Grading baseball cards is an important part of preserving their condition and value over time. There are several professional third-party grading companies that provide authentication and assign a numerical grade to cards based on their centering, corners, edges and surface quality. Using a reputable grading service helps buyers and sellers confidently determine a card’s condition and fair market price.

When choosing where to grade, the top three most trusted companies are PSA, BGS (Beckett Grading Services), and SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation). Each has their pros and cons, so it’s important to consider your needs and priorities.

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) has been grading cards the longest since the early 1990s and is still considered the gold standard by many collectors. They pioneered the 10-point grading scale now used industry-wide from Mint to Poor. PSA has the largest population report database for verified pop counts (how many of each card grade exists), which provides valuable data points for rarity and demand.

However, PSA also has the longest turnaround times, usually several months even for their most expensive express service tiers. They are also the most selective, with average grade percentages often below 20% for modern issues. This “tougher” approach helps maintain PSA’s reputation for accuracy and quality control, but some collectors argue it is too harsh. PSA slabs also have a reputation for cracking or breaking over time.

BGS (Beckett Grading Services) was launched in 2000 and quickly grew to become the second largest grader. BGS uses the same 1-10 scale as PSA but has a reputation for being slightly more lenient with their grades on average. Turnaround times are generally faster than PSA as well. BGS slabs have a reputation for being more durable than PSA holders too.

The downside is BGS population reports and price guide reference tools are not as extensive as PSA’s. BGS also had some quality control and consistency issues in earlier years that caused collectors to prefer PSA. However, BGS has made great strides and is now considered on par with PSA for most collectors.

SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation) is the youngest company, starting in 2000. They have worked hard to build trust and credibility over the years. SGC turnaround times are generally the fastest in the industry, often just a couple weeks even for basic service levels.

SGC uses the same 1-10 scale but has a reputation as the most “middle of the road” in terms of being more generous than PSA but not as lenient as BGS. SGC slabs have a unique look that is easy to recognize but doesn’t command as high of resale prices currently compared to PSA or BGS slabs.

However, SGC has been aggressively growing their population report database in recent years. They also tend to have the most affordable grading prices, making them appealing for modern common issues or lower-value vintage cards. Overall, SGC offers a great balance of speed, quality control and value.

For true “gem mint” vintage hall of famers, iconic rookies, or other ultra-high-end cards worth thousands or more, there is really no substitute for PSA. Their pedigree and population data helps set the gold standard in a way no other company can currently match. For most modern issues, common vintage, or cards in the $100-500 range, BGS or SGC are usually the better values.

It’s also worth considering crossover submission services like Collectors Universe’s CSG (Collectors Society Grading) which accepts cards on behalf of either PSA, BGS or SGC. This allows submitting to multiple graders at once to improve odds of a desirable grade from at least one company. Some collectors also like using multiple graders as a hedge against any single company’s consistency issues.

No matter which company you choose, only submit cards you truly believe deserve the highest available grade with that particular service. Lower quality submissions hurt resale values and waste money. It’s always best to be conservative and selective. Also factor in turnaround needs – some collectors don’t mind waiting for PSA if a project isn’t time sensitive.

For true high-end collectibles – PSA is still king. But BGS and SGC both offer compelling values that more and more collectors are embracing, especially for common issues or cards in lower price ranges. Do your research, consider your goals and budget, and pick the grading company that best fits your individual needs. With any of the top three, you can feel confident your cards will be professionally protected and authenticated for years to come.