Grading baseball cards is an important part of determining the condition and value of cards, especially vintage and high-end modern cards. There are several third-party grading companies that professionals and collectors use to objectively grade cards, but the two largest and most well-known are PSA and BGS. This article will provide an in-depth overview of PSA and BGS grading, as well as comparisons to help collectors determine which service may be best for their cards.
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) was founded in 2000 and quickly became the largest and most recognized card grader. They pioneered the modern third-party grading model and are considered the gold standard by which other companies are compared. Some key aspects that have contributed to PSA’s popularity and market dominance include their early start in the industry, brand recognition over decades of grading millions of cards, and their “first-of-its-kind” authentication and attribution guarantee.
PSA uses a numeric 1-10 grading scale, with 1 being Poor and 10 being Gem Mint. They have rigorous grading standards and are known for consistency, which is important for maintaining secondary market value over time. Submitting cards to PSA involves sending them in one of various submission tiers based on turnaround time and level of service. Economy is the most basic while Express is the fastest option. PSA also offers various value-add services like cross-over designation or sub-grades for individual aspects like corners/edges.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) launched in 1992 and is considered PSA’s main competitor. While smaller in scale, BGS has developed a loyal following among collectors and dealers. Key differences between BGS and PSA include BGS using a verbal grading scale of Poor, Good, Very Good, etc. instead of numbers. They also encapsulate cards in magnetic plastic holders instead of hard plastic slabs like PSA. BGS focuses more on vintage cards from the pre-1980s era.
Some collectors prefer the BGS verbal grades, magnetic holders, and emphasis on vintage cards. However, PSA remains the more recognized brand with a larger population of graded cards in the marketplace. BGS submission tiers also tend to be more expensive than comparable PSA options. Both companies have reputations for consistency and maintain secondary market value over long periods of time. Both are trusted grading options but PSA is utilized more broadly.
In recent years, several other grading companies have emerged but have not achieved the scale or market share of PSA or BGS. SGC (Sportscard Guarantee Corporation) launched in 2000 and focuses more on modern sports and non-sports cards. They offer economical grading options but their slabs are not as recognizable to casual collectors as PSA or BGS. HGA (House of Grading Authenticators) is a newer company founded in 2020 that uses state-of-the-art technology in the grading process and clear plastic slabs. Long-term reputation and brand recognition remains to be seen compared to the established leaders.
For most vintage cards, especially highly valuable pre-1980 issues, BGS is generally considered the top grading choice due to their focus and expertise in that area. However, PSA is completely acceptable as well and will reach a broader collector base. For modern cards from the 1980s onward, either PSA or BGS are excellent options. PSA is utilized more frequently simply due to greater population size and brand recognition over decades. SGC can also be a cost-effective choice for modern sports cards.
While there are various grading company options, PSA and BGS are established as the clear industry leaders based on decades of experience, market share, and maintaining secondary values. For most collectors, PSA is likely the safest choice due to universal recognition, but BGS is highly respected as well, especially for vintage cards. The best grading company ultimately depends on factors like intended audience, card era/sport, and budget. Both PSA and BGS provide expert, impartial third-party grading that is crucial to the collectibles marketplace.
