Baseball cards are a beloved hobby for collectors of all ages. Part of what makes collecting baseball cards so interesting is assessing the condition and quality of each card in a collection. To properly evaluate cards, collectors rely on standardized grading criteria established by third-party authentication and grading companies.
The two largest and most respected authentication and grading services for sports cards are Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Both companies assign numeric grades to cards based on factors like centering, corners, edges and surface quality. Grades typically range from 1 to 10, with 10 being a flawless gem mint condition card.
Centering refers to how evenly the image on the front of the card is positioned within the borders. Slightly off-center cards may receive a grade of 8, while severely off-center cards could be as low as 5. Corners are examined for bends, folds or damage. Sharp, undamaged corners are ideal and aid in achieving higher grades. Edges are inspected for whitening, chipping or fraying around the perimeter of the card that could detract from the grade.
Surface describes the condition and feel of the card’s front and back. Is the surface smooth and clean or are there scratches, dings, stains or print defects? Near-mint to mint cards will have surfaces that appear almost untouched. Heavily played or damaged cards will be dinged on the surface grade. An overall numeric grade takes all four factors into account, though certain defects can outweigh others and impact the final grade more significantly.
In addition to the numeric grade, BGS and PSA also utilize a letter/numeric hybrid system. BGS uses a 10-point scale with “black label” designating a flawless 10 grade. PSA employs a 1-10 scale with “+” modifiers (e.g. a PSA 8.5). BGS also has sub-grades from 1-10 for each of the four criteria that provide collectors with very detailed condition reports.
Authenticating and grading vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s era presents unique challenges. Paper quality, production techniques and the amount of time in circulation since affect older cards more than modern issues. Even well-cared for vintage cardboard can show signs of aging. Surface defects may be more common, while centering and edges held up relatively well compared to much-played contemporary cards. Grading standards balance the card’s condition against what can reasonably be expected based on the issue year.
Maintaining a card’s grade over time also factors into its value. One of the benefits of slabbing—encasing cards in plastic holders—is preserving the condition assessed at the time of grading. Handling raw cards risks edge or surface damage that could potentially lower the grade if resubmitted. Slabs protect the cardboard and grade integrity, which is important for high-value collectibles. Re-grading services are available every few years if a holdered card is felt to have changed conditionally.
Third-party authentication and grading provides collectors with an objective measure of a baseball card’s condition through analysis of centering, corners, edges and surface. Understanding the criteria behind the grades assigned by respected companies like BGS and PSA allows hobbyists to properly assess and value their collections. It also ensures uniform condition standards benefit buying, selling and enjoying cards as a long-term hobby.