Card Grading: Finding the Right Company To Grade Your Sports Cards
There's a variety of reasons collectors pay card grading companies to grade their sports cards. Several of the more common reasons are to verify the authenticity of a card's signature, create added value based on card condition and to preserve the cards. The most important thing to consider when getting your card graded is which company to go with.
Although it would seem that picking one company for all your grading needs would be the best route to take, that isn't always the case, especially if your collection features a combination of both vintage and modern cards. Below is a look at the four most commonly taken trails when it comes to trading card grading.
Top Card Grading Companies
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators)
This is a must for any card made between 1950 and 1980. Because PSA is considered the first major grading company, vintage card collectors prefer PSA graded cards over BGS. The primary reason for this can be attributed to vintage set builders, as they prefer a singular slab in order to create continuity. Whether you're a set builder or not, this factor plays a key role in the value of your card. Below are a few examples of cards that are best suited for PSA.
- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle
- 1955 Roberto Clemente RC
- Non-rookie year vintage Topps cards
- Non-superstar vintage Topps cards
- Cards from 1950-1980
- Vintage cards commonly associated with trimming or counterfeiting
- Vintage Topps Venezuelan and O-Pee-Chee versions
PSA/DNA
This is a service offered by PSA that does nothing more than certify the authenticity of a card's autograph. It doesn't take card condition into account. PSA/DNA is best for certifying cards you have gotten signed in person or cards that are commonly associated with forgeries such as Topps Rookie Premiere autographs or AFLAC autographs.
SGC (Sports Card Guaranty)
Like PSA, SGC specializes in the grading of vintage cards. SGC is more commonly associated with pre-1950s card grading. SGC is primarily used for high-dollar, stand-alone vintage cards that don't rely heavily on the neighboring cards in a set for value. SGC is geared toward vintage singles collectors rather than vintage set builders.
- 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams
- 1908 E102 Ty Cobb
- Pre-1950's cards
- Vintage basketball cards
- Non-standard size vintage cards such as Topps Tall Boys Basketball
- Vintage cards of substantial stand-alone value
- Oddball vintage cards
BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
Though they can be inconsistent at times, this is without a doubt the best grading company for post-1980s cards, especially when it comes to the modern pack pulled autograph. For instance, a BGS graded 2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout autograph is worth substantially more than one graded by PSA. This is because BGS grades both card condition and the autograph on a 10 point scale. Collectors also prefer the overall aesthetics of a BGS slab over the other major grading companies.
- Bowman Chrome Autographs
- Any pack-pulled autograph
- Book Cards
- Relic Cards
- Post-1980s cards
Sports Card Terminology/Notes:
- Slab: word used to describe the plastic case graded cards are encased in.
- Book Cards: cards that fold open like a book and often contain multiple player relics and autographs.
- Try and stick to PSA, BGS and SGC for all your grading needs. Cheaper grading companies may seem like a bargain at the time, but cost you dearly when it comes to both short and long-term value.
- Four primary card attributes that go into card grading: Centering, Corners, Surface and Edges
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Related Topics: How To: Grading
I know there are other companies grading cards, as well as one that went out of business that kind of make you think grading is deterring people from coming back to the sports card business. This is also why having numerous product lines as well as numerous manufacturers just confuses folks, and why they stay away. I can forsee the same happening w/ grading.
Also, just because Beckett established what looks to be the 1st standard for autographs doesn’t mean it’s good for the hobby. For them, as a business decision, yes, it gives them an early advantage. However, human being signatures vary for numerous reasons, especially when you’re signing a lot of a product. I dare anybody to replicate their own personal signature more than once. Extremely difficult to do. Not quite sure how something that’s really subjective and variable can be graded based on only a few factors, but ultimately, customers will dictate if it makes sense. Thanks.
I have been noticing that PSA cards are outselling BGS cards on eBay by at least double for the same grade. Modern cards. For example, under sold listings Jerry Rice PSA 9 sold for $900 & 600. BGS 9 was just $300. Does anyone have an explanation for this since Beckett is hard on centering? I am a newbie.
Also is the insurance amount really the only thing that affects PSA grading? How do we determine that without knowing the grade?I have s Nolan Ryan rookie. I don’t know if PSA will grade it a 4 or a9. Over the phone PSA said if I undervalue a card they won’t grade it. DO THE GRADERS SEE MY VALUE ESTIMATE?
Also I sent a bccg 10 Michael Jordan rookie to PSA as a crossover with an 8.0 as lowest grade I would accept and they would not even crack it open. Under 12x magnification the corners and edges looked excellent. They happily took my money but wouldn’t even look at the card.
What does “pop 5″mean in grading a card?
It means that at the time of the grading, only five cards matched the grade. It speaks to the rarity of the specific grade. Pop = population.
Good info!!! So du u know what (oc) and(mc) stand for?
Yep. It’s common grading terminology. They are both qualifiers. OC is off-center and MC is miscut.
How do you estimate the value/insurance of a card you are sending in to PSA or Beckett, etc., for authenticity and a grade?