When it comes to baseball cards, it’s all about condition. The condition of a baseball card has a huge impact on its value, and with older cards, even microscopic flaws can decrease value significantly. That’s why submitting baseball cards to professional grading services is so important for collectors seeking to properly showcase and sell top-condition vintage cards.
Located in historic Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, there is no shortage of professional third-party grading companies for collectors to utilize when looking to get prized cards authenticated and encapsulated in a protective holder. One grading service stands above the rest for its reputation in the hobby – BGS, short for Beckett Grading Services. Owned by Beckett Media, the publisher of magazines, price guides and websites covering sports and non-sports trading cards, BGS is considered the gold standard in third-party grading for several key reasons.
First and foremost is accuracy and consistency. BGS graders, who must pass rigorous training and certification programs, grade cards on a clearly defined 10-point numerical scale. The spectrum runs from 0 to 10, with 0 being literally destroyed and 10 being pristine “gem mint” condition, often still sealed in original wax paper or packaging. BGS boasts super low turnover for its staff of expert graders, ensuring consistency over time that collectors trust when comparing grades.
Secondly, BGS slabs cards in tamper-proof plastic cases with a barcode matching the unique certification number. This both protects the card and allows anyone to scan the barcode using the BGS app to pull up digital photos documenting the front and back, all grades, subgrades and details on the specific card. The clear plastic also shows off the card within without removing it from the holder.
Perhaps most importantly for serious collectors, BGS third-party authentication and grading increases collectible value significantly. Numerous university studies and Beckett economics reports have proven graded cards almost always sell for more than raw, ungraded versions. Even obtaining a “9” grade can multiply the worth of a vintage Mickey Mantle rookie card 100 times over or more. Average Joes hoping to cash in a attic find need that blue BGS slab to maximize selling price on auction sites like eBay.
While other grading services exist, none have achieved the name recognition and reputation of BGS. Competitors often try to lampoon perceived weaknesses like inconsistent grading or suspect authentications, subtly implying their own third party service is more trustworthy. However, Beckett’s enormous brand influence and multi-decade history in the hobby has kept them firmly atop the grading mountain in the minds of most collectors. Their standards remain the definition of quality against which other companies are still measured.
Location likely plays a role as well. Situated in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, the area has become a mecca for sports collectibles and enthusiasts. Shows and conventions populate the calendar, and local businesses have fortified their expertise in cards, autographs, memorabilia and related investment commodities. Being based where much of the genuine collecting and investing action occurs lends BGS proximity and authenticity.
Of course, like any multimillion dollar company, BGS is not without its critics. Complaints persist about the expense (grading a single card costs $20-30 depending on turnaround speed desired), lack of true recourse if disputing a grade, and questions over whether accommodating surge demand has diluted grading consistency. The Big 3 of BGS, PSA and SGC also play a huge role in artificially inflating prices deeper into the stratosphere as slabs become trophy investments in themselves.
Nevertheless, the benefits for collectors seeking to maximize returns and ensure authenticity generally outweigh the minuses. Extensive online population reports, census data and price guides from Beckett leverage the vast data set achieved through decades of grading. This only enhances standardization and liquidity within the lucrative sports card market. While new competitors will certainly emerge, it remains exceedingly difficult for anyone to knock BGS from its pole position in the highly valuable baseball card grading industry.
For collectors in Scottsdale or beyond, utilizing BGS or another reputable third party authenticator could represent the difference of thousands of dollars when it comes time to sell prized pieces of cardboard history. Not only does a professional grade lend credibility and peace of mind, but it transforms the card into a verified, encapsulated collectible worthy of commanding top dollar from serious vintage baseball investors. In a field where condition is king, BGS continues to wear the crown as the standard-bearer for critical card grading services.
