Deciding whether or not to get your baseball cards graded can be a difficult decision. On one hand, getting cards professionally graded could potentially increase their value, but the grading process also comes with costs that may not provide a good return on investment depending on the card. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the pros and cons of baseball card grading to help you decide if it makes sense for your collection.
Why Get Cards Graded?
One of the main reasons people consider getting their cards graded is to potentially increase their value. Certified grading from reputable companies like PSA, Beckett, BGS or SGC adds an extra layer of legitimacy and assurance of condition that buyers are willing to pay more for. Establishing the official grade helps narrow down what condition the card is in for potential buyers and provides a sense of trust in the assessment. For rare and valuable vintage cards from the 50s-80s especially, a professional grade can justify paying a significant premium compared to raw, ungraded cards of the same condition.
Grading also properly encapsulates and seals the card in protective plastic, slowing down the aging process and preserving the condition long-term compared to loose cards in sleeves or binders. This is appealing for valuable investments that collectors want to keep untarnished for decades. The slab also makes cards easier to physically handle, store and display without risking scratching or other damage versus loose cards.
Getting a card graded boosts liquidity and provides access to a bigger pool of interested buyers on the popular major grading company auction sites like eBay. With tens of millions of collectors worldwide, having a card “slabbed” helps connect sellers to more bidders internationally. Buyers are generally more confident in the presented condition and authenticity versus raw cards of questionable history. Grading improves marketing appeal and helps fetch higher realized prices at auction in many cases.
Cons & Drawbacks to Consider
On the other hand, there are some notable cons and costs to weigh carefully before submitting cards for grading:
Cost – Professional grading is not cheap, ranging from $10-30 per basic modern card submission on average. Prices go up for express grading options. Bulk submissions discount the per card cost but still require a sizeable upfront investment that may not yield worthwhile returns for common cards.
No Guarantee of Grade – While reputable companies strive for consistency, grading is subjective and different evaluators may assess the same card differently on a given day. There’s no guaranteed outcome, so spending $10-30 to receive a lower grade than expected is a risk.
Poorly Centered or Damaged Cards Won’t Benefit – Grading only adds value to centered, high quality examples. Heavily off-center cards or those with creases, stains or other flaws may receive a grade that doesn’t increase their price compared to just being raw.
Slab Cracking Over Time – The hard plastic slabs can develop stress cracks after years of handling/display that compromise the grade while cards are stuck inside until replaced at further cost by the grading company.
Storage & Display Hindrances – Many collectors prefer displaying raw cards in personal binders versus shelving slab boxes. Slabs also take up more space long-term versus raw cards in boxes.
Risk of Fraud – A very small percentage of unscrupulously graded cards slip through that were altered, trimmed or don’t match the stated grade. Buyer beware is important when purchasing solely based on grades.
Who Should Consider Grading?
In most cases, it’s only truly worthwhile to grade high-end vintage rookies, stars and extremely rare cards with a proven track record of higher prices in graded form. For such cards, the benefits outweigh the costs long-term as a sound investment. Some additional guidelines:
Rookie cards of hockey stars from the 50s-70s have shown large appreciation in top PSA/BGS grades
Extensively research a particular player/card first to analyze past graded auction performance
Stick to true “keys” rather than player collections, parallels, inserts likely not to increase in price
Consult population reports to gauge future grade rarity/demand before submitting a card
Consider bulk/package submission discounts for teams sets, but don’t overestimate returns
Consult with coin/card shops about local consignment grading for a small commission fee
The vast majority of modern cards, inserts, parallels and such will never return the grading cost. For these, preserving raw condition in one-touch magnetic holders or penny sleeves suffices. Only committed long-term investors positioning themselves to wait decades for graded cards to appreciate meaningfully should consider grading average material without a proven track record. Otherwise, the costs outweigh potential benefits.
Whether grading is prudent for your cards depends on doing research into demand and returns for similar graded properties historically. Only high-end, condition-sensitive vintage keys are typically a sure bet to consistently realize higher prices following professional authentication and encapsulation long-term. Most material is better preserved raw to pass down generations still enjoying the cards rather than paying nonrefundable fees on a gamble. With care and diligence, both raw collectors and those pursuing grades can build wonderful collections.
