There are several professional authentication and grading companies that will thoroughly examine your baseball cards and assign them a grade. The three largest and most well-known companies are PSA, BGS (Beckett Grading Services), and SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation). All three companies have rigorous standards for grading that take into consideration factors like centering, corners, edges, and surface quality of the card. They have experienced graders who carefully inspect every aspect of each card under bright lighting and magnifying glasses to determine its condition and assign the appropriate numerical grade.
PSA is generally considered the gold standard for baseball card grading, as they have been in business the longest since 1991 and grade the majority of high-end cards. They allow submissions of individual cards or entire collections and will autograph slabs upon request. Turnaround times can vary from a few weeks up to several months depending on the current volume and service level selected. PSA slabs protect the card and include the grade, identifier code, and hologram for verification of authenticity. Slabbed PSA cards tend to carry a premium in value.
BGS started grading cards in the late 90s and also has an excellent reputation for consistency and integrity. They utilize a similar 10-point numerical grading scale as PSA and protect the card in a hard plastic slab with label. BGS offers different label colors depending on the level of sub-grading for centering, corners, edges, and surface quality. Turnaround times also vary depending on volume but are usually faster than PSA. BGS slabs are also widely accepted in the hobby.
More recently, SGC entered the card grading market in 2000. They utilize similar grading terminology and standards as the other major companies. However, SGC slabs have a unique black label design that some collectors prefer the look of. Their turnaround times tend to be the fastest as they currently grade the lowest volume of cards compared to PSA and BGS. Slabbed SGC cards still carry strong value recognition in the hobby as well.
Besides the “Big 3” credentialed companies, there are a few regional independent graders that may be options for some collectors on a smaller scale or budget. It is generally recommended to use PSA, BGS, or SGC for high-end or valuable cards where authenticity and verified grading is most important for protecting investment value long term. The slabs from these companies are immediately recognizable to serious collectors and dealers.
It’s also worth mentioning that PSA, BGS, and SGC all have professional membership programs where experienced collectors or dealers can become authorized to personally grade cards on behalf of the company using supplied materials after passing an exam on grading standards. This “PSA Authorized” or “BGS Authorized” designation lends added credibility to those individuals’ parallel opinions outside of formal submissions.
In summary, PSA, BGS, and SGC are the top professional third-party companies for authenticating and assigning a verified numerical grade to baseball cards. Their consistent standards, brand recognition, and protection of the card in a sealed slab make them the most reliable options for collectors looking to establish a card’s condition and value. Properly slabbed high-quality vintage cards in particular can gain significant value premiums over raw ungraded examples.
