CGC has been grading sports cards since the early 2000s and has quickly become the industry leader and most trusted third-party grading service. They have graded millions of cards over the years and provide objective numeric grades that help collectors and dealers establish condition and value. The CGC grading process involves sending your cards in to CGC either directly or through a participating dealer. The cards will then be thoroughly inspected and analyzed by experienced graders using CGC’s strict universal standards.
Some key aspects of CGC’s grading process for baseball cards include visually inspecting the front and back of each card under bright lighting for any flaws, imperfections or defects in the surfaces, corners, edges or centering. Graders wear specialized gloves to handle the cards and ensure no fingerprints or residue is left. High-resolution scans are also taken of each card. CGC grading aims to be consistent, fair and transparent. After grading, the card is sealed in an inert polypropylene holder with the assigned numeric grade, ID number and other details printed on a specially designed tamper-evident label affixed to the holder.
CGC uses a 1-10 point numerical scale to grade cards, with 1 being Poor and 10 being Gem Mint. Half-grades are also awarded in .5 increments when appropriate. The numeric CGC grade takes into account the card’s centering, corners, edges and surfaces and provides collectors with an objective assessment of condition. Accompanied by detailed verbal descriptors, it allows for easy comparison of similar cards. CGC is meticulous about determining potential alterations, counterfeits or tampering through things like an ultra-violet light marker added during the printing process.
In addition to numerical grading, CGC also offers different professional service levels. Their standard service provides full authentication, grading and holdering for most common cards. Economy and bulk submission discounts are available. For rarer/high-end cards, their Authentic Authentication or Gold Standard service levels involve multi-point inspection checks by multiple senior graders for maximum confidence. A CGC “auto” label on a rare card commands top dollars from serious collectors. Finally, CGC’s “Crossover” service allows foreign/overseas submission of cards to their US offices.
CGC has become the preferred grading service for most serious collectors, dealers and auction houses. Their “black label” holders command premiums in the marketplace versus raw or uncertified cards due to the trusted impartial evaluation provided. CGC membership includes access to population data, price guides and other research tools. Cards can also be resubmitted for re-grading if desired. For objective third-party grading of baseball cards at any value level, CGC is the gold standard service relied upon by the entire collectibles industry.
