Latest news with #PSA
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mantelpiece Stories: Inside one collector's passion for PSA 1 cards
One of the best things about collecting is that it's a different experience for everyone, and no one can tell you if it's right or wrong. At Mantel's pre-Fanatics Fest trade night at Bleecker Trading, we met a collector, Steve Loff of Throwback Cards, who embodies this perfectly. His passion? Cards graded PSA 1, typically the lowest grade possible. Advertisement His goal? Own the world's largest collection of PSA 1 cards. Intrigued by his unique collection, we sat down with him to dive into the world of 'imperfectly perfect' cards. How did this unique collection begin? Steve: It all started when I saw a guy posting random PSA 1s on Instagram. I found it hilarious yet intriguing. Interestingly, my own journey actually began with a PSA 3, not a 1. I got a 2019 Pete Alonso #475 back from PSA expecting a 10, but it was a 3 due to an accidental fold in the card. I laughed, looked at the pop report — Pop 1, none lower — and decided, 'I'm keeping this card.' Then I thought about iconic cards I'd always wanted in high grades, like the '93 Jeter SP. Curious, I checked and saw a Pop 1 in PSA 1, found it immediately on COMC, and snagged it for $195. It remains my most expensive PSA 1 to date. That card changed my entire collecting approach. 1993 SP Derek Jeter PSA 1 (Via Mantel) Do you mostly buy your PSA 1 cards or grade them yourself? Steve: Around 95% are already graded as PSA 1. I often wonder how they ended up that way. Were they treasured by someone for a long time, graded out of curiosity, or a grading newbie's submission? Occasionally, when I can't find a Pop 1 or Pop 2 card I really want, I'll intentionally submit a beat-up card myself, hoping for a PSA 1. What's the secret to consistently getting PSA 1 grades? Steve: It's funny — just like spotting a PSA 10, you need an eye for a 1. It takes practice. I've aimed for 1s and sometimes ended up with 2s, which felt like overgrading! A perfect PSA 1 has good centering and registration but clearly visible creases and worn corners. My 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson is an ideal example: childhood-loved, pocket-worn, yet charmingly intact. 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson PSA 1 (Via Mantel) Do you ever intentionally damage cards for a lower grade? Steve: Occasionally, yes. However, I don't usually like taking shortcuts like pinholes —though I confess I did it once with my 1989 Topps Traded Barry Sanders. I let my kids play with it, creased it up, but wasn't confident it would grade a 1, so I added a pinhole. That card graded PSA 1 and has since become a centerpiece of my collection. I've even declined offers for it that exceeded PSA 10 prices! Which cards in your collection mean the most to you? Steve: The Sanders, despite the pinhole, because of the memorable story around its grading. The Jeter SP as my first PSA 1. The Kirk Gibson card for its ties to my childhood. Also, my junk wax-era PSA 1s — cards like the 1986 Canseco Rated Rookie, the 1987 Topps Bo Jackson Future Stars, and the 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn. I particularly love my 1969 Victoria Stevie Wonder, Pop 1, none lower! 1989 Topps Barry Sanders PSA 1, 1990 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. PSA 1 and 1990 Fleer Michael Jordan PSA 1 (Via Mantel) What might surprise people about the pricing of PSA 1 cards? Steve: PSA 1 cards are often rarer than higher grades, so there's a surprising premium sometimes. For example, my Barry Sanders card has drawn offers higher than PSA 10 counterparts. Generally, PSA 1 collecting is affordable and fun, but certain low-population cards can unexpectedly outpace mid-level grades in value. Any cards still on your wishlist? Steve: Definitely! I'd love an '86 Jordan, '79 Gretzky, or '58 Jim Brown, even though they're relatively common in PSA 1. My true wish list includes modern iconic cards you rarely see graded PSA 1, like the 2018 Prizm Luka Doncic or Tom Brady Bowman Chrome rookie. But at the very top are the 1984 Topps or Donruss Don Mattingly and the 1996 Topps Kobe Bryant — both hard to find and pricey. Any final thoughts you'd like to share? Steve: It is the best conversation starter. One fun thing is bringing these PSA 1 cards to shows and displaying them prominently. Collectors always react positively, often amazed or amused. As quirky as it sounds, PSA 1 collecting is incredibly rewarding — it's affordable, personal, and brings genuine joy and conversations every single time. Do you have a unique collection you would like featured on Mantelpiece Stories? Let us know on Mantel.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
Chris Hoy calls for systemic change in testing for prostate cancer
Six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy has called for systemic change in the ways men get tested for prostate cancer. The 49-year old cyclist was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2023 and was told last year that it has spread to his bones and is terminal. NHS guidance says men over the age of 50 are at highest risk of developing prostate cancer, but Sir Chris wants to help men get screened earlier. He said: 'I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger. 'With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got.' One option is a PSA blood test which checks the level of prostate-specific antigens in the blood, A high reading may be a sign of a prostate condition. NHS guidance says these tests are not routinely used as they are not reliable, but men over 50 can ask GPs for one. Sir Chris's comments came after Prostate Cancer UK urged the UK Government for an overhaul of NHS guidelines to encourage GPs to proactively speak to men at high risk from 45 years old. #ProstateCancer has become the most common cancer in England. However, for a disease that affects 1 in 8 men, there's still no screening programme and outdated NHS guidelines prevent lifesaving conversations with men at highest risk. ➡️ Read more: — Prostate Cancer UK (@ProstateUK) January 28, 2025 According to the charity, around one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer, which occurs when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way and, if not detected early, risks spreading. Sir Chris added: 'I believe men at highest risk, for example men with a family history like me or black men, should be contacted by their GP earlier on to discuss a simple PSA blood test that can check for signs of prostate cancer. Then if there are any issues, they can get it treated it at an earlier stage. 'I've told my story to help raise awareness about the most common cancer in men and get more thinking about their risk and what they can do, but it shouldn't all be men's responsibility. 'I've faced many challenges in my life, and going public with my prostate cancer diagnosis was certainly one of them. 'I've been incredibly lucky to have so much support from my family, friends and the general public. The kindness has lifted me up and given me a sense of purpose, and I'm committed to taking that forward and using my platform to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more men at risk to come forward and get tested.' The Scottish cyclist has launched his own charity cycling challenge, Tour de 4, with the aim of changing perceptions around stage four cancer. The challenge will take place on September 7 in Glasgow with a final registration phase open for riders to sign up. Speaking about Sir Chris, Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 'His bravery and tireless work to raise awareness has already made a huge impact. 'In just a few months after Sir Chris went public with his diagnosis last year, over 286,000 people used our online risk checker to learn more about the disease, find out their own risk and learn what they can choose to do about it. 'His bravery has inspired so many men to take action, and he has undoubtedly saved lives. 'One in eight men will get prostate cancer. The earlier it's found, the easier it is to treat — but there's currently no screening programme in the UK. So if, like Sir Chris, you have a family history of the disease, or if you're black, we strongly encourage you to speak to your GP about testing from the age of 45. 'We don't think it's right that the responsibility is all on men's shoulders, so we're calling on the Health Secretary to overhaul outdated NHS guidelines so that GPs are empowered to actually start conversations with these men at highest risk.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government has been clear we would like to see screening in place but the decision must be evidence-led, which is why the UK National Screening Committee is looking at this as a priority – including reviewing the evidence for screening men with a family history of prostate cancer. 'While the review is taking place we are getting on with improving cancer treatment and prevention, as well as funding tens of millions of pounds of research.'
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Chris Hoy calls for systemic change in testing for prostate cancer
The 49-year old cyclist was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2023 and was told last year that it has spread to his bones and is terminal. NHS guidance says men over the age of 50 are at highest risk of developing prostate cancer, but Sir Chris wants to help men get screened earlier. He said: 'I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger. 'With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got.' One option is a PSA blood test which checks the level of prostate-specific antigens in the blood, A high reading may be a sign of a prostate condition. NHS guidance says these tests are not routinely used as they are not reliable, but men over 50 can ask GPs for one. Sir Chris's comments came after Prostate Cancer UK urged the UK Government for an overhaul of NHS guidelines to encourage GPs to proactively speak to men at high risk from 45 years old. #ProstateCancer has become the most common cancer in England. However, for a disease that affects 1 in 8 men, there's still no screening programme and outdated NHS guidelines prevent lifesaving conversations with men at highest risk. ➡️ Read more: — Prostate Cancer UK (@ProstateUK) January 28, 2025 According to the charity, around one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer, which occurs when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way and, if not detected early, risks spreading. Sir Chris added: 'I believe men at highest risk, for example men with a family history like me or black men, should be contacted by their GP earlier on to discuss a simple PSA blood test that can check for signs of prostate cancer. Then if there are any issues, they can get it treated it at an earlier stage. 'I've told my story to help raise awareness about the most common cancer in men and get more thinking about their risk and what they can do, but it shouldn't all be men's responsibility. 'I've faced many challenges in my life, and going public with my prostate cancer diagnosis was certainly one of them. 'I've been incredibly lucky to have so much support from my family, friends and the general public. The kindness has lifted me up and given me a sense of purpose, and I'm committed to taking that forward and using my platform to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more men at risk to come forward and get tested.' The Scottish cyclist has launched his own charity cycling challenge, Tour de 4, with the aim of changing perceptions around stage four cancer. The challenge will take place on September 7 in Glasgow with a final registration phase open for riders to sign up. Speaking about Sir Chris, Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 'His bravery and tireless work to raise awareness has already made a huge impact. 'In just a few months after Sir Chris went public with his diagnosis last year, over 286,000 people used our online risk checker to learn more about the disease, find out their own risk and learn what they can choose to do about it. 'His bravery has inspired so many men to take action, and he has undoubtedly saved lives. 'One in eight men will get prostate cancer. The earlier it's found, the easier it is to treat — but there's currently no screening programme in the UK. So if, like Sir Chris, you have a family history of the disease, or if you're black, we strongly encourage you to speak to your GP about testing from the age of 45. 'We don't think it's right that the responsibility is all on men's shoulders, so we're calling on the Health Secretary to overhaul outdated NHS guidelines so that GPs are empowered to actually start conversations with these men at highest risk.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government has been clear we would like to see screening in place but the decision must be evidence-led, which is why the UK National Screening Committee is looking at this as a priority – including reviewing the evidence for screening men with a family history of prostate cancer. 'While the review is taking place we are getting on with improving cancer treatment and prevention, as well as funding tens of millions of pounds of research.'
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Chris Hoy calls for systemic change in testing for prostate cancer
Chris Hoy calls for systemic change in testing for prostate cancer The 49-year old cyclist was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2023 and was told last year that it has spread to his bones and is terminal Sir Chris Hoy has opened up about his cancer diagnosis (Image: Phil Walter, Getty Images ) Six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy has called for systemic change in the ways men get tested for prostate cancer. The 49-year old cyclist was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2023 and was told last year that it has spread to his bones and is terminal. NHS guidance says men over the age of 50 are at highest risk of developing prostate cancer, but Sir Chris wants to help men get screened earlier. He said: "I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger. "With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got." One option is a PSA blood test which checks the level of prostate-specific antigens in the blood, A high reading may be a sign of a prostate condition. Article continues below NHS guidance says these tests are not routinely used as they are not reliable, but men over 50 can ask GPs for one. Sir Chris's comments came after Prostate Cancer UK urged the UK Government for an overhaul of NHS guidelines to encourage GPs to proactively speak to men at high risk from 45 years old. According to the charity, around one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer, which occurs when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way and, if not detected early, risks spreading. Sir Chris added: "I believe men at highest risk, for example men with a family history like me or black men, should be contacted by their GP earlier on to discuss a simple PSA blood test that can check for signs of prostate cancer. Then if there are any issues, they can get it treated it at an earlier stage. "I've told my story to help raise awareness about the most common cancer in men and get more thinking about their risk and what they can do, but it shouldn't all be men's responsibility. "I've faced many challenges in my life, and going public with my prostate cancer diagnosis was certainly one of them. "I've been incredibly lucky to have so much support from my family, friends and the general public. The kindness has lifted me up and given me a sense of purpose, and I'm committed to taking that forward and using my platform to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more men at risk to come forward and get tested." The Scottish cyclist has launched his own charity cycling challenge, Tour de 4, with the aim of changing perceptions around stage four cancer. The challenge will take place on September 7 in Glasgow with a final registration phase open for riders to sign up. Speaking about Sir Chris, Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "His bravery and tireless work to raise awareness has already made a huge impact. "In just a few months after Sir Chris went public with his diagnosis last year, over 286,000 people used our online risk checker to learn more about the disease, find out their own risk and learn what they can choose to do about it. "His bravery has inspired so many men to take action, and he has undoubtedly saved lives. Article continues below "One in eight men will get prostate cancer. The earlier it's found, the easier it is to treat - but there's currently no screening programme in the UK. So if, like Sir Chris, you have a family history of the disease, or if you're black, we strongly encourage you to speak to your GP about testing from the age of 45. "We don't think it's right that the responsibility is all on men's shoulders, so we're calling on the Health Secretary to overhaul outdated NHS guidelines so that GPs are empowered to actually start conversations with these men at highest risk." The Department for Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.
South Wales Guardian
6 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Chris Hoy calls for systemic change in testing for prostate cancer
The 49-year old cyclist was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2023 and was told last year that it has spread to his bones and is terminal. NHS guidance says men over the age of 50 are at highest risk of developing prostate cancer, but Sir Chris wants to help men get screened earlier. He said: 'I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger. 'With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got.' One option is a PSA blood test which checks the level of prostate-specific antigens in the blood, A high reading may be a sign of a prostate condition. NHS guidance says these tests are not routinely used as they are not reliable, but men over 50 can ask GPs for one. Sir Chris's comments came after Prostate Cancer UK urged the UK Government for an overhaul of NHS guidelines to encourage GPs to proactively speak to men at high risk from 45 years old. #ProstateCancer has become the most common cancer in England. However, for a disease that affects 1 in 8 men, there's still no screening programme and outdated NHS guidelines prevent lifesaving conversations with men at highest risk. ➡️ Read more: — Prostate Cancer UK (@ProstateUK) January 28, 2025 According to the charity, around one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer, which occurs when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way and, if not detected early, risks spreading. Sir Chris added: 'I believe men at highest risk, for example men with a family history like me or black men, should be contacted by their GP earlier on to discuss a simple PSA blood test that can check for signs of prostate cancer. Then if there are any issues, they can get it treated it at an earlier stage. 'I've told my story to help raise awareness about the most common cancer in men and get more thinking about their risk and what they can do, but it shouldn't all be men's responsibility. 'I've faced many challenges in my life, and going public with my prostate cancer diagnosis was certainly one of them. 'I've been incredibly lucky to have so much support from my family, friends and the general public. The kindness has lifted me up and given me a sense of purpose, and I'm committed to taking that forward and using my platform to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more men at risk to come forward and get tested.' The Scottish cyclist has launched his own charity cycling challenge, Tour de 4, with the aim of changing perceptions around stage four cancer. The challenge will take place on September 7 in Glasgow with a final registration phase open for riders to sign up. Speaking about Sir Chris, Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 'His bravery and tireless work to raise awareness has already made a huge impact. 'In just a few months after Sir Chris went public with his diagnosis last year, over 286,000 people used our online risk checker to learn more about the disease, find out their own risk and learn what they can choose to do about it. 'His bravery has inspired so many men to take action, and he has undoubtedly saved lives. 'One in eight men will get prostate cancer. The earlier it's found, the easier it is to treat — but there's currently no screening programme in the UK. So if, like Sir Chris, you have a family history of the disease, or if you're black, we strongly encourage you to speak to your GP about testing from the age of 45. 'We don't think it's right that the responsibility is all on men's shoulders, so we're calling on the Health Secretary to overhaul outdated NHS guidelines so that GPs are empowered to actually start conversations with these men at highest risk.' The Department for Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.
