PSA 10 vs PSA 9 Reality: Phantom POPs, Crack-and-Cross, Eye Appeal & The Truth with Patrick Ryan

PSA 10 vs PSA 9 isn’t what you think. Patrick Ryan (P. Ryan Collection / Uncut Cardboard) breaks down phantom POPs, crack-and-cross risks, and why eye appeal often beats the number on the label, plus how he’s reshaping his collection around story and provenance.

We cover:

Origins & early wins: 1988 Topps start, autograph chasing in Houston, Giannis and Luka moves that funded vintage icons.

The multi-sport autograph grail: completing a single piece signed by Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Lionel Messi, and Tom Brady — and how it changed his curation.

Provenance in practice: the 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson that moved from Patrick to Jeremy, and why public provenance matters.

The 100-card case, evolved: why Patrick is shrinking to a ~25-item core and prioritizing rarer pieces with better stories.

Grading realities: PSA 10 vs 9 vs 8 deltas, resubmissions, “phantom population,” standard drift, and practical buying cautions.

Slab choices by use case: PSA, BGS, SGC, TAG, CGC — clarity, stackability, presentation.

Modern vs vintage: lower technical grades with elite eye appeal as a value unlock.

Patches & game-used: rookie photo-shoot vs second-year game-used and why disclosures matter.

Collector/Investor: funding the next PC piece without losing the soul of the collection.

Buyer beware: undersized cards, authentic-altered labels, and documentation gaps.

If you enjoyed this conversation, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway — and tell us where you land on the collector–investor spectrum.

Follow Patrick: @pryancollection • @uncutcardboard
Follow Jeremy: @jlee_sportscardslive