The Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is one of the leading third-party grading services for sports cards and memorabilia. Since 1991, PSA has authenticated and graded millions of items for collectors. Their emphasis on consistent standards and cutting-edge authentication technology has elevated them to the top in the industry.
PSA has developed a detailed 10-point grading scale that provides collectors a uniform system for assessing the condition and quality of their cards. The scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 being a perfect gem mint condition and 1 being literally falling apart. Here is an in-depth look at each grade on the PSA scale as it applies specifically to baseball cards:
1 – Poor: A PSA 1 card is in very rough shape. There will be extreme creasing, wrinkling, staining or damage. Parts of the image may be missing. The card stock will likely be warped. A PSA 1 card has lost most, if not all, of its collector value beyond its nostalgic interest only.
2 – Poor: A PSA 2 card has significant creasing, folds, stains or edge wear. Large portions of the image may be damaged or obscured. There will be noticeable defects that detract greatly from the overall appearance. Structural integrity of the card is compromised. Value is limited to just the card’s nostalgic appeal.
3 – Poor: Receiving a PSA 3 grade means a card has heavy wear across most or all surfaces. Creasing and folding will be prominent. Colors may be faded noticeably. Edges are likely to be damaged. Structure of the card stock may be warped. Significant image loss or damagelowers collector interest and monetary value substantially.
4 – Poor: At the PSA 4 level, a card shows heavy creasing, surface scuffs or wear across most of its area. Edges will exhibit damage and wear. Folds may cut into images or text. Colors have usually faded noticeably. Structure is weakened but card is still intact. With damage impeding aesthetic appeal, value resides mostly in its nostalgic qualities.
5 – Fair: For a PSA 5 grade, a card displays deep creasing, scuffing or edge wear across much of its surface negatively impacting appearance. Some colors may have dulled or faded. Text or images could be affected by creases or abrasions. Structure remains whole but flexibility/durability reduced by defects. Monetary value reflects fair condition.
6 – Fair: At the PSA 6 grade, a card shows noticeable creasing, scuffing and/or edge problems across a good portion of its surface area. Colors remain bright in most areas but may have begun fading at edges. Images may be impacted by minor creases or scuffs. Structure intact with moderate flexibility remaining. Value reflects condition issues impair aesthetic appeal.
7 – Good: Receiving a PSA 7 designation means a card exhibits some light and minor creasing, scuffing or edge scars visible upon close inspection. Colors are bright over most surfaces with slight fading possible at edges. Images unaffected by any creases. Card remains structurally sound and durable. Represents a solid mid-grade condition attracting growing collector interest.
8 – Very Good: At PSA 8, a card displays just a couple of light indentations, hairlines or discoloration spots visible only upon extremely close scrutiny. Colors maintain bright luster overall with barely any signs of dulling. Perfectly square edges. Images remain pristine. Represents an excellent stage of preservation with strong collector demand driving higher prices.
9 – Mint: To earn the coveted PSA 9 rating, a card can feature no more than a single faint printing line or hairline visible only under bright lighting and magnification. Colors maintain true-to-issue luster and clarity. Square corners, sharp edges and pristine surfaces indicate expert preservation. Images appear untouched by time. Represents a true Gem that often trades for full issue price or above.
10 – Mint: A PSA 10 is the cream of the crop – virtual perfection. To attain this highest honor, a card must be in flawless condition. Colors, images, edges, surfaces appear as if just printed yesterday without any print defects, creases, discoloration or other faults detectable even under intense scrutiny. A true Gem Mint that can realize multiple times the issue price in many cases. Milestone condition for collectors seeking condition census greatness.
In addition to numbered grades, PSA also issues qualifying descriptors like “Black Label” or “Gem Mint” to highlight extraordinary characteristics like perfect centering. While the 10-point scale provides structure, grading is ultimately subjective. PSA aims for consistency by having multiple graders analyze each card under tight policies. Their recognized authentications and assessments provide collectors measurable condition standards to inform enjoyment and investment decisions regarding their beloved baseball card collections.
