There are several third-party grading companies that professionally grade and encapsulate sports cards to determine their condition and authenticity. The three largest and most respected companies are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS), and Hockey Card Grader (HGC).

To submit cards for grading, you will need to create an account on the grading company’s website. Most companies require a membership or subscription fee to submit cards. When you create your account, be sure to verify your name and address, as this is how your graded cards will be returned to you.

Once you have an account, you can begin preparing your cards to submit. Carefully examine each card under good lighting and make sure there are no flaws, creases, corners, or edges that could negatively impact the grade. High grade cards in Near Mint or better condition usually fetch the highest prices from collectors. You’ll want to submit your best condition cards.

The grading companies have different submission types and fee structures depending on the turnaround time. Most popular is the economy bulk submission, which has a lower per card fee but can take 4-6 months to grade and return. For higher priority cards, you can opt for express submission types that are graded and returned much faster, but have a higher per card cost. Choose the submission type based on your needs and budget.

When you’re ready, login to your grading account and enter each card you want to submit into the online submission form. Be sure to accurately describe each card, including the player, year, set, and any identifying markings on the back. You’ll need to assign each card a specific grade estimate as well, such as PSA 9 or BGS 9.5. Getting the grade estimate close will help the graders evaluate each card properly.

Print out the computer-generated submission forms and packing lists. Place each card in a penny sleeve protector with the submission form folded and placed behind the card. For bulk submissions, cards are usually packed 50 to a plastic card holder, which is then boxed up. Be extremely careful when packing – the graders will note any shipping damage on the label.

Include payment as instructed based on your selected submission tier and number of cards. The most common payment methods are credit cards or money orders/checks. Print out shipping labels and pack and mail your submission to the grading company using a tracked shipping method with insurance.

Once received, the grading company will log in your submission, inspect for damage, and distribute cards to the grading team. You will receive regular status updates online as cards are graded. When complete, your graded and encapsulated cards will be returned along with a detailed invoice listing the individual grades assigned to each card.

Carefully inspect your returned cards for any shipment damage. Contact the grading company immediately if you notice issues. encased cards protect the condition but some prefer to crack slabs open to personally view graded cards, though this voids the grade. Resealable slabs are an option with some companies. Enjoy your professionally certified graded sports cards!

The key steps are choosing a grading company, setting up an account, carefully preparing cards with estimates, choosing a submission tier, packing and mailing your order, tracking status updates, and finally receipt of your freshly graded and protected collectible cards. Going through a respected third party service provides authentication, preservation, and added value that helps when reselling graded cards to other collectors. With careful preparation and handling, the grading process ensures certified high grades that boost card value long term.

One of the best places to purchase graded baseball cards is through online auction websites such as eBay. eBay has an enormous selection of cards from all eras of baseball history that have been professionally graded by services like PSA, BGS, SGC, and others. When shopping on eBay, you will find cards graded not just at the high end but also cards graded in the mid-range which can offer more affordable options.

It’s important when buying cards on eBay that you carefully inspect the photos and read the full listing description to understand the exact grade and condition of the card. Ask the seller any questions you have prior to bidding. Look at the seller’s feedback to ensure they are reputable. If possible, sort search results to show listings with multiple pictures as those sellers are usually taking more care in documenting the card’s condition. Stick to buying from sellers within the United States to avoid potential international shipping issues.

A second excellent online option is through dedicated card auction houses like Heritage Auctions and Robert Edward Auctions. These sites run weekly or monthly sports card and memorabilia auctions featuring all sports including baseball. You will commonly find higher end and rare graded cards available here that sometimes don’t surface elsewhere. The auction format allows you to bid against other collectors driving prices to their true potential value. These major auction houses have strong buyer protections and great customer service if any issues arise.

Another reliable choice is buying directly from the official websites of the three largest grading services – PSA, BGS, and SGC. Each service has an “Auction” or “Dealer” section where authenticated holders from past submissions are available for purchase. This can be a good way to find cards at reasonable estimated values compared to going through individual sellers. Because the graders examined and encapsulated the cards themselves, you can have high confidence in their authenticity and grades. The major service websites host new database auctions monthly where rare certified cards are put up.

For modern cards from the past 5-10 years, active online card retailers like Steel City Collectibles, Blowout Cards, and Dave & Adam’s Card World are good options to find low to mid-range slabs. These stores are consistently adding fresh new submissions to their inventories across all sports and price levels. They offer easy navigability by player, set, and grade on their websites too. Make sure to sign up for emails to catch frequent sales and promotions too for additional discounts on graded cards.

Moving to the physical local marketplace, the larger national and regional sports card shows that tour the country feature tables from hundreds of professional card dealers. Here you can literally inspect graded cards in-hand before purchasing. While prices may skew higher to account for booth rental fees, you have the advantage of expertise from the dealers to help evaluate condition concerns or answer any questions. The major national shows like the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City each summer are definitely worthwhile experiences for collectors to attend.

On a smaller scale, many local brick and mortar card shops receive grading submissions from clients on a weekly basis. Checking consignment cases at your friendly local comic or card store can produce finds in all price ranges. These small independent dealers have a vested interested in cultivating customers so take good care of buyers. They may work with you on negotiated pricing since they have lower overhead than large national retailers.

Don’t forget to utilize the vast resources online card forums and communities offer. Sites such as Sports Card Forum and Blowout Forums support very active classified ad sections where enthusiasts post cards individually for sale daily. While you miss out on some protections, being plugged into the collector social networks leads to discovery of unique graded gems available sometimes at less than competing online prices elsewhere. Extensive searching of forums is recommended to catch the best deals.

While it may require legwork across different sales channels, with thorough research collectors have many reliable avenues for acquiring certified graded baseball cards to suit any budget or interest. Applying diligence in assessing condition details from sellers with good reputations across online auctions, dedicated memorabilia sites, grading company marketplaces, local shops, shows, and hobby forums can yield excellent returns on an investment in America’s favorite pastime on cardboard.

There are a few major companies that provide grading services for baseball cards to determine their condition and authenticity. The three most well-known graders in the industry are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS), and Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC). Each company has different methods and will provide a numeric grade that gives potential buyers an idea of the card’s quality and value.

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is considered the most prestigious and strictest grader in the industry. They were the original third-party authentication company when they started grading in 2000. To get cards graded with PSA, collectors can either personally submit their cards by mailing them in or work with a PSA authorized dealer. Authenticated cards will receive a grade on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being flawless gem mint condition. Along with the grade, PSA slabs also provide identifying labels like serial numbers to prevent tampering. Turnaround times for grading can vary but often take several months due to high volumes. The industry standard PSA slabbing greatly increased confidence in the collectibles market.

Another major third-party grader is Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Like PSA, BGS assigns cards a numerical grade on a scale of 1-10 as well as subclassifiers for aspects like centering and edges. One difference is BGS also provides a color-coded label to represent the grade, making it more visually appealing. They were launched in 1992 by Beckett Publications to provide authentication and a uniform grading standard. BGS has a reputation for being slightly less stringent than PSA but also tends to have faster turnaround times of a few weeks. Personal or bulk card submissions can be made online, by mail, or with a BGS authorized dealer.

Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC) is the third leading authentication and grading company. Founded in 2000, SGC focuses more on mid-range cards rather than high-end vintage cards. Their grading scale also runs from 1-10 but uses different verbal descriptors compared to PSA or BGS. Additionally, SGC encapsulates cards in tamper-evident plastic holders as opposed to hard plastic slabs. Turnaround is usually under 30 days which is appealing to many collectors. SGC aims to offer a more affordable alternative to PSA and BGS through lower submission costs. Cards can either be personally sent in or submitted through a network of authorized SGC dealers.

In addition to the top three grading companies, there are also some smaller independent organizations. Some of the more established secondary graders include Certified Sports Guaranty (CSG), Global Authentication (GA), and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). While they tend to have a smaller overall market share, these graders can still add value for mid-range sportscards. It’s also worth noting third-party authentication does carry additional costs like submission fees and shipping that buyers factor into the final graded card value. For newly produced cards, some manufacturers like Topps will also provide limited factory authentication and grading services.

In terms of the actual submission process, collectors have multiple options for getting prized cards professionally graded. Many serious collectors work directly with one of the major grading companies by learning submission guidelines, choosing package options, and carefully preparing shipments. The graded card is then securely returned along with a detailed report. This DIY method requires more effort and paying submission costs upfront. As an alternative, there are numerous PSA, BGS, and SGC authorized dealers across the country that individuals can work through. Dealers act as intermediaries by accepting bulk card submissions from customers, bundling them for larger company submissions, and charging reasonable per card service fees on returns. This dealer route is often more convenient and a better option for casual collectors. Ultimately, any reputable grading company provides authentication, consistency, and value that individual grade assessments lack – giving buyers added confidence in purchase decisions. Professional third-party grading significantly boosted the modern collectibles industry and remains the accepted standard for preserving condition and catch cheaters.

In conclusion, PSA, BGS, and SGC are universally recognized as the leading and most trusted authorities for grading vintage and modern sports cards like baseball cards. Their standardized assignment of numerical grades according to set criteria brought uniformity, accountability and enhanced marketplace trust. While others may emerge, these “Big 3” set the gold standard process that collectors can rely on to independently authenticate cards and accurately communicate condition and value to potential purchasers. Whether directly interacting with a grading company or going through an authorized dealer, third-party certification is now an essential component of evaluating and preserving the condition and authenticity of valuable baseball cards.