Grading baseball cards exploded during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As collecting took off, so did card grading. Sellers and collectors would immediately send in their high-end valuable cards to companies such as PSA. Since so many began sending cards in, grading card companies received a monumental backlog they had to dig through. It would take months to get card orders up to speed during that time.
Grading has become an essential aspect of the collectibles market, providing authenticity and value to cards. Receiving a high grade can add millions of dollars to a rare baseball card. For example, take the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. In September 2022, a PSA 5 sold for over $134,000. However, just a month before, an SGC 9.5 sold for an astounding $12.6 million, making it the most valuable card of all-time.
Among the plethora of grading companies, a few stand out for their reputation, reliability, and services. HobbyListings takes a look at some of the best grading companies in the business.
The List: Best Grading Card Companies
1. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)
- Background: Founded in 1991, PSA has become one of the largest and most respected card grading services in the world. It is known for its detailed grading scale ranging from 1 to 10, with 10 being a virtually perfect card.
- What Makes Them Stand Out: PSA’s encapsulation process preserves the card’s condition while ensuring its authenticity. Their grading system is widely recognized and trusted, often leading to a higher resale value for cards graded by PSA. They also offer a comprehensive database of graded cards, providing valuable information for collectors.
2. Beckett Grading Services (BGS)
1996 Topps NBA 50 Basketball 138 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card Graded BGS 9 MINT #ad #thehobby https://t.co/uYsEYVbWYQ pic.twitter.com/ZhPo00qCij
— League Cards 🏀 (@League_Cards) January 28, 2024
- Background: Beckett is a well-known name in the sports card industry, with its grading service, BGS, established in 1999. They are especially renowned for grading newer cards.
- What Makes Them Stand Out: BGS uses a unique grading scale that includes half-point grades, offering a more nuanced assessment of a card’s condition. Their graded cards are encapsulated in tamper-evident cases. Beckett is particularly known for its thorough assessment of a card’s corners, edges, surface, and centering.
3. Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC)
- Background: SGC has been in the grading business since 1998 and has built a reputation for its focus on older, vintage cards.
- What Makes Them Stand Out: SGC is known for its straightforward grading scale and fast turnaround times. They provide a tuxedo-like black matting within their encapsulation, which enhances the card’s visual appeal. Their focus on vintage cards makes them a go-to for collectors of historic baseball memorabilia.
4. Certified Guaranty Company (CGC)
One of the most famous vintage baseball cards ever produced, the 1952 Topps #312 Type 2 Jackie Robinson card earned a grade of CGC 6.5, making it the second-highest graded example in the CGC Cards Pop Report. https://t.co/MkMvVn0Zxt pic.twitter.com/G7cflvGMHI
— CGC Cards (@CGCCards) January 30, 2024
- Background: While newer to the sports card grading scene compared to others, CGC has quickly established a strong reputation, leveraging its expertise from comic book grading.
- What Makes Them Stand Out: CGC stands out for its state-of-the-art holder design, which offers superior protection and display qualities. They are also known for their transparency, providing detailed reports on the grading process for each card.
5. Hybrid Grading Approach (HGA)
Just graded! 1/1 Corbin Carroll pic.twitter.com/V80ADQSNmF
— Hybrid Grading Approach (@HybridGrading) October 19, 2023
- Background: HGA is a newer entrant in the card grading industry, bringing innovation and technology to the forefront.
- What Makes Them Stand Out: HGA uses computer software for initial grading assessments, aiming to provide more consistent and objective grading. They also offer custom-colored slabs tailored to the card or team colors, which is unique in the industry.
When choosing a grading company for baseball cards, collectors should consider the company’s reputation, grading standards, turnaround time, and any unique services they offer. PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC, and HGA each bring something distinctive to the table, catering to various needs and preferences of collectors. Whether it’s for modern cards, vintage treasures, or a balance of accuracy and aesthetic appeal, these companies are at the forefront of quality and reliability in card grading.
Each of these companies has carved out a niche in the grading industry, ensuring collectors can trust the authenticity and condition of their prized baseball cards. The choice of grading service can significantly impact the card’s perceived value and protection, making it a crucial decision for serious collectors.
Matt Higgins contributed to this report.