The first step in the process of getting your baseball cards graded is to identify which grading company you want to use. The three major third-party grading companies for sports cards are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS), and Hockey Card Grading (HCG). Each company has its own submission process and grading scale, so it’s important to review their services and guidelines to determine which company is the best fit for your cards.
Once you’ve chosen the grading company, you’ll need to set up an account on their website if you don’t already have one. From there, you can learn more about submission tiers, special group submission discounts if applicable, shipping procedures, estimated turnaround times, and payment options. Most companies offer different tiers based on how fast you want the cards graded – economy being the slowest and cheapest and express being the fastest but most expensive option.
With your account set up, you’re ready to submit your cards. You’ll want to carefully inspect each card under good lighting to assess the condition before submitting. Look for issues like centering, corners, edges and surfaces to gauge the potential grade. Take clear photos of any flaws. This homework helps ensure you submit only cards that have potential for a grade that makes financial sense. It also allows you to accurately describe each card’s condition in the submission form for the graders.
When submitting, you’ll need to precisely follow the company’s packaging and labeling guidelines. The cards must be sent in the designated holders or sleeves to avoid damage in transit. Include a completed submission form listing each card along with the condition notes. Careful preparation here can avoid potential issues or delays once received. Payment for the grading fees is also typically due at time of shipment.
Once received, the grading company will process and sort submissions based on tier. Card(s) are then handed off to a team of experienced graders who will thoroughly inspect each one under high-powered lighting and magnification. They will analyze for imperfections and assign a numerical grade on the established scale (e.g. 1-10 for BGS).
During the grading process, slabs or holders are prepared for the assigned grades. The card is then securely encapsulated to preserve and display the grade. Authentication and registry numbers unique to that card/grade combo are applied prior to QA checks.
After grading is complete, the slabs undergo final quality control inspections before shipping/delivery notifications are sent to customers. Turnaround times can vary widely depending on the submission volume and tier chosen but generally 8-12 weeks is average for economy submissions. Credentials and grading reports accessible via the company website provide full transparency into the process.
Upon receipt, you can immediately see the assigned numerical grade clearly protected inside the slab. Cards that achieved higher grades than anticipated can see realized value increases when resold or held long term. Those with lower grades than hoped can still retain collector value as part of a subset or player collection. Either way, the third party authentication and grade adds validity and preserves the card condition long term.
So in summary – choose a grading company, set up an account, carefully inspect/describe cards, precisely package/submit, wait patiently during the multi-step grading process, and finally receive the authenticated and protected slabs back to enjoy your valuable graded baseball cards! With accurate homework and care taken, the grading process yields verified collectible pieces that can appreciate significantly over time.
