I was in need of a mental break and playing on the PSA message boards and found this post about a grading company called GRA. All of the seller's (gradedrookies) cards are graded by this mystery company and meant to trick people into buying a card they think is legitimately graded and worth big money, but it actually just a poor condition card in a screwdown with a fake lable.

Here's his description: "Winning bidder receives this beautiful investment-quality card which has been graded GEM 10 by Graded Rookies Authenticated (GRA). Along with Beckett and PSA, GRA has established itself as an industry leader in the grading of premium quality sportscards. WHY BUY FROM US? Six simple reasons. QUALITY -- featured by Beckett in the August 2001 Baseball Card Monthly, GRA GEM 10 cards are the best of the best, continually command some of the highest premiums in the hobby, and offer tremendous investment potental. SELECTION -- with over 2000 different cards to choose from, we offer the largest inventory of high-grade sportscards anywhere. You willl find cards here that you won't see anywhere else. PRICE -- we hold the exclusive on-line distribution rights for GRA GEM 10 cards, which means that you will not find these cards sold for less anywhere on the net. TRUST -- we are an eBay Power Seller with a rating over 3300 and near perfect feedback. CUSTOMER SERVICE -- as mail-order specialists, we respond promptly to all e-mails and ship within two business days of receiving payment. THE GRA GUARANTEE -- in the unlikely event that you are not fully satisified with your purchase, simply return it to us within seven days and we will refund your purchase price, no questions asked."

Look at the upper right corner on the Koufax or the centering on the Berra card. Nice. It makes me think of the movie "Tommy Boy" when Chris Farley is trying to sell that old guy brake pads and the guy doesn't like the fact that the guarantee is not on the box. If you've seen it, and I don't think I've ever met anyone who hasn't, you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, these cards don't even look like they'd be assured of a 5 or 6. And I'd love to get my hands on this Beckett Baseball Aug. 2001 issue that "features" this company.

In unrelated news, I just finished working on a CD project where we put everything 1981-present from the 2008 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards onto one CD. It'll be offered for sale in the next month or so. It's fully searchable and has most of the sets linked from the chronological index right to the page so it's very easy to find your way around. I'll have more details on it once production is finished and it's offered for sale.