eBay Buzz: This 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card is how much?

It’s not new and fresh from a pack, but the price tag attached?

Well, it’s a jaw-dropper.

It’s a nearly perfect copy of Nolan Ryan‘s 1968 Topps Rookie Card — a hobby classic that’s chased by both New Yorkers who remember his early days with an iconic World Series-winning team, but also the fans of a rugged Texan who struck out more players than anyone else in MLB history. (And maybe by a few Jerry Koosman fans, too.)

Is it worth that? Perhaps to the right deep-pocketed collector — but maybe not for that much, though Ryan was MLB’s first million-dollar-a-year player when he signed with the Houston Astros in 1980.

So, a collector walks into a store and buys a raw Michael Jordan RC …

So, a collector walks into a card shop and buys a raw Michael Jordan Rookie Card … stop us if you’ve heard this one before.

This time, though, the card went to Beckett Grading Services for examination.

The result?

Making the Grade IV: Joe Namath, Ichiro, WWE stars & legendary ink

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it’s to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it’s to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here’s the fourth Grading Diary here on The Buzz …

Making the Grade III: Ichiro Suzuki, a Dream Team classic, Albert Pujols’ debut & two WrestleMania stars

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it’s to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it’s to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here’s the third Grading Diary here on The Buzz …

Making the Grade II: Corey Seager Pristine, a WrestleMania upstart, legends & Sheldon Cooper’s shirt

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it’s to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it’s to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here’s the second Grading Diary here on The Buzz …

Making the Grade: Grading Diary I includes Derek Jeter, legendary ink, vintage, WWE Diva Paige & more

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it’s to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it’s to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

For the first Grading Diary here on The Buzz, it will be a mix of cards graded for a few reasons.

The Card: 1993 Upper Deck #449 Derek Jeter
The Reason Graded: This was pulled straight from an underpriced factory set and looked very clean except for a tiny spot on the back — Buzz figured it might push into the high grades even with the gloss issue. These cards are also not easy to pull from wax or sets cleanly because the high-gloss cards often stick together, peeling away specks of paper. Another reason? This is an iconic card that’s worth grading if you own a clean one.
The Grade: BGS 9

Grade:	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9	9.5	10	Total
Population:	24	20	65	124	334	761	1,314	1,579	806	307	3	5,360

Reality Check: The SP Jeter rookie is the one people chase, not this one. This one’s $20 on eBay — and perhaps undervalued considering how they grade on the pop report. BGS 9s and higher are really much rarer than people think.