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What does an indentation do to a card's grade? 1973 Topps Schmidt RC Edition

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JEA2880

New member
Aug 16, 2008
3,994
0
Connecticut
Hey everyone,

I picked up a 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt RC today at a tag sale. The card is beautiful except I noticed that there is a tiny indentation below the nose of John Hilton on the card - it looks as if it was pricked by a pin, but not all the way through (in other words, there isn't a hole in the card, just a pin-sized indentation).

Is this card still worth grading or does the pinhole-size mark kill it? Any idea what it might grade based on the photo? You can see the mark in the photo.

Schmidt_zpscf226d9a.jpg


Thanks and any insight is appreciated.
 

Nate Colbert 17

Active member
Aug 10, 2008
3,693
0
Texas
Great pickup!

Back in the day when "partying like it's 1999" was still in the future, I collected all the base issue cards for rhe Padres. I think I paid $50.00 for the John Hilton card!
 

mrmopar

Member
Jan 19, 2010
6,187
4,087
Ah the joy and frustration of the multiplayer rookie cards of the past. I still have never picked up that damn Ken McMullen RC for the 63 Dodger set! I did get my 73 Cey though.

Great pickup!

Back in the day when "partying like it's 1999" was still in the future, I collected all the base issue cards for rhe Padres. I think I paid $50.00 for the John Hilton card!

I believe indentations affect the surface sub grade only, but I don't care about graded cards, so I am not qualified to answer. The corners will affect the grade too and as another member said, it's probably not worth grading if you are expecting a high grade.
 

Todd44

New member
Nov 25, 2008
334
0
Without the indentation it's probably a 7. WIth it, and the printer's mark on Cey's hat, it might go down to a 4 or 5. But if I was in the market for a 4 or 5, this would be a pretty nice example that might get a slight premium over other 4s or 5s.
 

JEA2880

New member
Aug 16, 2008
3,994
0
Connecticut
Without the indentation it's probably a 7. WIth it, and the printer's mark on Cey's hat, it might go down to a 4 or 5. But if I was in the market for a 4 or 5, this would be a pretty nice example that might get a slight premium over other 4s or 5s.

Thanks for the responses everyone, but this one is exactly what I was looking for. I obviously knew I wasn't getting a 10, but it was a pretty nice older issue card (despite the Cey hat print spot) until I noticed the indentation.

Either way, it set me back a whopping $20 so I'm still happy.
 

swish54_99

Well-known member
Dec 12, 2012
1,160
221
I'd guess a 3.5- 4. Upper left corner is soft, plus like others have mentioned, the mark on Ceys hat and the indentation. Either way, you got a great deal for only $20!
 

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