Grading baseball cards is a great way to preserve and authenticate the condition and quality of valuable cards. There are several professional third-party grading companies that provide this service, assigning cards a numerical grade based on their appearance and condition. Here are overviews of some of the most reputable and trusted grading companies for baseball cards on the market today.

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) – Founded in 2000, PSA is widely considered the gold standard in third-party card grading. They pioneered the modern grading scale of 1-10 and have graded billions of dollars worth of cards over the years. Submitting cards to PSA provides the highest potential resale value, as their slabs are the most recognizable and trusted by collectors. Turnaround times can be lengthy however, often 6+ months currently. PSA offers various value-added services like sub-grading, auto authentication, and population reporting. Cards graded by PSA will often command a premium in the marketplace versus other graders.

Beckett Grading Services (BGS) – Formed in 1992, BGS was one of the earliest third-party graders. They use a similar 1-10 scale to PSA but also employ a sub-grading system that evaluates specific aspects like corners, edges and surface in addition to the overall grade. BGS slabs tend to be more descriptive than PSA. Turnaround times are generally faster than PSA, usually 1-3 months currently. BGS also offers services like auto authentication. While not quite as recognizable as PSA currently, BGS remains a top choice for collectors seeking an efficient grading option.

Hobby Certification Services (HCS) – A newer player founded in 2018, HCS has been steadily gaining traction. They utilize PSA-style black slabs and focus on turnaround speed, often returning submissions within 2-4 weeks. HCS uses a 1-100 numerical scale which can be off-putting to some collectors accustomed to the PSA/BGS 1-10 system. However, HCS offers affordable bulk submission pricing and has developed a loyal following due to their fast service. Their slabs provide a cost-effective grading option for collectors on a budget.

CompuGrade – Operating since the 1990s, CompuGrade is a smaller operation that focuses on vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s. They use PSA-style black slabs and offer a 1-70 numerical scale. CompuGrade prides itself on meticulous grading of older issues where condition is especially important. Turnaround times average 2-4 months. While not as widely recognized as the “big three,” CompuGrade is a respected name for collectors of pre-1990s cardboard.

SGC – Formed in 2000, SGC has emerged as a popular lower-cost alternative to PSA and BGS in recent years. They employ yellow slabs with a similar 1-10 grading scale. SGC offers fast turnaround, often returning submissions within 2-4 weeks. Some collectors perceive SGC slabs as less desirable than the “black label” holders of PSA and BGS when it comes to resale value. Still, SGC provides an affordable grading option and has developed a solid reputation for accuracy.

There are also some smaller, specialized grading companies offering niche services. MNT Grading focuses on graded Japanese trading cards. Collectible Grading Corporation (CGC) handles comics, magazines and other non-sports items. Greendot Grading is a new entrant emphasizing turnaround speed. For most collectors, PSA, BGS, SGC and HCS provide the best balance of reputation, features and pricing. Proper research, submission guidelines, and return shipping insurance is also recommended when using any third-party card grading service. With care and responsible use of a reputable grader, collectors can add value and authenticity to their prized baseball cards.