

acquiring and authenticating. Last year, I once again took on the impossible task of rounding up my favorite cards that were graded by PSA on-site. The list was capped at 100; in truth, it could have been much longer. I consider myself an informed hobbyist — it’s both my passion and profession — but the collective expertise in the room and the collectibles it summons are awe-inspiring.

If you plan on attending, I hope you’ll drop by and present a few pieces of your own, and if Chicago isn’t part of your summer travels, no doubt there will be stories to share.

Best,

Nat Turner CEO, Collectors

WINDY CITY

It's called that for a reason, and not because it’s cold. It’s because it’s always moving, always breathing. It’s also called the City of Big Shoulders, and it deserves that moniker, too. Because, have you seen Dick Butkus in pads?

It’s played host to epic dynasties and forlorn franchises alike; the blessed and the tormented; at one time cursed by Billy Goat and graced by MJ— the GOAT. Trace the origins of Joffrey Ballet and deep dish pizza here. It’s the home of house music — which we can forgive — and to bands such as the Smashing Pumpkins, Styx and, yes, Chicago.

And when it comes to sports, Second City is second-to-none.

The host of the 2023 National Sports Collectors Convention is one of just 11 American cities to roster professional teams across the five major leagues: the MLB’s Cubs and White Sox, the NFL’s Bears, the NBA’s Bulls, the NHL’s Blackhawks and the MLS’s Fire.

There’s baggage to check: Chicago is known as much for its futility as its fervor, and fans love their teams even if the teams don't always love them back. The Cubs infamously went 108 years between titles (1908-2016), while the White Sox took 88 fruitless falls from 1917 to 2005. The Bears have tackled nine NFL titles, but just one since ‘63. It's been 25 years since the last Bulls or Fire parade. The Blackhawks have been hoisting the Stanley Cup lately, but prior to 2013, there was an ice age of nearly five decades.

And yet, Chicago fans persist.

And they collect. Boy, do they collect.

The city’s sports heroes are plentiful, having spanned many decades.

In the beginning, guys like Tinkers, Evers, Chance and Joe Jackson gave way to Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski. Ernie Banks came along, tailed by Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Mike Singletary and Walter Payton. Michael Jordan walked the skyline and Kerry Wood showed up—if only for one night. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews brought the Cup home, just in time for the Cubbies to break the curse.

Today, names like Justin Fields and Luis Robert Jr. are here to write headlines, but in true Chicago fashion, there’s always time to wax about the good ‘ol days.

CHI-TOWN’S FINEST »

(Not named Michael Jordan.)

T202 Hassan Triple Joe Tinker/Frank Chance Johnny Evers Makes a Safe Slide

More than a century later, Tinkerto-Evers-to-Chance remains one of baseball's great refrains; an ode to perhaps the best double-play trio in baseball’s storied history. There might be nothing cooler than one of just a few cards to feature the trio: the Hassan Triple Fold Out with portraits of Tinker on one side, Chance on the other, and Evers sliding in the middle. A PSA 7 version sold at auction for $2,100 in 2021.

1919–21 W514 Joe Jackson #15 Hand Cut

In spite of (or perpetuated by) the infamous Black Sox Scandal, Jackson remains one of the city's legendary heroes. His cards from the 1910s are incredibly scarce and command small fortunes, especially this hand cut card featuring a drawing of the star against a yellow background and a prominent White Sox jersey logo. A PSA 9 — POP 1 — sold via Goldin for nearly $80,000.

1933 Sport Kings Red Grange #4 Football

Some sets transcend time, and the 1933 Sport Kings set is one of them. Red Grange would help the Bears to an NFL championship in 1933—the penultimate year in the league for the “Galloping Ghost.” A gorgeous PSA 8 copy of the card sold at auction for more than $40,000 in May.

1954 Topps Ernie Banks #94

What’s more loveable about the iconic rookie card of the great Ernie Banks: his winning smile or that retro Cubs logo? One of baseball’s greatest shortstops unsurprisingly voted “best Chicago Cubs player of all time” in a 1969 Chicago Sun-Times poll, Banks won back-to-back MVPs in 1958 and 1959 and was a 14-time All-Star in 18 career seasons with Chicago.

1963 Topps

Mike Ditka #62

Hair slicked back with a mean muggin’ grin, the only recognized rookie card of the OG “Iron Mike” is a good one—and nearly impossible to find in a high grade due to chipping and wear along the edges. In fact, there are no PSA 10s and only 16 PSA 9s as of June 2023. The latter last sold for $14,400 through Robert Edward Auctions.

1983 Topps Ryne Sandberg #83

Card No. 83 in 1983? It's almost like Topps knew Sandberg was going to go down as one of Chicago's greats. His Topps rookie card is not an impossible grade, with 691 PSA 10s out of more than 17,000 graded copies, and is still (relatively) affordable given Sandberg’s combination of talent, appeal, and collectability.

Finest

It's fair to say both Thomas and Topps Finest peaked in 1993. “The Big Hurt” would win the first of backto-back MVPs that year, batting .317 with 41 home runs and 128 RBIs. Few combos in history were as popular as Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. were when Finest introduced Refractors to the Hobby. Just over 300 Thomas first-year Refractors have been graded by PSA, with 31 receiving Gem Mint status. PSA 10s have sold for more than $7,000.

1993

Frank Thomas #102 Refractor

1997 Metal Universe Scottie Pippen #83 Precious Metals Gems

Michael Jordan’s running mate (or perhaps superior according to Scottie) commands one of the most coveted cards from the historic run of Precious Metal Gems in 1997. The color match Red has sold for more than $15,000 as a PSA 5 recently, but the Green — limited to just 10 examples — could reach six figures at auction.

2000 Bowman Chrome Brian Urlacher #178 Refractor

A torch-bearer for the Bear’s storied defensive mindset, Brian Urlacher is adored by Chicago. Though most mere mortals wouldn’t dream of owning a Bowman Chrome Refractor rookie card of Tom Brady, the iconic card design is far more approachable for fans of the ninth pick in the 2000 draft.

2008 Topps Chrome Derrick Rose #181 Orange Refractor

Although his 2010 MVP run has been marred by injuries, the electrifying Chicago native will always have a special place in Second City showcases. An Orange Refractor of his 2008 Topps Chrome rookie card, numbered to 499, sold for $420 on Goldin earlier this year—a testament to both Rose’s collectability and the appeal of the 2008 Topps Chrome card design.

2009 Donruss Clasics Sid Luckman / Gale Sayers / Walter Payton #8 Classic Triples

A surprisingly small number of cards feature both of the Bears' most legendary backs, and this hidden gem also throws in QB great Sid Luckman for good measure. Classic Triples have always provided terrific trios, but it’s hard to top this one.

a beer in the city again.

Error cards were once commonplace, especially during the print-happy heyday of the 1980s and 1990s. Incorrect draft years, misspelled names and card numbering issues could be found everywhere. Most went unnoticed and uncorrected, and many that were corrected simply failed to make a blip on the Hobby radar.

However, time and again, an error card breaks through that curtain of anonymity to achieve certified cult notoriety.

It can happen in iconic sets: see the T206 Sherry “Magie” misspelling or the 1952 Topps Johnny Sain/ Joe Page biography botch. It can happen to legendary players too, like Mickey Mantle (1969 Topps WL) or Barry Bonds (1987 Donruss Opening Day). Some even offer scandalous action (looking at you, C-3PO and Billy Ripken) or feature taboo advertising (1989 Fleer Randy Johnson), but all make for great conversation starters.

The magical confluence of those factors, combined with their relative scarcity, pushed error card values and places on collectors’ want lists higher and higher. But which is the fairer error? The most magnificent misprint? The best brilliant blunder? The incomparable incredible inaccuracy?

Enter the 1990 Topps Frank Thomas “No Name on Front” (NNOF) rookie card.

To fully appreciate the error, size-up the career of its mega-star subject. Thomas terrorized major league pitchers from the very start, collecting an RBI in his first game and never looking back. He was one of the game’s greatest offensive first basemen over the first half of his career and one of the most feared designated hitters in the latter.

Back-to-back MVPs in 1993 (unanimously) and 1994 came smack in the middle of the greatest 7-year offensive run in the history of America’s pastime. From 1991-1997, Frank became the only player to record seven consecutive seasons with 100 RBI, 100 walks, 100 runs scored, and 20 home runs with a .300 average. For greater context, only Ted Williams, “The Splendid Splinter” himself, was able to notch six consecutive seasons.

Along with Ken Griffey Jr., Thomas ascended to legendary status in the Hobby. He was featured on the silver screen (1992’s Mr. Baseball) and the small screen (a 1994 episode of Married… with Children), video games and pinball games. As a spokesman for Donruss he was the subject of several special inserts and subsets, including some of the first memorabilia cards ever produced: the 1997 Leaf Frank Thomas Collection.

And then, after an injury held him out of a 2005 World Series sweep of the Astros, Thomas was promptly and rather unceremoniously released. He would finish his career with stints in Oakland and Toronto, joining the prestigious 500 home run club with the Blue Jays in 2007. He signed a one-day contract in 2010 to retire as a member of the White Sox and a statue of “The Big Hurt” was unveiled outside U.S. Cellular Field in 2011. Cooperstown came calling in 2014.

Thomas had just under two-dozen total cards produced in his rookie year of 1990, and while that may seem limiting, collectors have some choice options. Of his six official rookie cards, most gravitate toward his 1990 Leaf issue. 4,177 copies have earned a PSA 10, and these can regularly be had for under $200. For a tougher chase, collectors look to his Bowman Tiffany, O-Pee-Chee, and Topps Tiffany versions—each with a PSA 10 population of just over 100.

Few cards in the Hobby, however, provide that unique combination of rarity, value, condition issues, and subject matter like the 1990 Topps Frank Thomas “No Name on Front” rookie card.

It’s the result of an unidentified problem in the manufacturing process, born from a certain part of the card eluding contact with the black ink of a printing plate. That part just so happened to be the little blue rectangle intended to house his name.

Collectors estimate there could be as few as 300-500 no-names out there. That might seem high by today’s standards, but given a product print run of literal millions, a couple hundred creates needle-in-a-field-ofhaystacks scarcity.

Fewer than 250 copies have come through PSA, so finding a graded copy is tough enough—but landing a PSA 10? Nabbing the only copy in existence takes deep, deep pockets. Once part of the fabled Dimitri Young Collection, the only PSA 10 version sold back in December of 2022 on Goldin for a staggering $170,400. Even hard-to-find raw copies can fetch up to $6,000.

But what if the ultimate version of this error card had yet to be created? What if some visionary could get Frank Thomas himself to sign and “correct” it?

At this beautiful crossroads of rarity, collectability, value, and madness is Randy Herth, a 43-year-old CPA and father of two from Naperville, Illinois, who has been collecting Frank Thomas cards since 1991. Herth was kind enough to sit down with PSA Magazine to talk about all things Frank Thomas, including the “No Name on Front” error card and how he managed to create this fantastically unique collectible.

NO NAME ON FRONT CORRECTED

NAME ON FRONT

PSA: What was your introduction to the world of baseball and collecting cards? Why Frank Thomas and the White Sox?

Randy Herth: In 1990, when I was in the 4th grade, I got free White Sox tickets from my school for getting good grades. My dad and I went to a game in the summer of 1990, the last year of the old Comiskey Park.

That next year, Frank Thomas was the hot player to collect. I bought a couple of his cards at a show for $1 each and stayed with it until 1997 when high school reprioritized my interests around Green Day and Pearl Jam CDs, so I took a break until about 2008.

PSA: How did you make your comeback?

RH: After some eBay dabbling, I found a website run by a big Frank Thomas collector out of Hawaii with a trove of detailed articles, card analysis, and nostalgic imagery. Suddenly I was back in, and it rekindled my desire for many of the high-end cards I couldn’t afford as a kid.

I picked up a 1992 Donruss Elite, a 1993 Finest Refractor PSA 9 copy for about $150, and my first “NNOF” in 2008 for about $330.

I also began to buy massive Frank Thomas lots on eBay. A few surprises every now and then, but I was going for quantity. I now have around 4,000 unique Frank Thomas cards and over 10,000 total.

PSA: And you have quite a history with the Frank Thomas “NNOF” rookie card.

RH: I’ve probably owned about 10-12 in the last 15 years and regret parting with any of them. I’m down to one copy now, which happens to be the “corrected” version.

PSA: The only copy signed and corrected by “The Big Hurt” himself! How did you acquire the card and get the idea?

RH: I purchased that card in 2012 in what began as a deal for a BGS 8.5 “NNOF.” The seller messaged me back with a trove of other Frank Thomas collectibles, including four “NNOF” cards, and we worked it out.

I sold a few cards to help fund the purchase, but one of the cards that I kept was a raw “NNOF” in less-than-perfect condition. I thought to myself, “How cool would it be if I met Frank one day and just asked him to write his name in the box?”

PSA: And thus, the unicorn was born! Have you ever come across another?

RH: Nothing like mine. One person took an image of my card, made reprints, and tried selling them on eBay. Another collector had Frank correct a copy of his 2010 Topps “Cards Your Mom Threw Out” insert.

Bank on Frank

Collectors don’t need to own every Frank Thomas card to flex on most registered set leaderboards—just the right ones. Here’s his most-chased checklists in the PSA Set Registry.

Rookie Set

Required Items: 6 Participants: 361

Master Set

Required Items: 2,619

Participants: 91

Basic Topps Set

Required Items: 20 Participants: 54

Basic Set

Required Items: 197 Participants: 32

Frank Thomas Basic & Collector Issues Set

Required Items: 442 Participants: 27

Call yourself a Thomas collector? Show the competition what your collection is made of on the PSA Set Registry.

Whatever you collect, there’s a future leaderboard with your name on it.

PSA: Are there any other Frank Thomas cards or pieces of memorabilia that really stand out in your collection?

RH: I always loved his 1992 Donruss Diamond Kings card. A while back, I was able to purchase the original Dick Perez painting used to make the card. That’s my favorite piece in the collection.

There are a few cards that have eluded me over the years that I would love to acquire one day. Three cards from 1996 top my want list: either version of his 1996 Select Certified Mirror Gold and his 1996 Leaf Preferred Steel Bronze Promo.

PSA: It must be asked: what would it take to pry the “NNOF” from your collection?

RH: Look, as Ted DiBiase used to say, “everybody’s got a price,” and I would be ridiculous to say no—but no. It’s not reasonable.

Judge #BDPP19

Mickey Mantle #150

8

Jack Morris #703

Club Murphy Derek Jeter #117

Yount #223

Gooden #U43

Orlando Cepeda #343

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #VG Kaboom!

Platinum Mike Trout #PP5 Prospects Purple Refractor

Brooks Robinson #328

Mark McGwire #401 1984 USA Baseball Team

1958 Topps

1993 Stadium

1975 Topps Robin

1985 Topps

1957 Topps

2020 Bowman Jasson Dominguez #CPAJDO Chrome

2010 Bowman

1984 Fleer Update Dwight

1978 Topps

1967 Topps

2013 Bowman Chrome Aaron

2018 Panini

2003

2019

A kid can dream.

Especially in Chicago, a kid can dream: of wanting to be like Mike, of witnessing the Cubbies snap the curse, of watching the Blackhawks raise the Cup. Certain prayers have been answered as parades roll down Michigan Ave. and spill into Grant Park with attendees climbing trees in an effort to draw closer to that championship spirit.

Of course for cubs growing up in Bears dens, the grass hasn’t been greener—especially under center.

But let’s clear the air now: this isn’t a referendum to pity Chicago sports fans and collectors. The Bulls dynasty dance of the 90s might be the greatest in all of sports, and if any city can bust an iconic slump, it’s the windy one.

Bears fans are just wondering when it’s their turn. And Bears collectors are dreaming about Justin Fields being that guy.

Ryan Greene is one of those Bears den dreamers. He’s the Senior Manager of Social Media & Influencer Marketing for Collectors, and while the job title sounds long, it’s a quick slant compared to the score of inconspicuous Bears QBs that have journeyed through over the decades, and boy, can he can can rattle ‘em off.

But here are two things Greene can’t recall: the Bears winning a Super Bowl (he was three when they last won in 1986), and a franchise-drafted QB to be stoked about; an offensive weapon capable of putting the city on his back despite the baggage.

“For how long the Bears have been a franchise, it’s astonishing how few game-changing players they’ve had of late. I think the most joy I’ve felt as a Bears fan was watching Devin Hester take the opening kickoff to the house in Super Bowl XLI.”

The Bears would go on to lose that game to the Colts’ Peyton Manning, the perfect embodiment of what has eluded the team for decades: a true franchise quarterback of their own draft night design. Former first-round selections like Mitchell Trubisky, Rex Grossman and Cade McCown don’t exactly light up Bears forums or convention showcases.

However, as Greene walked the floor at The National in 2022, a plot twist developed. The floor wasn’t flooded with Fields rookies, and for a refreshing reason: dealers weren’t selling. Greene’s inquiries yielded the same talking point: Fields was a hold; his better cards as elusive as his running game. Believers were in the building; hope was in the house.

And now on the fringe of Fields’ third NFL season with second-year cards flying off saved searches, that feeling is everywhere: from sports bars to break rooms and fantasy mock drafts where Fields is rising as an elite QB option. Managers won’t soon forget back-to-back weeks last November where he combined for 300+ rushing yards and three touchdowns on his way to becoming one of three NFL signal-callers to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

And sure, the record last season wasn’t pretty and Fields’ QBR wasn’t Hall-of-Fame worthy, but let the fans have this. Rebuilding can be a frustrating endeavor; if it must happen, give the hobby a guy to build around. Give a generation of Super Bowlstarved Ryan Greenes a reason to go all-in.

“I watched Justin Fields beat Trevor Lawrence in the Sugar Bowl. I remember thinking that if the Bears are going to draft a quarterback, this is him. Four months later when the team traded up on draft night and Fields was still on the board, I just knew: that’s the guy I’m going to collect.”

FIELDS FAVORITES → →

SIDELINE SWAGGER 2021 Donruss Optic #204 Holo Variation

Truth be told, the imagery was hit or miss for the first year of Holo Variation rookie cards—but Fields’ hits. It’s the sideline look collectors want from their QB1; the look of promise. Keep the play-by-play tablet on the bench; he’s already got his next spot picked out and it’s worth six points. The swagger comes at a bargain too, even in a top PSA grade.

BLACK MAGIC 2021 Donruss Optic #204 Black Pandora

No static image can capture the special effects of a Black Pandora in-hand. Like Fields’ game, the magic is in the movement. It’s shifty. Catch it under the bright lights and watch it dance. While the parallel has made appearances in other sports, Optic Football is where Black Pandora was first released in 2019, and where its spell over collectors is strongest.

NAME PLAY

2021 Panini Select #350 White Prizm

Bring on the “name match,” collapse the pocket and zoom the lens for that classic Field Level portrait pin-up. Whereas Fields’ Prizm rookie card features a photoshopped Ohio State action shot (there was no rookie premiere photo shoot in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID), the Select card features an NFL preseason action shot with Miami defenders bearing down.

THE REDEEMER 2021 Panini Prizm #334 White Sparkle

“Personally, it’s my favorite Panini parallel and I just love the storylines concerning distribution. They are only available via Panini Points redemption packs that go live after flagship Prizm’s release. The print run is unknown, but we know they’re super rare, and both the PSA population data and strong secondary market premiums back that up. And the white border combined with the white jersey? C’mon.”

SELECTION

SUNDAY 2020 Panini Select #404 2021 XRC Prizm Redemption

Riding a hobby boom and a strong rookie class of Herbert, Hurts, Burrow and Tagovailoa, 2020 Select and its XRCs got all the love. Widely considered the “first” true rookie of the incoming class, XRCs are inserted as redemptions with designations that go live on draft night. When Fields was selected as the 4th quarterback in the draft, redemptions labeled “QB4” lined up with the face of the Chicago Bears franchise; one redeemer to another. The XRC design and badge make for fun differentiators, and with limited parallels, the Silver Prizm holds up

GAME ON ICE

2021 Panini Prizm #334 Orange Ice

Unnumbered yet sneaky rare, this Orange Ice parallel could only be pulled from Fanatics-exclusive blasters. The Orange not only makes for a stunning team color match, but also gives Cracked Ice aficionados a more obtainable option to chase than other stone cold parallels (like the Blue Ice numbered to 99). Print run is unknown, but PSA population data slots this between the staple Silver Prizm parallel and the highest of the numbered parallels in the 2021 Prizm set (Orange, numbered to 249).

RARE SLICE

2021 Panini Prizm #334 Orange Prizm

For prospectors of potential white whales, the Orange is in play. Centering issues were rampant in 2021 Panini Prizm, and this parallel of Justin Fields — a team color match that Bears fans dig — was ground zero. To date, only three copies have achieved a PSA 10 grade out of nearly 70 that have rolled through PSA. For context, of the approximately 150 copies of the 2020 Joe Burrow Orange Prizm that have been graded by PSA, more than a third have earned PSA 10 status.

BEAR MARKET BOOM 2021 Panini Absolute #K43 Kaboom!

Fields was featured in all of the popular “case hit” insert sets as a rookie in 2021: Downtown, Kaboom!, Color Blast and more. Wildly though, JF1 hasn’t been included on the 2022 checklists of those sets, which has only further driven up the demand for these rookie cards with Fields collectors.

CLEAN CANVAS 2022 Panini Origins #BL7 Blank Slate

All that space to build with; all that talent to build around. Better known as a basketball chase, Panini introduced the zen-like iso-ball ways of the Blank Slate to the football realm with 2022 Origins. In terms of second-year cards, it’s hands down one of Fields’ finest. Stay alert: anytime one of these solo acts appears on the secondary market, it’s scooped quick.

PICTURE DAY

2021 Donruss #253 Portrait – Studio Series

It’s safe to say that Fields collectors dig this image more than his draft classmate Trevor Lawrence. Taken after the 2021 Sugar Bowl, Fields’ performance was easily the most iconic of his college career, as he returned from a harsh rib hit to throw for six TDs in a 49-28 beatdown of the Lawrence-led Clemson Tigers for a trip to the College Football National Championship. While the base Portrait is a nice and easy addition, the rarer Studio Series parallel is a tougher snag and a harder grade given the brown border.

END ZONE ARRIVAL 2022 Panini XR #XP8 X-Ploits

In terms of cards that capture moments, this one is a showstealer. Exploited on acetate, the photo finds Fields roaring in the end zone at a raucous Soldier Field after scrambling for a game-tying touchdown versus the 49ers. For many Bears fans, this was a game where Fields flashed his true potential, and the card frames that energy x-quisitely.

Fast Five

A BRIEF Q&A WITH TEAM MEMBER CHRIS CARLIN

Photography by Nick Estrada

WHAT DEFINES THE CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT?

Not long after I started, we changed the department name from Customer Service to Customer Care — the reason being that service sounds like an obligation while caring feels more like goodwill. It was important to me that we brought on reps who wanted to help our customers while sharing their passion for collecting. That’s been a focus since I started and it’s paid off by upping the level of care we provide for PSA, PCGS, and WATA customers.

WHAT’S COOL ABOUT WORKING AT COLLECTORS?

I love the people here. There’s a company value we call the collector obsession, and it’s driven by a laser focus on making the collecting experience better for everyone— customers and co-workers included. And of course, I love this industry, so being around coins, cards, currency, video games, memorabilia and Funko POPs! is awesome.

CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY AS A COLLECTOR?

I grew up collecting cards but sold most of them during college. Don’t feel bad for me, though—they were mostly from the junk wax era and I moved them at the height of the market. Prior to Collectors, I was at Upper Deck

for 24 years. Loyal to the brand, everything I collected was Upper Deck manufactured or authenticated. After moving to Collectors though, my sons and I started digging into everything. It’s been a blast to open packs of Star Wars and baseball while diving into the world of PCGS coins and currency.

WHAT THREE ITEMS FROM THE PC ARE YOUR FAVORITE?

This is a tough one—it’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. But if there was a fire, here’s what I would grab: a Back To The Future 2 hoverboard signed by the cast and authenticated by PSA, a Wayne Gretzky UDA-signed Canadian Whiskey bottle, and a Lionel Messi framed jersey inscribed to me and authenticated by PSA. (Shoutout to the PSA Vault for helping make fire drills like that a thing of the past.)

WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU IN TERMS OF COLLECTIBILITY?

I really like oddball finds that tell a story. I recently picked up the autograph set from a 2013 Parks and Recreation release by Press Pass, which has some incredible signers. Another pickup is a 1963 Texas Welcome Dinner media pass for a planned event to honor JFK and the First Lady that never took place because of the assassination. And yes, I’ll be submitting these to PSA shortly.

Here’s the scene.

It’s the late 90s and business is booming for the Topps Company. Albeit a manufacturing powerhouse, this isn’t the time to kick shoes up on the desk and rest on Chrome and Refractor laurels. The other guys have caught up with shiny innovations of their own; PMGs have been launched and the hobby is radioactive. “We need something big” shouts the boardroom.

Then suddenly, on top of it all, some punk kid with a supercharged mouse starts throwing Pokéballs around — and the world goes mad. Star athletes like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are now competing with the collectibility of Charizard and Pikachu. Pokémon’s Base, Jungle, and Fossil sets are frantically flying off the shelves.

Can’t catch ‘em? Join ‘em.

Produced for Western consumers by Wizards of the Coast, the Pokémon trading card game was a franchise player. Topps wanted in, and in 1999 captured the license to produce a non-TCG Pokémon product.

The imagery leaned heavily on movie and TV show assets rather than original illustrations. The corners were sharp as opposed to rounded. Incompatible with the TCG, the set was a strange breed generating mixed feelings.

It was only the beginning.

Now riding the waves of a more recent hobby boom, Pokémania is back and putting respect on such lesser-known sets. And among the boats lifted by this rising tide is Topps with an S.S. Anne’s worth of precious cargo. All aboard.

1999-2000 Topps Pokémon TV

Why mess with a good thing? Topps’ initial Pokémon sets embrace the original roster of 151 Pokémon and follow the established Pokédex numerical order. The art consists of previously-seen Pokémon assets overlaid onto kaleidoscopic backgrounds referencing Pokémon’s types: bubbles for Water, lightning bolts for Electric and so on.

Insert sets reference the TV series and famously showed protagonists Ash, Misty, and Brock on cardboard in English for the first time. Foil and Rainbow Foil parallels added an extra chase element. Gimmicky, retail-friendly inserts such as die-cut cards, transparent “Clear Cards,” “Pop-Up” standees, and stickers were also introduced.

Although dormant for many years, certain cards have recently fetched big numbers. Charizard from Series 1 is unquestionably the biggest hit with some sales breaching the $1,000 threshold in high PSA grades.

1999 Topps Pokémon The First Movie

Released in conjunction with the theatrical release of Pokémon: The First Movie in 1999, this set consists entirely of screenshots from the film and its accompanying Pikachu’s Vacation short. Some of the more coveted cards come from an “Evolution” insert set, which showcases the evolutionary stages of Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, and Dragonite. In a fun twist, the artwork plays off iconic battle moves like Venusaur’s Solar Beam and Wartortle’s Headbutt. A die-cut embossed version of this subset was also issued.

Here’s a detail that really cracks the time capsule: upon the film’s home video release, a Super Psychic Pokémon #0 promo card was exclusively distributed at Blockbuster Video with every rental of the movie. While some cards have enjoyed modest success on the secondary market, the set’s collectibility doesn’t come close to Topps’ next move.

2000

Topps Chrome Pokémon

Was there ever any doubt which Topps set would hold its own over time? With its premium feel, abundance of foil and challenging parallel rarity, Chrome is on top of the product list with grails in the ranks.

The original 151 Pokémon again make up the base and are split between Series 1 and 2 checklists. The artwork remains unchanged from the original 1999 Topps sets, but three parallels are where things get interesting. The easy-to-pull Spectra (1:2 packs) enjoys a standard rainbow foilboard look and value escalates with the glittery Sparkle parallel (1:10), but the plaid foil pattern of Tekno (1:15) signals the set’s starlet.

Standard secondary market values for Tekno can range between $500 to $1,000, heavy-hitters like Charizard or Mew can fetch several thousand, and even unpopular Pokémon can net big returns. While Tekno hype remained dormant for years, it’s very much alive and creating a serious challenge for set-builders.

2000 Topps Pokémon The Movie 2000

Topps followed up its first theatrical release with a companion set for Pokémon the Movie 2000. Like its predecessor, the set is largely composed of screenshots from the feature film and its Pikachu’s Rescue Adventure short. Foil and Rainbow Foil parallels are again inserted — as well as a new sticker set — but the highlight is a subset called First Appearance that features six Johto region Pokémon, which were among the very first Generation 2 creatures to debut in the United States. These standout cards use a jaw-dropping refractive foil treatment similar to modern Yu-Gi-Oh! Ghost Rares, with Poké Balls that vanish and reappear in the background as cards are rotated. While the rest of the set isn’t as sought after, PSAgraded copies of First Appearance cards — primarily those of Gen 2 icon Lugia — are some of the highest-value items that Topps has to offer.

2001

Topps Pokémon Johto SETS

As Pokémon fans became immersed in Gen 2, Topps shifted their focus to the new roster of 100 Johto-region Pokémon. This roster is divided between the Johto Series 1 and the Johto League Champions sets. Both releases incorporate standard base sets with psychedelic backgrounds, with each card receiving a Foil variant. Episode Cards return in both sets, depicting key moments from the Johto Journeys and Johto League Champions TV series. The new, nine-card Hologram chase set in Series 1 is composed of alternate Pokémon images with a holo background identical to the First Appearance chase set from 2000. While not making as big a splash as its predecessors, these Johto-sera sets still offer unique pieces for the more dedicated master set builders of Lugia, Umbreon, and others.

2003 Pokémon Advanced / Advanced Challenge

The final U.S. Topps Pokémon product nods to the Ruby & Sapphire release for Game Boy Advance. As with previous sets, the new Gen 3 Pokédex is split into two sets: Advanced and Advanced Challenge. Pop-ups and die-cuts are once again inserts, as well as the usual parallels of base cards. While not the heaviest-hitting sets in terms of secondary market value, recent sales of more popular Pokémon — especially when found as Foils or high PSA grades — have shown some promise for the future of these later Topps releases.

1999-2005 Topps Merlin Pokémon

In addition to its mainline card releases, Topps also issued numerous Pokémon sticker sets through Merlin Publishing, a U.K.-based sticker company which Topps acquired in 1995. The 1999 Merlin set consists of 240 base stickers, reusing the same Pokémon images found in Topps Series 1-3. Ash, Misty, Brock, and other TV series characters once again make up several items on the checklist. The set’s main chase are the 36 Prism stickers, which utilize a Cracked Ice-style treatment and represent some of the highest-valued items collectors can find from Merlin’s Pokémon run. Merlin sets between 2000 and 2001 repeated the Prism formula, delving more into new TV characters and screenshots from the Johto series. A few one-off products dropped along the way, including the 2000 Merlin Tattoos set and the 2005 Merlin Animated Pix-Flix cards. Similar to Artbox’s Pokémon Action Flipz series, Pix-Flix are small lenticular cards featuring images that change as the cards are rotated, allowing for multi-stage Pokémon evolutions to brilliantly come to life.

While a Topps Charizard will likely never bring the heat of its TCG brethren, make no mistake: there’s a world of oddities, nostalgia, and once-underestimated charms to navigate. Explore the many Topps Pokémon sets now available on the PSA Set Registry:

BY JON GOLD

Some sets are simply eternal. They jump every wishlist, turn heads at auction and grant card-carrying access to the hobby’s inner circles.

In a word, they are essential, and for collectors of one of the most iconic parallel sets to burn through the late 90s, that word is everything.

It was an era of endless blue sky; a time when numbered parallels would turn fortunate hobbyists into future jackpot holders. The sports card industry was at its most inventive, and its poster child was Essential Credentials.

Like other coming-of-age stories, it would take a little tinkering to find its higher form, but more than a quarter century later, the set remains—you guessed it.

Essential.

Featuring a die-cut cardboard player over a transparent plastic sheet of blue sky, the inaugural 1996 SkyBox E-X2000 set was head-inthe-clouds ahead of its time—as was its exciting Credentials parallel sequentially numbered to /499.

But just a year later, the Fleer company tacked on a word that would change the game: Essential Actually, make that three words, because the 1997 SkyBox E-X2001

featured two Essential Credentials sets: Now and Future.

The 80-card Now set featured a yellow-green design synced with player card numbers—meaning there was just one Grant Hill copy (#1), two Kevin Garnett copies (#2) and so forth. The Future version was inversely numbered, with 80 Hill copies, 79 Garnetts and so forth. The Michael Jordan Now card, at just nine copies, is one of the rarest and most prized among MJ’s many supercollectors.

Basketball was just the beginning for Essential Credentials’ skyrocketing popularity, which has ultra-popular baseball and football versions from the 1990s as well.

And as quickly as it burned onto the scene, its credibility cooled. Fleer went away from the multi-layered die-cut look that made the set so popular. That look would return in time for LeBron’s 2003 debut, but the company would fade a few years later following the sale to Upper Deck.

There were attempts to recreate the magic during the past decade, but none have had the lasting credibility of those early sets, which remain some of the most—

Well, you already know.

1996 SkyBox E-X2000 KOBE BRYANT #30 Credentials

In peak pandemic times, few cards soared as high as Kobe’s rookie Credentials limited to 499 copies, with just four in PSA 10 condition. In May 2021, one of those PSA 10s sold for $360,000 at auction. It might not have Essential designation, but unofficially, it has all the requisite clout.

SkyBox E-X2000 DEREK JETER #33 Essential Credentials

Concerning early career Jeter parallels, this one hangs out in elite company. In this offering, SkyBox downplayed the Credentials parallel to 299 while making the star-studded Essential out of 99. A super-scarce, super-coveted Jeter PSA 10 sold for more than $10,000 this year.

1997

1997 SkyBox E-X2001 MICHAEL JORDAN #9 Essential Credentials

Now

Simply one of the best Jordan cards of all time. Only one has been graded by PSA (scoring a PSA 7) and its last noted auction occurred seven years ago and fetched $50,000. Today, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a seven-figure sale.

Future

1998 SkyBox E-X2001 PEYTON MANNING #54 Essential Credentials

After debuting alongside a disappointing 1997 rookie class, Essential Credentials found the endzone in 1998 with Peyton Manning and Randy Moss. Arguably Manning's best rookie card, a PSA 9 version limited to just seven copies sold at auction for almost $60,000 in 2021. A month later, a PSA 10, Pop 1 of the Now parallel /54 sold for $60,000.

1998 SkyBox E-X Century DIRK NOWITZKI #68

Essential Credentials Now

Nowitzki was just a fresh-faced foreigner in 1998; a German gem who averaged just 8.2 points in his rookie season. Those who snagged a Now parallel hopefully held through the years, as a PSA 10, Pop 6 copy sold for almost $30,000 in 2022.

2000 E-X TOM BRADY #122

Essential Credentials Future

/25

Fleer E-X LEBRON JAMES #102

Essential Credentials Now

While LeBron’s Essential Credentials Future 1/1 holds court as a royal grail, Now holds its own with just 102 examples produced. Surprisingly, more than half have been graded by PSA (52 copies), with five PSA 10s and a dozen PSA 9s. One of the five Gem Mint copies sold at auction for $34,100 in March 2020.

Essential Credentials Future

“The Great One” made his Essential Credential debut in the 2012 Fleer Retro EX 2001 set that featured Now /9 and Future /34. Only one Now parallel has been graded by PSA; for the Future version, just two.

2003

2012 Upper Deck Fleer Retro E-X 2001 WAYNE GRETZKY #34

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

1951 BOWMAN

2001 - 2019

Powered

Football

Buyer's Guide

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

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

PSA 5

Summer Rarities Auction

July 2023

Minimum Bid: $20,000

MemoryLaneInc.com

Wayne

PSA 8

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

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson #103

2005 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection

Babe Ruth #32

PSA 8

Barca

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

Silver 2022 T-Mobile Park

Dan Wilson

PSA 8

Trading Card Games Signature Auction

7.7.23 - 7.8.23

HA.com/tcg

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

Campeon (Spanish)

Messi #35

MLB 06

Michael Jordan

1987 Chicago Bulls

1 Original Photo

2012 Panini Prizm

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

2023 Show Schedule

Schedule 2023 Show Schedule 2023

Collect-A-Con Kansas City

The National Collect-A-Con Long Beach

The Burbank Show

Collect-A-Con Charlotte Collect-A-Con Denver Comic Con New York

Portland Retro Gaming Expo

Collect-A-Con Houston

Toronto Card Show

Show schedule is subject to change. Please visit

Sports

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

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

Easy Pull, Tabbed Card Sleeves

CardboardGold.com

cardboardgold@gmail.com

100 Count Pack, 100 Packs/Case: $102.50

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

WW

CREDITS

Frank Thomas Cover ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS

Justin Fields Cover ASSOCIATED PRESS

Opening Spread ASSOCIATED PRESS Daaaaaaa Bears ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fields Level 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.

Powered by

A Frank Thomas (Base)

Frank Thomas NNOF Variant (#/50)

A

B C