Slowly getting around to some more images of cards - these take up the most space - so thought I'd better get them sorted first. Lower grades, second tier grading companies and even some lesser names - but hang aroudn tot eh end and there might be at least one decent card to have a look at.
I might kick off with the er, more obsure grading companies.... All players I used to like and just thought I'd see some variety. Cracking and re-slabbing might be an interesting hustle, see how well these smaller graders actually grade.
Kerry KIttles 1996-97 Fleer Ultra Encore Rookies RC - As a kid I used to like Kerry Kitles and Ed O'Bannon as I followed the old NJ Nets (I actually worte them a letter to them and they sent me back a fair few goodies which was quite impressive). As for grademycards.com, they;re no longer in business as you might have guessed. Cases feel really light and flimsy and the perforated label edge doesn't echo quality...note the 'USA' branding though in the bottom right. Encore cards look really nice imo, holofoil accents always dance well in the light. Card itself looks pretty tight, centering likely the main issue.
Latrell Sprewell 1992-93 Topps RC - I remember busting a fair bit of this product back in the day, I always liked the rookies and the '92 Draft Pick gold foil stamping which I thoguht looked pretty classy in that stylised font. Was never a huge Sprwell fan following the 'choking incident' and turning down fairly decent contracts because 'he had a family to feed' but you can't question the talent and the hustle coming in as a late first rounder. As for Mint grading, they're no longer around although MNT gradign is and there's also mintgradigncompany.com ($2 per card if you don't like the grade and don't want it slabbed!). The card itself does look pretty sharp - wouldn;t be surpised if ti graded well at one of the big boys.
Dwight Howard 2004-05 Topps Luxury Box RC - I actually opened one hobby pack of Luxury Box on its release, and quickly vowed to never spend my hard cash earned that way ever again - lol they do make some nice looking card sthough, can tell they're efinitely higher end. FGS stands for Finest Grading Service and they apepar to have one of the dodgier backgrounds in the industry. Label looks very amateurish but one godo thing I;ll say is that thir slabs are actually embossed with the word Finest on the reverse side wehre the label is and an embosed sylised F on the front where the label is. Adds a nice touch. As for Dwight, still not sure why he still isn't in the NBA - stretch 5s can't be at that much of a premium!
Matisse Thybulle 2019 - 2020 Panini Mosaic RC - Don't judge me! Pretty sure I picked this up for less than the cost of the plastic itself.... I really like the way he gets after it defensively, fave Boomer for sure!
......and quite obviously the same card which is a whole two grades better. Not sure I can see it to be perfectly honest. Centering is better and the edges, but not two whole grades better!
Matisse Thybulle 2019-2020 Panini Prizm RC - We all know the centering and surface issues the modern Prizm cards have, so just wnated to pick up one in decent condition
Now moving on to some early 90s junk wax goodness....
Shawn Kemp 1990 - 1991 Skybox RC - Such iconic cards which were my first introduction to collecting, wanted to have some Reign Man RCs in good condition for the nostalgia factor. My brother used to like the old Payton / Kemp duo - and some of those crazy tomwhawk dunks used to feature pretty rpegualrly on the top 10 countdown. I must say I do like the CSG / CGC slabs quite a lot, labelling leaves a bit to be desired, but so does PSA - that red label is a shocker imo.
...and tossing in an iconic Kemp Hoops RC for good measure (yes, I have the Fleer as well) #bringbackthesonics
Larry Johnson 1991 - 92 Upper Deck RC - After Kemp, came Granmama! Those young Horents teams had quite the following. Pre-injury Hornet LJ was quite the beast!
Time for the obligatory skip20 randomness....
Corey Maggette 1999 - 00 Topps Finest RC /2000 - One of the more productive players who never really achieved any success (only made the playoffs once) or hobby love. He does have one of the better nicknames in hsitory though I won't explain it here, but this article pretty much sums everything up: https://texassportsanalytics.wordpr...ng-one-of-the-nbas-most-perplexing-nicknames/ Tehse finest rookeis look real nice and godl foil stamping on the revers is big, bold and memorable. In case you were wondering the sub-grades had surface was an 8 which dragged the overall grade down.
Eric Gordon 2008 - 09 Topps RC - Hard to beelive this guy is still starting on an NBA team with title aspirations. Jsut wanted to pick upa card of a guy who ruined multiple season of keepr league fantasy basketball for me with his eratic shooting displays... Interesting fact, bro and I used to call him the Chipmunk Assassin lol He really balled out in his third season and was the main piece in the trade which brought CP3 to LAC. As for BCCG you can tell the slabs, label and the whole product is of of a much lower quality. Would be interested to hear how much faith other collectors have in a BCCG10 grade.
Speaking of BCCG and under-sized scoring prowess, thsi rigns me onto.....
Monta Ellis Topps 1952 Style RC - A guy who often gets over-looked or forgotten on those run n gun Warriors squads. I really apprecaite the effort the put into designing these retro looking cards, definitely not a 10 though, centering is clearly off a bit.
I might kick off with the er, more obsure grading companies.... All players I used to like and just thought I'd see some variety. Cracking and re-slabbing might be an interesting hustle, see how well these smaller graders actually grade.
Kerry KIttles 1996-97 Fleer Ultra Encore Rookies RC - As a kid I used to like Kerry Kitles and Ed O'Bannon as I followed the old NJ Nets (I actually worte them a letter to them and they sent me back a fair few goodies which was quite impressive). As for grademycards.com, they;re no longer in business as you might have guessed. Cases feel really light and flimsy and the perforated label edge doesn't echo quality...note the 'USA' branding though in the bottom right. Encore cards look really nice imo, holofoil accents always dance well in the light. Card itself looks pretty tight, centering likely the main issue.
Latrell Sprewell 1992-93 Topps RC - I remember busting a fair bit of this product back in the day, I always liked the rookies and the '92 Draft Pick gold foil stamping which I thoguht looked pretty classy in that stylised font. Was never a huge Sprwell fan following the 'choking incident' and turning down fairly decent contracts because 'he had a family to feed' but you can't question the talent and the hustle coming in as a late first rounder. As for Mint grading, they're no longer around although MNT gradign is and there's also mintgradigncompany.com ($2 per card if you don't like the grade and don't want it slabbed!). The card itself does look pretty sharp - wouldn;t be surpised if ti graded well at one of the big boys.
Dwight Howard 2004-05 Topps Luxury Box RC - I actually opened one hobby pack of Luxury Box on its release, and quickly vowed to never spend my hard cash earned that way ever again - lol they do make some nice looking card sthough, can tell they're efinitely higher end. FGS stands for Finest Grading Service and they apepar to have one of the dodgier backgrounds in the industry. Label looks very amateurish but one godo thing I;ll say is that thir slabs are actually embossed with the word Finest on the reverse side wehre the label is and an embosed sylised F on the front where the label is. Adds a nice touch. As for Dwight, still not sure why he still isn't in the NBA - stretch 5s can't be at that much of a premium!
Matisse Thybulle 2019 - 2020 Panini Mosaic RC - Don't judge me! Pretty sure I picked this up for less than the cost of the plastic itself.... I really like the way he gets after it defensively, fave Boomer for sure!
......and quite obviously the same card which is a whole two grades better. Not sure I can see it to be perfectly honest. Centering is better and the edges, but not two whole grades better!
Matisse Thybulle 2019-2020 Panini Prizm RC - We all know the centering and surface issues the modern Prizm cards have, so just wnated to pick up one in decent condition
Now moving on to some early 90s junk wax goodness....
Shawn Kemp 1990 - 1991 Skybox RC - Such iconic cards which were my first introduction to collecting, wanted to have some Reign Man RCs in good condition for the nostalgia factor. My brother used to like the old Payton / Kemp duo - and some of those crazy tomwhawk dunks used to feature pretty rpegualrly on the top 10 countdown. I must say I do like the CSG / CGC slabs quite a lot, labelling leaves a bit to be desired, but so does PSA - that red label is a shocker imo.
...and tossing in an iconic Kemp Hoops RC for good measure (yes, I have the Fleer as well) #bringbackthesonics
Larry Johnson 1991 - 92 Upper Deck RC - After Kemp, came Granmama! Those young Horents teams had quite the following. Pre-injury Hornet LJ was quite the beast!
Time for the obligatory skip20 randomness....
Corey Maggette 1999 - 00 Topps Finest RC /2000 - One of the more productive players who never really achieved any success (only made the playoffs once) or hobby love. He does have one of the better nicknames in hsitory though I won't explain it here, but this article pretty much sums everything up: https://texassportsanalytics.wordpr...ng-one-of-the-nbas-most-perplexing-nicknames/ Tehse finest rookeis look real nice and godl foil stamping on the revers is big, bold and memorable. In case you were wondering the sub-grades had surface was an 8 which dragged the overall grade down.
Eric Gordon 2008 - 09 Topps RC - Hard to beelive this guy is still starting on an NBA team with title aspirations. Jsut wanted to pick upa card of a guy who ruined multiple season of keepr league fantasy basketball for me with his eratic shooting displays... Interesting fact, bro and I used to call him the Chipmunk Assassin lol He really balled out in his third season and was the main piece in the trade which brought CP3 to LAC. As for BCCG you can tell the slabs, label and the whole product is of of a much lower quality. Would be interested to hear how much faith other collectors have in a BCCG10 grade.
Speaking of BCCG and under-sized scoring prowess, thsi rigns me onto.....
Monta Ellis Topps 1952 Style RC - A guy who often gets over-looked or forgotten on those run n gun Warriors squads. I really apprecaite the effort the put into designing these retro looking cards, definitely not a 10 though, centering is clearly off a bit.