Getting your valuable baseball cards professionally graded is a very important decision. Grading determines not only a card’s condition and accuracy of its grade, but also has a huge impact on its value when being bought or sold. So it’s crucial to understand the grading process and benefits of grading before submitting your cards.

The top two card grading companies are PSA and BGS. Both have strict standards and provide clear sub-grades of centering, corners, edges and surface. Grading brings consistency and standardization to the hobby. Receiving a high grade from either PSA or BGS greatly increases a card’s value. But it’s important to choose carefully which company to use for grading based on the card’s era and condition.

For modern cards printed in the last 30 years or so, either PSA or BGS grading is generally accepted in the hobby. Personal preference and highest population Census reports usually guide which company to choose. For vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s in top condition like Mint or Gem Mint, PSA has usually been the preferred grading service to maximize value. BGS has gained popularity too and is usually a safe choice as well.

But it’s important to do your research. Some key card sets and subsets have divergent populations between PSA and BGS grades that can significantly impact value. For example, early 2000s sports parallels and inserts tend to grade higher with BGS versus PSA. 1950s high-grade vintage like early Topps sometimes demand a premium if holders in a PSA slab.

No matter which grader you choose, condition is key when considering submitting cards for grading. Never send well-worn, damaged cards or those with obvious flaws expecting a high grade. Take a close look under bright light, examine corners for bends or folds, and check surfaces for scratches. Only pristine specimens with minimal to no flaws have any hope at either a PSA Gem Mint 10 or BGS Black Label grade.

The cost of grading needs to be factored in too. Base PSA and BGS bulk submission prices are $15-$20 per card on average. But Express services for faster turnaround are 2-3 times higher. And there’s no guarantee of a grade. Cards can come back as failed to grade if flaws are detected during the process. In that case, the cost is lost with no increase in value.

Understand population reports and recognize not every card can achieve the highest grades due to centering issues, print lines, and other imperfections out of the manufacturer’s control. Know what’s feasible based on analyzing census data to have realistic expectations. Otherwise, disappointment orCards can come back cheaper to reholder those graded lower than anticipated..

In most cases, having mid-range graded cards from either PSA or BGS in the 7-8 grade range does boost value significantly over raw ungraded specimens in comparable condition. You’re establishing authenticity and condition analysis that buyers want for higher priced cards of key players, rare sets, variations, and vintage stars. But don’t expect a huge ROI unless the pop report shows potential for an elite black label or pristine PSA 10.

So in summary – only consider submitting top condition specimens to the major graders. Choose PSA or BGS based on era, set, and population trends. Factor in costs versus potential value boosts. And have realistic expectations using census data to guide potential grades. With the right cards graded properly, you gain authentication, condition analysis, and often a substantial price increase to maximize returns should you eventually sell. Just be smart and don’t slab every card hoping for a profit.