Sports Card Grading and its Impact on Card Values
How to unlock value in your sports card collection by grading your cards.
Sports card grading is a great way to unlock hidden value in your collection! Having a widely respected company verify the authenticity and appraise the overall condition will provide clarity on the value of your card and give buyers confidence in what they’re purchasing. As an authorized submission center for PSA, BGS, and SGC grading, AA Mint Cards is here to help you understand the sports card grading process and submit your cards for grading.
What Are the Benefits of Getting Your Sports Cards Graded?
There are many different reasons collectors choose to get their sports cards graded. Some people want to add value to their cards, some want them encased and protected, and others just like the look of a graded card.
It all comes down to what you prefer and what your goals are. If you’re looking to sell the cards once they return from grading, PSA is the most popular grading company and their graded cards usually sell for more money than other companies.
What Goes into the Overall Grade?
Grading companies typically examine the condition of four main areas of the card: corners, centering, edges, and surface. You want sharp corners, the card to be centered with an even border all the way around, damage-free edges, and no stains or scratches on the surface of the card.
Grades range from 1-10 with half-points in between, so don’t worry if your vintage card isn’t in perfect condition. The grader will consider each of the factors and assign a value based on the overall condition.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the difference between a 9 and a 10 may not be visible to you. Grading companies look at cards under light and magnification, so don’t expect to get all 10s back.
How Sports Card Grading Impacts Card Values
When it comes to vintage sports cards, many collectors will only buy graded cards because they’ve already been authenticated. The 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, and 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan are some of the most counterfeited sports cards ever. Because some of the fakes have gotten so good, many collectors opt for vintage cards authenticated and graded by only the top grading companies — PSA, BGS, or SGC.
Because quantity and condition can vary so widely for cards that are half a century old, the difference in value between grades can be monumental. Take the 1952 Mantle, for example. In a PSA 1, the value is around $29,000. A PSA 2, just one grade higher, is worth around $42,000. You can buy ungraded copies of the card on various online marketplaces for low 5 figures, but you run the risk of splurging on a fake.
Authenticity is always an issue with vintage cards, but sports card grading can also unlock the value of modern cards too! Most modern cards are only worth grading if they’re in near-mint or better condition and receiving a perfect “10” on a modern card will boost its value exponentially. A PSA 10 is commonly worth 2x-3x more than a PSA 9. By making a small, upfront investment to get your cards graded, you’ll be able to make a nice profit if you decide to sell the graded cards in the future.
What are the Best Grading Companies?
PSA, BGS, and SGC are the three main grading companies. PSA is the most popular because PSA cards often sell for more than cards graded by other companies. However, expect to pay a higher grading price because of this.
The advantage of BGS (Beckett) is that they are the only company in the top three that provides subgrades. Along with the overall grade, you’ll also receive individual subgrades for corners, centering, edges, and surface condition. Although it’s rare, cards with a 10 on all four subgrades earn a BGS Black Label.
SGC rounds out the top three as a popular company to grade vintage cards with. They also offer the most affordable services and quickest turnaround times, but resale value for modern sports cards graded by SGC lag behind those from PSA or BGS.
Submit Your Sports Card Grading Order Today
Are you ready to get the most value out of your collection? AA Mint Cards is your one-stop shop when it comes to grading and selling sports cards. Stop by today to submit your sports card grading orders or sell us your graded cards today!
