PSA is considered the gold standard in the sports card grading industry. They have graded over 50 million cards since the company started in the 1980s. PSA provides a reliable assessment of a card’s condition and this grade significantly impacts the value. There is a process owners must follow to submit cards for grading.

The first step is to register for an account on the PSA website if you do not already have one. On your account dashboard, you can then click to start a new submission order. You will need to select the appropriate service level depending on the turnaround time you need. The most basic is their regular service that takes 4-6 months on average. For a faster 1-10 day turnaround, you would select their express service which is significantly more expensive.

Once you select the service level, you then need to prepare the actual cards for submission. PSA has very specific guidelines on how cards must be submitted to be eligible for grading. Each card needs to be encapsulated in a standard plastic PSA/DNA graded card holder or slab. These holders can be purchased directly from PSA in packs. The card should not be in a toploader, sleeve, etc. Each holder also needs a label with the company’s barcode stuck to the back to identify the card.

In addition to the encapsulated card, PSA also requires a completed submission form providing details on each card. This includes information like the card issue year, sport, player name, set and any identifying numbers on the card. For particularly valuable vintage cards, high resolution photos may also need to be uploaded. Once complete, you generate a shipping label through your account and pack everything securely for shipment.

PSA has guidelines on how cards must be packaged for shipment. They recommend using a cardboard box vs. envelopes and to use ample packing materials like bubble wrap or air bags to protect the cards. The completed submission form and fees need to be included. Payment can be made in advance online via credit card or later by check. Fees depend on service level selected but start at around $10-$15 per card plus additional charges.

Once received, PSA will log in the order and cards are then sorted for grading. Experienced authenticators and graders will thoroughly inspect each card under high powered lighting and magnifying tools. They examine several factors like centering, corners, edges and surface to determine the appropriate numerical grade on the 1-10 scale.

After grading, the encapsulated cards return with the assigned grade prominently displayed on the holder. Account holders can then track the status online and are notified by email when grading is complete. Cards can either be returned directly or you can choose to consign them to be resold on PSA’s Collectors Universe marketplace.

Getting cards graded by PSA provides an impartial assessment that brings clarity and security to the collecting hobby. While there is a cost and time commitment, it creates a standard that benefits buyers and sellers. Following their detailed submission process increases the chances your valuable cards will be properly protected and accurately appraised.

There are a few major companies that professionally grade sports cards to determine their condition and value. The two most well-known grading companies for baseball cards are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS).

To get cards graded by either of these companies, you will first need to create an account on their website. Then you can order grading submission forms and shipping supplies like toploaders and cardboard boxes. It’s best to submit cards in batches of 10 or more to save on per-card grading costs.

When you’re ready to submit cards for grading, you’ll need to fill out the forms completely and accurately. List the card name, year, manufacturer, and any other relevant details. Then securely pack the cards between thick cardboard or foam to prevent bending or damages during shipping.

Cards should be submitted in their raw, unaltered state. Any alterations like resurfacing could negatively impact the grade. Make sure to inspect cards closely under bright lighting before submitting to check for any flaws, as grading companies will not miss even subtle defects.

Once your submission is prepared and packaged securely, you can ship it to the grading company. They recommend using trackable services like USPS Priority Mail. The grading process usually takes 4-6 months due to high volume, so plan accordingly.

After receiving and inspecting the cards, the grading company will analyze each one under specialized lighting and magnifiers. Graders consider factors like centering, corners, edges and surfaces and any flaws when determining the numeric grade on a 1-10 point scale.

Typical modern sport card designations are:

1-4 = Poor condition, heavily damaged cards
5 = Average, noticeable flaws
6 = Solid, minor edge/corner flaws
7 = Very nice, some handling marks
8 = Gem mint, very few/tiny flaws only with magnification
9 = Mint, near pristine condition
10 = Pristine “Black Label” grading, microscopic flaws only

Once graded, the cards will be sealed in hard plastic holders that display the numeric grade on the front and the card inside. The holders provide protection and allow viewing from all angles.

Graded cards return with a detailed online digital report available on the grading company’s website with images and exhaustive analysis of every card. Owners can create accounts to track their submissions over time.

Properly graded high-end vintage or modern star rookie cards in top Gem Mint grades can increase tremendously in value compared to raw ungraded copies. There are grading costs to factor in. PSA charges around $20-30 per modern card depending on tier chosen, while BGS tiers range from $15-50 per card.

With care taken in the submission process and patience awaiting the months-long turnover, professional third-party grading is the best way to authenticate rare finds, maximize value, and preserve condition long-term for important cards. It establishes an impartial, industry-standard analysis of each card’s quality and history.

There are several key factors that determine how baseball cards are rated. The most prominent rating systems for baseball cards come from professional grading services and the secondary market of collectors.

Professional grading services like PSA, BGS, and SGC objectively evaluate various condition and appearance attributes of each card and assign a numerical grade reflecting the card’s relative quality and preservation. They have standardized grading scales that categorize cards on a scale from 1 to 10 based on factors like centering, corners, edges, and surface quality.

A “gem mint” PSA 10 is the highest grade a card can achieve, indicating it is in absolutely flawless condition as if just pulled from a fresh pack. Even microscopic flaws can prevent a PSA 10 designation. Grades of 4 and below are generally considered “poor” condition. The majority of vintage cards submitted for grading fall in the 5-8 range due to the effects of aging and handling over many decades.

Grading services thoroughly inspect each card under bright lighting and strong magnification to identify even the subtlest defects. Quality control is extremely strict, with PSA and BGS known for their rigorous standards that lead to more consistent population reports compared to smaller rivals. Receiving a high professional grade is a stamp of authenticity that significantly boosts a card’s collectible value.

On the collector marketplace, cards are subjectively valued based on supply and demand principles. More coveted rookie cards of superstar players consistently top the sales charts and command higher secondary market prices than comparable grades of role players. Iconic vintage cards in top-grades can appreciate dramatically over time as availability dwindles. Condition remains a core factor, but perceived “historical significance” also contributes to ratings.

Collectors evaluate cards within the context of their respective eras. For example, older tobacco issues from the 1880s-1910s are viewed more favorably in lower grades of Good or Very Good compared to modern Ultra Pro-era issues from the 1980s-today. This is because tobacco cards endured decades without protective cases before grading services existed. Early 20th century cards in clean VG or EX condition still capture their original aesthetic appeal.

Conversely, cards made after the 1970s are generally expected to grade at least Near Mint or higher to be considered true specimens of the set/player by knowledgeable collectors. Mass production techniques yielded sturdier cardboard that held up better over 50 years versus 100+ year old tobacco issues. Scarcity and condition thus carry different weightings depending on the vintage.

Illustrated cards from the 1880s-1910s are prized above all else in high grades due to their rarity, artistry, and historical importance within the origins of sets before Standard Tobacco took over. Iconic T206 and E90-E91 tobacco issues routinely shatter auction records in top PSA grades. Even sub-sets from this era like Dobbins & Hanks or Langensieck and Aronson cards gain value when fresh specimens emerge.

Celebrity signatures further boost ratings across all eras of issues. Authenticated player autos immediately make cards true one-of-a-kind items that collectors covet regardless of condition. It has become common for stars to sign batches of reprint cards for the lucrative memorabilia marketplace, but original signed issues still reign supreme.

Sought-after rookie cards are the cornerstone of most collectors’ target collections. Superstars like Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr, Mike Trout, and LeBron James retain esteem that transfers to enhanced demand and higher assigned marketplace values for their inaugural year cards in top condition through the decades. The upper echelon of PSA/BGS 10 pristine examples are prized trophies that break records.

Professional third-party grading brings consistency and objectivity to ratings by standardizing condition assessment. But collectors also subjectively value different eras, signatures, rookie cards, and key players above others based on historical importance, artistic merit, and scarcity – all of which factor into the complex system that determines modern baseball card ratings in the vibrant multi-billion dollar marketplace. Strict grading, combined with evolving collector tastes, ensures this timeless hobby retains relevance and collecting excitement that has spanned generations.