I often get asked by collectors what they should do if they want to get a card graded.
Grading means a third-party company establishes a numerical value of the card based upon its condition. The four conditions used for grading are the quality of the surface, sharpness of corners, crispness and sharpness of edges and how well the image on the card itself is centered, front and back.
Not every card is a candidate for grading. Newer cards have higher standards for grading. Vintage cards are generally considered cards from the 1970s and earlier. These cards are typically graded on a scale even with modern cards. However, the expectation is for a lower grade.
For example, a 1957 Brooks Robinson rookie would not carry the expectation of being in the same condition as a Gunnar Henderson rookie based upon the age of the card and the quality of printing. Therefore, a good grade for a 1957 Brooks Robinson may be a 4 or 5, while a good grade for a Gunnar Henderson would be a 9 or 10. These are all based upon a 10-point scale, which is the universal scale for every major company.
There are four major third-party companies to consider when sending a card in to be graded. In no particular order, they are PSA, BGS (Beckett), SGC and CGC. The differences between the companies have to do with the look of the protective encasing the card is put in after grading, the secondary market value of each company and even a company’s reputation for turning your cards around quickly. Otherwise, it may take several months to get your results.
PSA typically receives the highest secondary market value. SGC has a very strong reputation for dealing with vintage cards, having graded some of the most famous cards in history including the Babe Ruth Baltimore News American card that was at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. Beckett used to be a much stronger company than it currently is in regard to secondary market value, quality of service and more.
We’ve been talking about sports cards, but there’s actually a category of cards that is creating more value than sports cards. Can you guess what it is?
Well, it’s a category called trading card games, or TCG. TCG includes Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and others. Pokémon is by far the largest group in the trading card game category. According to GemRate, which monitors the grading volume of each company, trading card games have been graded more than sports cards in the past year.
One of the reasons I bring this up is because CGC is definitely worth considering if you are grading TCG cards. CGC is the result of a recent merger of two companies under the same umbrella. Previously, CGC split TCG and sports cards into different categories. As of September 2023, they are now all under the CGC name and the cards have been given a brand-new encasing (called a slab). With the new slab and a history of being the largest grader of TCG cards, CGC holds a strong secondary value on those cards along with PSA. Those are the two leaders in the TCG category.
So what does this all mean? Well, if you have a card and you want to get it rated, go through a checklist. Is it in good condition? Is it a sports card or a TCG card? How much am I willing to spend for grading? When do I need the card back? Is it modern or vintage?
Of course, not everybody is expected to answer all these questions. You should find a reputable dealer or broker who can help you assess your collection. However, there are also plenty of YouTube videos and other tools to help you get started on your own. Learning to buy ungraded cards and getting them graded can be rewarding, profitable and exciting as you wait for the results.
Good luck and I hope you get a 10. Happy collecting!
Have you had cards since you were a kid and now you want to sell them? Please email any questions to Danny@SPORTSBALT.com or visit SportsBalt.com.
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash.com