After my discovery of this board, I quickly got an idea what a beater was. However, I would like to ask board members what your definition of a beater is. And... does anyone ever get one graded?
Scans are welcome.
Thanks, John

It's just a general term for a very low grade but more affordable card. Probably several creases, a little back damage, etc. Only high value beaters get graded.

I like to think of them as old cards that look old.

What's a beater? A beater is the general term used to describe my collection. Here are a couple of my "best" examples:





Would I grade one? Probably not. Then again, I'm not in to graded cards much. I wouldn't grade the cards of mine that are in better condition.

Here is a Beater that I like. Staining, Creasing, paperloss....

Yes, some do get graded. The protective cases can help reduce further destruction....though I didn't personally get this one slabbed it's probably good it did...regards

Here's a beater...

More Beaters

Here's my beater

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My Trade/Sale Page

The card on the left is Frank W.'s T210 Goostree Leaning on Bat. Some gradehounds might say it is a beater; I think it is a Thing of Rare Beauty. The card on the right is my Goostree LOB. Now that's a beater. Looks like somebody used it to clean out a spitoon. It's all relative.

PS Nice "beater", Matt.

Here is an example of a low-grade beater. I think this is a Lefty Grove card.

Why would David's Goostree be graded Auth? It doesn't look trimmed? (Inexperience showing)
John

I'm not going to speak for David about his Goostree card... And I don't have any experience submitting cards to the grading companies... But based on what I've read on this board, I believe that you can request that a card be graded Authentic. If someone knows that a card has a pinhole or paper loss or whatever that might land the card in a "1" holder, they might be just as happy having the card in an Authentic holder rather than a "1" holder. So I think you have to keep that in mind when you see cards in an Authentic holder. If I am wrong, feel free to correct me.

Everyone defines beater in their own terms and the term is contantly evolving.

I loved Lionel Carter's story about his beater T206 Eddie Plank. He nearly threw the card away but kept it until he got another one to replace it. He never got another and years later, I belive it was Paul (T206 Collector) who paid a pretty penny for Lionel Carter's old Beater!!!  Great story and thanks again Paul for sharing that story a year or so ago.. It just goes to show you that today's trash is tomorrow's treasure..

Today's commons are treated as beaters and it just drives me nuts.  I see and read of NEW collector's opening up wax packs and throwing away the commons.. it makes me cringe. I know these cards hold little value and likely never will due to the sheer volume of production but it is a clear indicator of where the new card hobby is headed; the trash.

Marty

Brad leads this one so far...with jeremy and joe in a tight race for 2nd.

I could be here all day uploading my beaters, but this one is probably my best.

Frank - is that the one that was on eBay raw about 2 years ago?

My Trade/Sale Page

Matt~ You've got a good memory, that would be the one.

Oh yeah? Top this one!

This is not armpit collecting....it is more like butt crack