Whether or not it is worth getting baseball cards professionally graded by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) depends on several factors. PSA is considered the gold standard in third-party card grading, but their services do come at a cost. There are submission fees, grading fees per card, and shipping costs to consider. The question really comes down to whether increased value from a high PSA grade outweighs these expenses.
One of the key reasons collectors seek PSA grading is because it provides an impartial, third-party assessment of a card’s condition and authenticity. This helps establish market value and gives buyers confidence in the grade/condition. While raw ungraded cards do still sell online and at auction, PSA slabs have become the norm for valuable vintage and modern rookie cards. A PSA credential is seen to guarantee authenticity and provide standardized condition grades that allow for fair price comparisons.
Some key advantages of PSA grading include:
Standardized condition assessments and numeric grades make it easy to compare similar cards across sales listings. This is important when establishing a fair price. Raw cards leave much more ambiguity around condition.
The slab protects the card from handling damage. Cards that have already been graded and encapsulated in hard plastic slabs require no additional protection during shipping or display. This preserves condition long-term.
Authenticated holograms/certificates of authenticity make it harder to fake a graded card. PSA’s reputation deters unscrupulous sellers from attempting to pass off reprints or altered cards.
Graded pop reports provide data on print run scarcity and how condition impacts value. Knowing precisely how many PSA 9 Ken Griffey Jr. rookies exist, for example, conveys important rarity information to buyers and sellers.
High PSA grades command dramatic premiums over comparable ungraded raw cards depending on the card. Elite vintage rookies in PSA Gem Mint 10 condition can appreciate exponentially versus even high-grade raw copies.
Slabs increase portability and resale convenience versus raw cards that require individual authentication and condition assessments each time they trade hands. PSA grades stay with the card.
The question then becomes whether the potential financial upside of a strong PSA grade covers the costs of submitting the card for authentication and grading. Important factors to consider are:
Card value – Low/mid-value cards often don’t justify the submission fee if sold raw versus graded. Cards under $100 raw usually don’t make financial sense to grade unless rare/key vintage pieces. Mid-value vintage cards $100-500 can potentially see a worthwhile boost. High-end cards $500+ usually grade well.
Expected grade – Cards in questionable/damaged condition have lower odds of a high grade. The costs often outweigh potential returns versus selling raw for parts/display. Cards needing restoration should usually stay raw versus risking a poor PSA grade. Predictably strong eyes-appeal cards have the best odds of higher grades.
Intended use – Cards intended for long-term PC collection and potential future resale grade well to preserve condition. Short-term flips where card stays in holder don’t require grading. Cards being sent to a population census service like PSA’s could potentially improve with census/registry data inclusion over time as well.
Turnaround times – Standard PSA grading has lengthy waits, so flipping a card quickly usually means selling raw. Express services costs far more but provide results in weeks versus 6+ months standard. Fast individual card authentication usually isn’t cost-effective either.
Multiple submissions – Bulk submission discounts at PSA offset costs for large collections, authentications of whole sets/team lots, or group submissions with others. Submitting cards in small batches is less efficient.
In summary – high value vintage singles $500+, key modern/rookie cards destined for long term holds, full PC collections, and bulky team/set submissions are the best candidates for PSA grading on average. Predictably strong condition mid-value cards can also make sense. But speculative low/mid-tier items, marginal condition cards, quick speculative flips, and single cards usually stay raw to avoid authentication costs outweighing potential returns. Careful consideration of grades likelihood, market, intended use and turnaround needs balances the value proposition of third-party authentication. While the PSA slab remains the gold standard in the hobby, not every card grades out as a financial winner in their holders. Discerning which cards stand the best chance provides the surest ROI from professional authentications.
