The first step to getting baseball cards appraised is to research professional authenticators and graders. Reputable companies that provide authentication and grading services for sports cards include Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS), and Sportscard Guaranty LLC (SGC). These companies have experienced authenticators that can examine cards to verify they are authentic and not counterfeits. They also will grade the card on its condition and appearance. Getting a card graded by one of these companies is usually the best way to get an authoritative appraisal of its value.
Once you have selected an authentication/grading company, you will need to submit your cards properly. Read the company’s submission guides closely to follow all packaging and labeling requirements. Most companies require submission forms to be filled out with details of each card being submitted. They also have guidelines on acceptable packaging materials like plastic sleeves, toploaders, and boxes. Generally, cards should be submitted in their own toploader sleeve for protection with labels on the outside clearly marking the card details.
When choosing which cards to submit for grading, focus on your highest value cards first. Obvious candidates would be rare and highly conditioned vintage cards of star players like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, or rare rookie cards. Even less valuable common cards from sets in pristine condition could yield a designation like “Mint 9” that significantly boosts their worth over raw, ungraded cards. You’ll want to look at recent sales data from platforms like eBay to get a baseline value for raw versions of each card you plan to grade.
You’ll need to pay a submission fee with each order sent to the authentication companies. Pricing varies depending on the company and volume of cards but typically ranges from $10-$20 per standard size card. Some will offer lower volume submission options or bulk/economy services if sending in a large number of cards. Be prepared to wait at least a few months to receive the cards back as demand is currently very high across the industry. Getting on a waitlist as early as possible can help minimize turnaround times.
Once the graded cards are returned, that’s when you’ll have an official appraisal in the form of the assigned grade along with details verified by the authentication company. Top grades of Mint 9 or Mint 10 carry significant premiums over lower grades due to their rarity, often 2-5 times the value or more. Similarly, rare and highly sought after cards will typically sell for even higher multiples of their PSA/BGS population data reports. By selling through third party marketplaces tied to the grading company, you can also benefit from authentication and generate higher sale prices on average.
To maximize value, consider retaining cards graded 6.5 or higher unless you need to liquidate for cash flow purposes. The top tier condition cards have the most long term appreciation potential as complete sets and collections become scarcer over time. You can either hold for future sale yourself or consign high-value cards to specialty auction houses that regularly sell vintage memorabilia and cards. Just be sure to fully research recently sold prices for comparable graded cards to ensure you set appropriate reserve amounts or minimum bid levels.
With proper research, selecting the right authentication company, carefully submitting your best cards, and patience to allow for the grading process, you’ll end up with official appraisals that maximize what your vintage baseball cards are truly worth on today’s market. Maintaining the graded slabs and accompanying certification documents is also important for full provenance should you eventually wish to resell in the future. Following these steps provides the most accurate method for putting valuations on your collection.
