When it comes to properly grading and authenticating baseball cards, there are a few companies that stand above the rest. These grading companies provide trusted third party certification that allows collectors and dealers alike to easily verify the condition and authenticity of their cards. Getting a baseball card professionally graded helps protect its value over time and makes buying or selling cards a safer process.
The two biggest players in the baseball card grading industry are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Between them, they have graded over 100 million trading cards, including tens of millions of baseball cards, since their founding in the 1990s. Here’s a closer look at these top grading companies and what makes them leaders in the field:
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)
Based in Anaheim, California, PSA started in the early 1990s and was one of the pioneers of third party grading for collectibles like cards, comics, and memorabilia. They are considered the gold standard in the hobby due to their stringent authentication and grading standards. PSA uses a 1-10 point numerical grading scale to denote a card’s condition from Poor to Gem Mint.
Some key advantages of using PSA include:
Brand Recognition – As the first major grader, PSA has graded hundreds of millions of collectibles including some of the most valuable sports cards ever. Their brand is synonymous with quality and trust in the industry.
Largest Populations – With more cards graded than any other company, PSA population reports give collectors the most complete data on a card’s relative scarcity based on assigned grade.
Secure Display Slabs – PSA protects cards in tamper-evident plastic holders that also display the brand, grade, and ID number on the front for easy tracking.
Quality Control – PSA is known for their team of professional graders, steady production schedules, and strict quality assurance procedures to avoid inconsistent results.
Resale Value – PSA-graded cards tend to realize higher prices in the marketplace versus ungraded or lower-populations at other grading services.
Beckett Grading Services (BGS)
BGS got its start in the late 1980s as the publisher of the famous Beckett Baseball Card Monthly and Price Guides. Like PSA, BGS transitioned into third party authentication and grading in the early 1990s. Some key aspects that set BGS apart include:
Dual System – In addition to a 1-10 numerical grade, BGS provides a descriptive grade (Poor, Fair, Good, etc) for qualitatively assessing key attributes like centering.
Sub-Grades – BGS examines five subcategories (Corners, Edges, Surface, Centering, and Appearance) and assigns each a grade from 1-10 to provide a very detailed report card.
Colored Slabs – While PSA uses clear plastic holders, BGS adds visual flair with colors that coordinate with the item’s sport or theme. (Baseball cards use red, for example.)
Centering Specialty – BGS is known to emphasize centering even more than PSA and can sometimes assign higher grades for cards with perfect centering.
Stricter Grading – On average, BGS tends to grade cards slightly tougher than PSA, and a BGS 7 may be more rare than a PSA 7, though both designate excellent condition.
Price Guides – BGS still produces the long-running Beckett Baseball publications for collectors to value their card collections, which adds to their credibility.
Other Options Include:
While PSA and BGS lead the industry, there are also some other grading options for baseball cards:
SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation) – Launched in 2000 and gaining popularity as a mid-tier alternative to PSA/BGS. Known for fairness, lower cost, and participation in major industry shows.
HGA (Harvest Grading and Authentication) – Founded in 2019, uses holographic labels in an innovative approach. Growing rapidly thanks to appeal among younger collectors and focus on turnaround speed.
GMA (Global Money Auctions) – Mid-size grader catering to international clients at a lower price point than the big two. Headquartered in Canada but serves collectors worldwide.
For the utmost brand recognition, resale value, and strictest authentication – PSA and BGS remain the top choices when having prized baseball cards professionally graded. But collectors also have credible mid-tier or value options depending on needs and collection budget. In any case, third party grading is highly recommended for important vintage and investment-grade cards to preserve and prove their quality over the long run.
