Scoring and organizing a collection of baseball cards is a fun hobby that many collectors enjoy. While there is no single definitive way to score cards, setting up a system allows collectors to better analyze, compare, and enjoy their collection. In this article, we will go through the process of developing a scoring system and then applying it to score 89 randomly selected baseball cards from the author’s personal collection.
The first step is determining what attributes will be scored for each card. Some common attributes include centering, corners, edges, surface, and general appearance. Each of these attributes will be scored on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the worst condition and 10 being mint/near mint. A field for the card number and Year will be included.
For centering, a perfectly centered card with equal margins all around would score a 10. As the centering becomes more off-center in any direction, the score would decrease accordingly down to 1 for a very off-center card. Corners are scored based on how crisp and sharp they remain, with dull, rounded, or damaged corners scoring lower. Edges examine the completeness and whiteness of the borders, with dirty, smudged, or ripped edges scoring lower. Surface analyzes cleanliness and lack of scratches, dings, creases or other flaws, with a pristine surface deserving of a high score. General appearance is a more subjective catch-all, taking into account the card’s overall visual appeal.
The scoring sheet has now been created with the following headers: Card Number, Year, Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface, General Appearance. It’s time to start assessing the collection! The first card drawn is numbered 404 from the 1986 Topps set featuring pitcher David Cone of the New York Mets. Upon examination, it has strong 8/10 centering with equal margins, sharp 9/10 corners, clean 10/10 edges, a nearly flawless surface for another 9/10, and generally looks excellent to also merit a 9/10 for appearance. The scores are recorded.
Card after card is analyzed using the scoring rubric. A 1971 Roberto Clemente from the Hostess set scores well overall but has a smudge on the surface dropping it to a 7. A 1984 Donruss Wade Boggs receives an unfortunate 4 for centering due to being dramatically off-balance. Occasionally a true gem appears, like a 2009 Topps Update Mike Trout rookie that scores a rare 10 across the board. Before long, all 89 cards have been meticulously inspected and graded.
With the scoring complete, it’s now possible to sort and analyze the collection in helpful new ways. Arranging the cards from highest total score to lowest allows for easy identification of the cream of the crop. This 1971 Topps Nolan Ryan tops out with an impressive composite score of 47/50. Segmenting by brand exposes which manufacturers tend to hold up best over time – in this case, cards from the 1980s Fleer set scored on the higher side.
Perhaps most enjoyably, comparisons can now be made across players, positions, and even entire teams. It’s fascinating to note slugger Jose Canseco’s rookies surprisingly edged out fellow rookie Ken Griffey Jr’s offerings in mint condition. The high-scoring Chicago Cubs cards decisively beat out those representing the lowly Seattle Mariners. Nostalgic reflections on favorite childhood players can be supplemented with new knowledge gleaned from the scoring process.
Establishing a methodical scoring system opens many doors to deriving additional interest and analysis from a baseball card collection. While condition is surely not the only factor contributing to a card’s worth or appeal, it provides collectors with a standardized lens for objectively assessing physical attributes. The hours invested in carefully grading over 80 cards as demonstrated here pays dividends in organizing, understanding, and engaging more deeply with one’s collection in the future. With a clear scoring rubric in place, it’s also easy to continue maintaining and tracking the collection over time. Whether a casual fan or serious investor, following this process brings collectors one step closer to truly appreciating every card in their boxing.
