What's In A Name ? PSA Doesn't Know (or care)

There is an elephant in the room and no one seems to care its shitting on the rug. Professional Sports Authenticators a.k.a. - PSA - is a business that slabs collectibles. Its President, Joe Orlando, claims they are instrumental in  furthering the hobby.

 

I beg to differ, and back my words with further proof of malpractice -

 

EXHIBIT "A" is the graded rookie card of the great soccer star "PELE".

 

A few years ago you could have passed off any card of the superstar made before 1980 as his debut or "rookie" card. But todays' soccer collector is much more informed and far more knowledgeable.

 

You need not be the sharpest tool in the shed to know that the above card is shared with another World Cup star - "GARRINCHA".

 

What PSA lacks in knowledge they make up in false profits ! Someone paid good money to have this item graded and identified.

 

Well, PSA got it only HALF right !

While it would not technically be incorrect to label the slab with a player's full given name, it would be almost a sin to do so for a Brazilian player. As most soccer fans know, Brazilians go by their nickname and not their actual baptismal title.

 

EXHIBIT B

 

A comparison to of the 1958 card with the above example is clearly proof that Garrincha is featured on the Exhibit "A" card.

 

Not knowing that the card was shared by a a superstar such as Garrincha, is like baseball card collectors not knowing that a guy named Nolan Ryan also appears on Jerry Koosman's rookie card.

The misleading label is also paramount to identifying Babe Ruth as only George Herman. I pity the fool who pays such money only to be duped by PSA.

 

As our cartoon heroes GI JOE's used to say - Its good to know, "and knowing is half the battle".

 

Avoiding The Idiocy Of PSA

When it comes to the logical collector, a certain grading company just cannot help but appear to be idiots. For anyone who has read the book "The Card", many of the fears of a priceless collection become a nightmare of worthlessness.

 

I've tried to educate some of the people at PSA. However, one cannot make the blind see or the deaf hear. I've featured several of the "boners" that PSA has given us in their ignorance of soccer cards.

 

So, here is one more to add to the pile ...

 

Its labeled a "trading card".  Really ?  I thought it might be a flying carpet !  What's sadder, is that the card is listed on evil bay with what I would deem "over priced" - see also insane, nuts, wacko or just plain koo-koo.

 

I am hoping that my contacts at one of the other grading companies heeds my advice and pays attention to the market. They may just do well as soccer card guides as collecting has the greatest potential of any sport. Here is why -

 

1. soccer cards are still relatively affordable

2. The sport translates to any part of the world and so does the internet.

3. Because so much is unknown about the early sets, its a challenge even for seasoned collectors.

4. The largest nations for sheer numbers (China, Japan, USA and Brazil) now have the economy to purchase what was once produced for a collecting population of only a few thousand. Demand cannot keep up. The early collectors will have the picks.

 

 

 PSA are going to fool some people - but the smart ones will not fall for it. There are many dealers now on the Internet selling false "rookie cards" for good money because there is little guidance.

But that may soon change.

 

This (insert DirectTV situation here) is what happens when you  order PSA. Don't order PSA.