Exactly why I’m not into graded stuff. When I started reading how “not all 10s are the same” - I knew it was a joke. Just do it like coins with a 70 point scale. Only reason I would ever send anything to be graded is planning to sell.
All I have these days are some leftovers from decades ago when I was big in the hobby - mainly stuff that’s just more sentimental value than anything. Still some of it has some value to it - and if I happen to be scrolling through the local auction house listings and see something from the 50-70s going cheap - I’ll make a bid.
There are a few that are on my buy list these days / but not many. The new stuff holds zero interest for me. Maybe one day I’ll start assembling a set from the 50s or something / at least a team set.
I was into it in that first baseball card boom in the late 80s.
Went to many card shows in the area. And like you saw a lot of Mantle rookies, Mays, etc. for sale relatively cheap back then. Not sure the condition but probably at best 6-7 if that. Maybe a random 8 here or there.
The cards from mid to late 80s we coveted back then and had some decent value, sets and rookie cards, were so mass produced that they are fairly worthless now.
