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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HAVE BASEBALL CARDS GRADED

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There are a few different companies that offer the service of grading baseball cards to determine their condition and authenticity. The three largest and most well-known grading companies for baseball cards are PSA, BGS (Beckett Grading Services), and SGC (Sports Card Guaranty). The costs to have cards graded will vary depending on which company you use and which turnaround service level you select.

For PSA, their basic bulk submission service has a flat fee structure based on the number of cards submitted. The lowest tier is $10 per card for submissions of 50 cards or more. For submissions under 50 cards, the cost per card is $12. You also have to pay shipping costs to send your cards to PSA and shipping costs to have the graded cards returned. Expedited turnaround options are available for higher per card fees. For example, their 10-day service is $35 per card for orders of 10 cards or fewer and $30 per card for orders of 11 cards or more. Their highest level “PSA DNA” authentication service starts at $100 per card.

BGS has a similar tiered fee structure. Their basic bulk submission service charges $15 per card for orders of 25 cards or more. For orders under 25 cards, it is $20 per card. Like PSA, you pay separate shipping costs each way as well. BGS also offers various express options. For example, their 5-day turnaround is $50 per card and 2-day is $100 per card. They also have authentication services that start at $59 per card.

SGC’s basic service fee is $12 per card with no minimum order size required. Shipping costs are separate. They have several express options as well such as 5-day at $30 per card and 24-hour at $150 per card. One advantage of SGC is they often have coupon codes available to save a few dollars per card on bulk submissions.

In addition to the per card grading fees, you need to factor in the costs of shipping your cards to the grading company and back. For a basic shipment of 50 cards or more in a rigid plastic holder or team bag, expect to pay around $20-$30 for shipping each way via tracked and insured USPS or UPS. Larger shipments or valuable cards should use more secure shipping like registered mail which can double those costs. International shipping rates are higher as well.

Another consideration is the encapsulation costs charged by PSA, BGS, and SGC. All graded cards come sealed in a protective plastic holder. Basic plastic holders are included in the grade fee, but some prefer the more protective and display worthy magnetic or black label holders which carry an additional $2-$5 per card charge. Reholdering an already graded card for a different label also costs $2-$5 per card.

For a typical order of 50 common baseball cards submitted for basic grading to one of the major companies, total costs would break down roughly as:
$500-750 in grading fees
$40-60 in shipping costs
$100-250 in optional encapsulation upgrade costs

So a bulk order of common cards could easily total $650-1000 after fees, shipping and holders. Submitting higher end or valuable vintage cards costs significantly more due to express grading fees, insurance for shipping, and premium holders. For truly rare Hall of Fame caliber cards, grading costs may exceed $1000-2000 per card depending on services used.

Having baseball cards professionally graded is an important process for determining authenticity and condition, but can involve substantial fees depending on the grading company, turnaround needs, number of cards, and value of the cards. Planning the budget for costs is crucial before getting cards authenticated and encapsulated. With some research on deals and timing of submissions, collectors can find ways to save a few dollars per card when possible. But for valuable collections, grading remains a worthwhile investment to ensure quality.

DOES CGC GRADE BASEBALL CARDS

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CGC has been grading sports cards since the early 2000s and has quickly become the industry leader and most trusted third-party grading service. They have graded millions of cards over the years and provide objective numeric grades that help collectors and dealers establish condition and value. The CGC grading process involves sending your cards in to CGC either directly or through a participating dealer. The cards will then be thoroughly inspected and analyzed by experienced graders using CGC’s strict universal standards.

Some key aspects of CGC’s grading process for baseball cards include visually inspecting the front and back of each card under bright lighting for any flaws, imperfections or defects in the surfaces, corners, edges or centering. Graders wear specialized gloves to handle the cards and ensure no fingerprints or residue is left. High-resolution scans are also taken of each card. CGC grading aims to be consistent, fair and transparent. After grading, the card is sealed in an inert polypropylene holder with the assigned numeric grade, ID number and other details printed on a specially designed tamper-evident label affixed to the holder.

CGC uses a 1-10 point numerical scale to grade cards, with 1 being Poor and 10 being Gem Mint. Half-grades are also awarded in .5 increments when appropriate. The numeric CGC grade takes into account the card’s centering, corners, edges and surfaces and provides collectors with an objective assessment of condition. Accompanied by detailed verbal descriptors, it allows for easy comparison of similar cards. CGC is meticulous about determining potential alterations, counterfeits or tampering through things like an ultra-violet light marker added during the printing process.

In addition to numerical grading, CGC also offers different professional service levels. Their standard service provides full authentication, grading and holdering for most common cards. Economy and bulk submission discounts are available. For rarer/high-end cards, their Authentic Authentication or Gold Standard service levels involve multi-point inspection checks by multiple senior graders for maximum confidence. A CGC “auto” label on a rare card commands top dollars from serious collectors. Finally, CGC’s “Crossover” service allows foreign/overseas submission of cards to their US offices.

CGC has become the preferred grading service for most serious collectors, dealers and auction houses. Their “black label” holders command premiums in the marketplace versus raw or uncertified cards due to the trusted impartial evaluation provided. CGC membership includes access to population data, price guides and other research tools. Cards can also be resubmitted for re-grading if desired. For objective third-party grading of baseball cards at any value level, CGC is the gold standard service relied upon by the entire collectibles industry.

WHAT DOES BGS MEAN IN BASEBALL CARDS

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Beckett Grading Services was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. BGS is considered one of the top third-party card grading services alongside companies like Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Their main service is authenticating and assigning a numerical grade to trading cards, especially modern sports and entertainment cards. This service helps determine the condition and value of a particular card for collectors.

BGS uses a 1-10 scale to grade cards, with 10 being a perfectly mint condition card that just came out of a fresh pack. The main factors BGS graders examine when assigning a grade include centering, corners, edges and surface quality of the card. They will also take into account attributes like autographs and memorabilia patches being perfectly cut and attached for insert cards. Additional authenticity authenticating is done through high resolution photos, watermark holograms and serialized tamper-evident holders.

Once a grade is assigned, the card is then sealed in a BGS holder. These hard plastic slabs help preserve the condition of the card and allow potential buyers to clearly see the front and back of the card along with the assigned grade. Slabs have significantly cut down on counterfeiting in the market by verifying authenticity. They have also made trading and selling of modern graded cards much easier online through third party marketplaces.

BGS is considered the gold standard for modern card grading due to their thorough authentication process and stringent grading standards. While their turnaround times can be longer than competitors, the BGS label carries premium value recognition. Higher BGS grades tend to sell for significantly more than similarly graded cards from other services. They are also generally more trusted for accurate condition assessment and authenticity than ungraded raw cards.

Some key factors that have led to BGS becoming the premier modern card grading service include; extensive experience and expertise developed since 2000 authenticating and assigning value to new releases, transparency through high resolution photos and secure holders, consistent methodology training for graders, and overall perception of integrity and trust in the BGS label and numeric grades within the collector community.

While PSA was historically the dominant player for vintage cards, BGS has gained considerable market share in recent years especially for releases from the 1990s onward. Many modern parallels, serial numbers, autographs and memorabilia cards hold enhanced value significance straight from BGS compared to other slabs. They are also a preferred grading service for higher end specimens that could exceed five figures or more in value.

BGS has revolutionized collecting by standardized grading that brings transparency and liquidity to the modern sports card trade. They have helped develop card values and grow enthusiasm with new collectors. Even as competition arises, the BGS label is seen as the standard for evaluating condition, authenticity and investment worthiness in today’s hobby. While PSA maintains an advantage for vintage, BGS is now firmly established as the leading authority for modern sports cards and memorabilia trading. Their rigorous processes inspire continued confidence guiding market prices for specimens across all sports.

In summary, Beckett Grading Services plays a crucial role in the modern collecting industry through their authentication and grading of trading cards. The BGS label provides a clear and trusted valuation standard that has significantly helped develop the burgeoning market for certified modern cards over the past two decades. They will likely continue leading the way in assessing condition and authenticity to bring stability and grow enthusiasm in the hobby for years to come.

DOES WALGREENS SELL TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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While individual Walgreens stores may vary in their inventory and product selection, Walgreens as a retail pharmacy chain does carry Topps baseball cards across many of its locations nationwide. Topps is one of the major manufacturers and producers of sports trading cards, particularly for baseball. They have held the exclusive license to produce baseball cards featuring Major League Baseball players, team logos, and other league intellectual property since the 1950s.

As a retailer with over 9,000 stores across the United States, Walgreens aims to carry popular trading card products that will appeal to customers of all ages, from kids starting collections to adult enthusiasts and fans. Baseball cards remain enormously popular collectibles and an integral part of the sport’s culture. Carrying Topps sets allows Walgreens to tap into this extensive customer demand at its stores near communities and neighborhoods with baseball fans.

Topps baseball cards can be found in the trading card aisle or section of the store beside other popular card brands like Panini, Score, and Donruss. Larger Walgreens may devote an entire endcap display to the newest or most in-demand Topps releases when they first come out. Customers will see the iconic Topps packaging and design for sets like Series 1, Series 2, Allen & Ginter, Heritage, Update, and High Tek. Throughout the baseball season, Walgreens restocks to keep Topps products in stock from Opening Day through the World Series.

While the assortment may vary day-to-day and store-to-store, Walgreens aims to carry the major annual Topps baseball card releases at a minimum. Individual packs, blasters, hanger boxes, and sometimes even retail-exclusive megaboxes or special pink packs can be found. Around major trading card holiday promotions like “National Baseball Card Day” in August, extra displays may promote these Topps products more heavily. Walgreens also participates in Topps Rewards program by carrying redemption codes inside eligible products.

Topps maintains the brick-and-mortar retail channel as an important part of its distribution strategy. Selling through national pharmacy chains like Walgreens expands its reachable audience of potential customers compared solely to specialized card shops. It allows casual collectors, impulse buyers, and gift-givers easy access to Topps baseball cards near them. The consistent in-store presence of Topps at Walgreens helps drive awareness of the brand year-round too.

Of course, individual store availability may differ on any given day. Factors like local demand, shelf space, recent deliveries, and the time since last stocking impact what a particular Walgreens location has on-hand from Topps at any moment. While not a dedicated hobby shop, Walgreens aims to satisfy mainstream interest in Topps baseball cards from customers passing through. Their widespread U.S. footprint allows the retail giant to play an ongoing role expanding the reach and appeal of America’s favorite baseball card manufacturer.

In conclusion, Walgreens does generally carry Topps baseball cards across its extensive chain of pharmacy retail stores nationwide. As one of the largest brick-and-mortar outlets for trading cards and collectibles, Walgreens helps Topps access casual collectors and fans near almost any local community in addition to specialized hobby shops. Their partnership keeps the Topps baseball card experience available and visible to potential new and returning collectors each season from Opening Day through the World Series.

DOES TARGET SELL BASEBALL CARDS IN STORE

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Target has a small but respectable selection of baseball cards available at most of its stores across the United States. Their baseball card aisle is typically located near the front of the store alongside other sports cards and trading cards. At the average Target, they will carry around 50-100 different baseball card products from the current and previous season.

Some of the most common and basic products they carry include hobby boxes, blasters, fat packs, and value packs from the current season’s flagship brands like Topps, Panini, and Donruss. This allows people to rip packs and potentially pull rookie cards or autographs of current MLB stars. They also usually have a couple repacks containing assorted baseball cards to allow people to build their collections inexpensively.

In addition to new products, Target also stocks a decent selection of newer baseball card sets from the past few seasons that are no longer the current items. This gives customers more variety and options to search for cards from recent years. Their back stock usually goes back about 3-5 years deep.

As for specialty and higher end items, Target has a more limited stock of those. They normally carry at least one blaster, hobby box, or fat pack option of some of the higher priced release like Topps Chrome, Leaf Metal Draft, Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects, and Topps Tribute. They may only have a couple of each available though.

True high-end products containing autographs and memorabilia cards are less common at Target. On occasion they may put out a blaster or two containing hit chances but won’t carry full hobby cases of those products. People hoping to pull major stars’ autographs or relics would likely have better luck at dedicated card shops or specialty sports retailers.

In terms of organization, Target stocks their baseball cards in basic alphabetical order by manufacturer/brand on the shelves. This makes it easy to browse all that Topps, Panini, etc. has to offer together in one spot. There are usually signage dividers every 3-5 feet to help segment different brands as well.

During the baseball season especially, Target will promote certain new releases with special endcap or stack displays in the baseball card aisle as well. This helps draw attention to what’s hot off the presses. They also may spotlight collectibles around holidays like Father’s Day to encourage baseball-themed gift giving.

Target purchases their baseball card inventory direct from the major card manufacturers and distributors. As with any retailer, their specific store-level stock can vary based on factors like regional demand, recent sell through, and warehouse/truck shipping schedules. But customers visiting multiple Targets will generally find consistency in the tiers of product available nationwide.

While the selection won’t rival a focused card shop, Target offers a suitableassortment of modern and past baseball cards to serve most casual collectors’basic needs. Being conveniently located in most cities and towns, it providesa mainstream retail outlet for the card browsing public to peruse new releasesand build sets gradually over time. Their assortment strikes a solid balancebetween mass market appeal and specialized collectors’ product availability.

Baseball card enthusiasts can reliably find a good cross section ofcurrent and recent year products from major brands on Target’s shelves. Thoughspecialty singles and higher end boxes will be more limited, their selectioncovers the casual to mid-level collector demographic well with generallyconsistent national availability. Target remains a dependable mainstream retailerin the baseball card market.

DOES SAM’S CLUB CARRY BASEBALL CARDS

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Sam’s Club does occasionally carry baseball cards for sale in some store locations, but their baseball card selection and availability can vary significantly depending on the specific store. As a membership-only wholesale retailer owned and operated by Walmart, Sam’s Club focuses their product assortment more on bulk sizes of grocery, household, and other everyday items aimed at families and small businesses. Trading cards in general make up a relatively small part of their business compared to dedicated hobby shops, collectibles stores, or the trading card sections located within larger retailers like Walmart.

While individual Sam’s Clubs may stock a limited amount of baseball card products from time to time, baseball cards do not have a consistent presence across most stores in the way that staple items like paper towels, water bottles, or cereal do. Their decision to carry cards at all is usually dependent on local and regional interest in card collecting within the surrounding community of each club. Stores in areas with higher populations of baseball fans and collectors are more likely to devote shelf space to cards than locations in regions with lesser baseball participation and enthusiasm.

If baseball cards are stocked, the selection tends to be narrow and focused primarily on the most recent or upcoming major league season’s card releases from the major trading card manufacturers like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and others. Full sets may be packaged together, but incomplete or opened sets breaking boxes are less common finds. Beyond new season cards, some clubs may keep a small rotating supply of vintage or high-end chase cards in protective sleeves available individually for enthusiasts. Comprehensive vintage sets, rare parallels, autographed memorabilia cards, and unopened boxes of past years can be very difficult to locate consistently.

Product choice and availability is also subject to periodic change based on sales performance. If certain card lines prove less popular with Sam’s Club shoppers, they may be removed from inventory to free up space for stronger selling items. Conversely, clubs attuned to local collectors may experiment with expanding selections over time in response to membership demand. Overall supply tends to be limited compared to the much larger and more specialty-focused inventories carried by hobby shops and online retailers.

Sam’s Club pricing on cards generally aims to provide a fairly competitive bargain versus other major retailers. Their prices may not always align with the cheapest costs found through hobby stores or auction sites more focused singularly on card collecting. They often cannot match deep discounts provided by sponsors of major card conventions and memorabilia shows either. Members also need to factor in the annual cost of a Sam’s Club membership on top of card purchases from their stores.

For collectors trying to fill out team or player sets efficiently on a budget, Sam’s Club can offer a convenient one-stop bulk shopping location for families to also stock up on essentials alongside opportunistically browsing for cards. Dedicated or advanced collectors seeking the rarest and most valuable vintage cards, autograph relic parallel versions, team lots, and unopened cases are unlikely to fully satisfy their collecting goals and specialized needs through Sam’s Club alone. While they carry some cards, Sam’s Club maintains primarily a broad general merchandise focus across all departments catering to average household and small business customers rather than niche collecting markets. Convenient general selection comes at the cost of specialized depth for any one hobby compared to dedicated hobby retailers.

While many Sam’s Club locations may stock a small assortment of the latest baseball card releases and some additional stock on hand, their baseball card offerings tend to be inconsistent between clubs, limited in scope, and not the primary emphasis of their business model. Serious and discerning card collectors are best advised to supplement any occasional cards found at Sam’s Club with dedicated hobby shops, memorabilia stores, and card show circuit sources able to meet more specific collecting interests and supply harder to find vintage, rare, and out of print card products. But casual collectors, families, and bulk shoppers will likely occasionally encounter passably priced new season card options if seeking an incomplete assortment during general merchandise shopping trips to their local Sam’s Club store.

WHEN DOES BIG LOTS RESTOCK BASEBALL CARDS

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Big Lots does not have a set schedule for restocking their baseball card inventory. As a discount retailer, their shipments and deliveries of new seasonal and hobby products can vary depending on many factors. There are some general trends employees and customers have noticed about when to typically find new baseball cards on the shelves.

The busiest times for new baseball card shipments at Big Lots tend to be during the late winter and early spring months leading up to the start of the new MLB season in April. In January and February, Big Lots will start receiving and stocking their first shipments of the upcoming year’s newest baseball card releases from the top manufacturers like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and Upper Deck. These initial restocks focus on the new set cards for the upcoming season as well as value packs, blasters, and hanger boxes featuring the most recent rookie cards and stars from the previous year.

Many Big Lots locations also like to restock their baseball card aisle in late February and early March with special promotional items to coincide with holiday shopping periods. For example, around Valentine’s Day you may find special packs and boxes themed around love and relationships on the diamond. Close to St. Patrick’s Day in mid-March, Look for bargain deals on “Luck of the Irish” type baseball cards and memorabilia. Stocking these holiday-themed baseball products during these periods helps drive additional foot traffic and sales for Big Lots.

The largest and most prominent restocks at Big Lots usually occur in late March and throughout the month of April leading directly up to Opening Day. This is when the retailer receives massive shipments containing their fullest baseball card inventories of the year. During these times, nearly every foot of shelving behind the baseball card endcaps will be packed with value and hobby boxes spanning the entire season ahead from MLB’s top trading card producers. Careful shoppers can find especially good deals on sealed cases of Topps Series 1 and Panini Contenders baseball if Big Lots has overstock to clear out.

Beyond the initial preseason fillings in January through April, Big Lots baseball card restocks become less frequent but more sporadic throughout the summer months of the MLB schedule. Additional pallets may arrive every 4-6 weeks on average containing the latest releases as series and sets are rolled out continuously by card companies over the season. The specific restock dates cannot be precisely predicted and may differ broadly between various individual Big Lots store locations across regions.

Big Lots typically has their most significant postseason baseball card restocks again in late September through mid-October as retailers like Walmart, Target and hobby shops begin clearing out remaining inventory to make space for holiday seasonal items and non-sports cards. Careful shoppers can find incredible bargain prices on any leftover sealed cases, boxes and packs from the entire previous season still in stock if Big Lots needs to offload older product to vendors before the year ends.

The late fall and early winter months of November through December represent a slower period for new baseball card shipments at Big Lots. The retailer shifts focus to stocking up on all available discounted sports memorabilia, apparel and other gifts suitable for holiday presents instead of emphasizing current-year baseball cards once the season has concluded. Any restocks during this timeframe are usually limited to remaining stock of older discount products from the prior season.

While no permanent schedule exists, Big Lots typically receives the bulk of their baseball card shipments inventory during the late winter months leading into the MLB season opening and then sporadically every 4-6 weeks or so throughout the summer depending on new releases. Their largest and most stocked restocks tend to be in late March through mid-April and again in late September through mid-October annually as sellers clear out remaining items for the year. Savings-minded shoppers seeking a complete bargain can find incredible deals if browsing Big Lots during these general restock timeframes.

DOES WALMART STILL SELL BASEBALL CARDS

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Walmart continues to carry baseball cards both in their retail stores and online at walmart.com. In most stores, baseball cards can still be found in the toy aisle alongside other trading cards from sports like football and basketball. Some smaller Walmart locations may have a more limited selection or none at all depending on store size and customer demand in that area.

For those interested in browsing a wider assortment of recent and vintage baseball cards all in one place, shopping online at Walmart gives customers the most options. Both loose packs as well as sealed boxes of various baseball card products from manufacturers like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and Upper Deck can be found on Walmart.com. This includes both current year releases and retro cards from past decades going all the way back to the early 1900s.

Some of the most popular individual baseball cards and sets available include flagship brands like Topps Series 1 and 2, Topps Chrome, Stadium Club, Allen & Ginter, Topps Heritage, Topps Archives, and Topps Project 70. Higher end products like Topps T206 cigarettes cards reprints from the early 1900s are also routinely stocked online. For investors, sealed cases of first-year player cards and rookie cards of famous baseball legends from the past can satisfy niche collecting demands.

In addition to mainstream trading card companies, Walmart also carries exclusive baseball card collections released through their own Great Value house brand. These more affordable Great Value sets are perfect for young collectors just starting out or those on a budget. Through both in-store and online channels, Walmart satisfies baseball card enthusiasts of all ages and collecting interests.

The supply of new baseball cards on Walmart shelves and their website is continually replenished upon the release of each new season, typically beginning in late winter/early spring. This includes the yearly March/April launches of the flagship Topps Series 1 and Topps Heritage sets that signify the start of a new year of collecting. Around major sports card conventions like the National in July and regional shows, Walmart also receives “hobby box” level products beyond just retail blaster and hanger packs.

While the brick and mortar retail presence of baseball cards at Walmart is subject to each individual store’s preference, their commitment to stocking a wide assortment online ensures the big box retailer remains a viable destination for collectors for the foreseeable future. With competitive prices and the convenience of shopping from home, Walmart is poised to maintain its role as a leading provider of new baseball cards and a slice of nostalgic sports memorabilia nostalgia for years to come.

WHAT DOES PSA MEAN IN BASEBALL CARDS

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PSA began operations in 2000 with a focus on grading and authenticating sports memorabilia and trading cards. Their main goal was to establish a consistent, trusted, and transparent grading standard for the hobby. Prior to services like PSA, there was no widely accepted authority on the condition and authenticity of collectibles. PSA brought standardized terminology, processes, and certification to the sports collecting industry.

Over the years, PSA has graded hundreds of millions of cards and remains the largest and most respected third-party grading service. When a collector or dealer submits a card to PSA, the card will be thoroughly inspected by trained graders. They will examine every aspect of the card such as the centering, corners, edges and surface for flaws or imperfections. The card is then assigned a grade on a scale of 1-10 based on its condition, with 10 being gem mint. This grade is permanently encapsulated with the card inside a tamper-proof plastic holder labeled with identifying markers.

Obtaining a PSA grade serves several important purposes. First, it provides a consistent and objective assessment of a card’s condition that everyone can understand and trust. This allows collectors and dealers to easily compare “apple to apples” when looking at cards. Second, a PSA holder protects and preserves the condition of the card for potential future resale. The plastic encapsulation prevents wear and tear or accidental damage that an loose raw card could receive over time. Third, a PSA grade can significantly influence the value of a card – higher grades translate to higher prices. This is especially true for rare vintage cards or modern rookies of star players. A PSA 10 card can often be worth 10x or more than an ungraded example of the same card in lower grade.

PSA grading has become essentially mandatory for high-end baseball cards being submitted to major auctions or sold between professional dealers and collectors. On the mainstream sales platforms like eBay, you will commonly see baseball listings specify they are only looking to purchase “PSA/DNA graded cards.” This provides a layer of legitimacy and confidence in the condition and authenticity which is non-negotiable for valuable vintage cards that can trade hands for thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. PSA slabs offer peace of mind, avoid risk of fraud or forgery, and allow players both large and small to participate in the high-priced vintage market.

Because of its prevalence and impact on value, PSA holdings have become a collecting dimension in of itself. Compiling complete PSA-graded sets of famous star rookies or entire vintage seasons is a major achievement. As prices rise across the board, finding rare high-grade PSA examples becomes progressively more challenging. Services like the PSA Population Report allows you to check census data on exactly how many of a specific card have been graded, providing strategic context on relative scarcity. The Holy Grail for any collection is obtaining the sole PSA 10 versions of some of the all-time key rare cards.

PSA revolutionized a multi-billion dollar industry and their reputation has become synonymous with quality, authenticity and financial dependability for over two decades. For the serious baseball card collector or investor, obtaining PSA grading is now considered table stakes to maximize value, credibility and enjoyment of the hobby long-term. It was one of the most important innovations in modern collecting and significantly elevated the long term potential of baseball cards as an asset class for generations to come.

DOES THE NUMBER ON THE BACK OF BASEBALL CARDS MEAN

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The numbers found in the top left corner of the back of a baseball card present batting statistics for that player. The first number represents the player’s batting average for their career to date. Batting average is calculated by taking the player’s total hits and dividing it by their total at-bats. It represents the likelihood that the player will get a hit each time they come to the plate. A career batting average of .300 or higher is considered excellent as it means the player gets a hit 3 out of every 10 at-bats on average.

The second number is the player’s home runs total for their career. Home runs are hits where the batter is able to hit the ball out of the playing field without the ball touching the ground, allowing them to score themselves and any preceding runners. Hitting home runs is one of the most exciting aspects of baseball and a high home run total is indicative of a power hitter who can drive the ball long distances. Career totals of 500 home runs or more place a player among the all-time elite home run hitters in baseball history.

The third number shows the player’s runs batted in or RBIs for their career. RBIs measure how effective a hitter is at driving in runs by bringing home teammates who are on base. It takes hitting with runners in scoring position to post high RBI totals. Seasons with 100+ RBIs or career totals over 1,000 RBIs demonstrate a player who consistently produces runs for their team with clutch, two-out hitting. Driving in runs is an important offensive contribution that helps teams win games.

Moving to the bottom right corner of the back of a baseball card, three additional defensive statistics are presented for fielding. The first number indicates how many total chances or opportunities the player had in the field to make a defensive play like catching a fly ball or grounder. More chances demonstrate more extensive game experience and opportunities to enhance one’s fielding abilities.

The second number shows how many errors the player committed over their career. Errors occur when a fielder fails to convert a defensive chance like misplaying a catchable fly ball or throwing inaccurately on a ground ball. Low error totals reflect strong fundamental defensive skills like hands, footwork, and throwing accuracy. Few errors contribute directly to more wins.

The third and final defensive statistic presented is a player’s fielding percentage. This number reflects their rate of success in the field by taking their total chances minus errors, divided by their total chances. A percentage near .990 or above generally signifies an elite defender who reliably converts the vast majority of their chances in the field without miscues that allow runners or runs. Strong glovework in the field is critical to success at the highest levels of baseball.

The numbers found on the back of baseball cards provide key career statistics that give important context and insights into both a player’s offensive and defensive contributions and abilities over their career spent in Major League Baseball. Career batting, home run, RBI, fielding chance, error, and percentage numbers illustrate long-term track records of production and performance that baseball card collectors and fans use to evaluate and compare players both within an era and across generations. The statistics tell much of the story of how impactful a player was throughout their baseball journey.