SUMMARY

In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, host Ryan Alford interviews Mike Baker, a pioneer in card grading and founder of MBA Diamond. Baker discusses his early days at PSA, the challenges of building trust in third-party grading, and how MBA Diamond is innovating with features like heat maps and grader notes for greater transparency. The conversation covers the evolution of the hobby, the importance of transparency, and MBA Diamond’s focus on vintage cards, as well as advice for collectors and graders.

TAKEAWAYS

• Mike Baker's early experiences at PSA and the transition from coin grading to trading card grading.
• The evolution of the grading process and its impact on the collectibles market.
• Challenges in building trust with collectors regarding the grading of their cards.
• The founding and launch of MBA Diamond as a new grading service.
• The introduction of tiered certification stickers to differentiate card quality.
• The emphasis on transparency in grading through features like grader notes and heat maps.
• The current state of MBA Diamond and its partnerships with various platforms.
• Future plans for MBA Diamond, including scaling operations and enhancing transparency.
• The types of cards being graded, focusing primarily on vintage cards.
• The potential for collaboration and innovation within the grading industry.

Plus — exciting news! Brian’s company, Ludex, is nominated for Innovation of the Year at The Hobby Awards. Show your support by voting here 👇
🗳️ Vote for Ludex: https://thehobbyawards.onmantel.com/innovation-of-the-year