A few of the detail-minded PSA Registry members emailed me this week to see if I knew anything about the new layout of the company’s slab flips… I had my own assumptions, but wanted to ask PSA president Joe Orlando what actually was the reasoning and last night he called with his response.

Just as I thought, it had something to do with the PSA’s new “half-grade” system:

Orlando: “The reason that we changed the labels, is after getting some feedback from the hobby, we decided that this would be a way to distinguish between cards that have been graded after the half-point system and before. The one caveat to that is that cards are sent in for review for the half point with the old-style labels with the old-style holders, because we are concerned with the efficiency of the process and unnecessary waste we do not crack out cards that do not change or that we don't feel have a chance at changing. Basically it was in response to some of the hobbyists that wanted to distinguish between cards that have been graded under the new system versus the old system with that one caveat.”




I just checked out SCP Auctions’ Barry Bonds No. 762 home run ball auction on their site. The ball is currently at $146,410. This piece is so interesting, and it is such a unique situation because Bonds could technically still play. I'm very curious to see what it sells for. Talk about a six-figure lottery ticket.

In other SCP/Sotheby’s news, the auction-house giant is holding its major sale that ends April 24. In addition to the sweet Crack Jack cards that are pictured below, there are pieces from the Dr. Richard Angrist Collection and lots that came from heavy weight boxer Joe Frazier. CLICK HERE to read the full preview that was published recently in Sport Collectors Digest.