The Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is considered the premier third-party grading service for collectibles such as trading cards, autographs, and memorabilia. When it comes to grading the condition and authenticity of baseball cards, PSA uses a strict 10-point numerical scale. This scale provides collectors a standardized system for assessing the grade or quality of a card.

The PSA grading scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest possible grade of Gem Mint condition. On one end of the scale, a grade of 1 would denote a badly worn or damaged card in Poor condition. On the other high end of the scale, a PSA 10 grade means the card has earned a qualitative assessment of pristine Near Mint to Mint status.

Let’s take a closer look at what each number on the PSA grading scale represents in terms of a baseball card’s condition:

1 – Poor: A grade of 1 signifies a card that is badly worn and shows extensive damage or flaws. Edges may be worn through, surfaces could be completely worn, creases/blemishes abound. Cards graded a 1 have lost much of their original aesthetic appeal.

2 – Poor: Cards graded a 2 have significant wear but may not be completely destroyed like a true “1” grade. Heavy amounts of edge/corner wear with dulling and rounding are present. Colors/images may be worn. Considered poorly preserved.

3 – Poor: Damage is still prominent on a “3” grade card but less extensive than a “1” or “2.” Edges will be well-rounded, surfaces dull and slick. Creasing possible. Not in a preserved state.

4 – Poor: Starts to transition toward being minimally presentable. Edge/corner wear still rounding surfaces. Creasing possible. Dull, non-shine surfaces. Not completely worn through but showing use.

5 – Fair: Considered the lowest grade still collectible. Edges slightly rounded, may start to see slick surfaces with minor wear/flaws appearing. Could have small creases. Still exhibits some aging effects from use over time.

6 – Good: Damage is minimally noticeable on a “6” grade card. Edges may be slightly rounded still with small surface wear signs appearing. No major creases/flaws detected. Exhibiting only light wear/age effects.

7 – Very Good: Edge/corners exceptionally well preserved with minimal to no rounding. Surfaces sharp with original luster and appearance intact. Only very minute signs of wear detectable upon intense examination.

8 – Near Mint: All attributes of a “7” but even better preserved. Razor sharp edges/corners, bold colors and images. May have a single small flaw or imperfection noticeable on close inspection. Otherwise a very nicely preserved card.

9 – Mint: Regarded as exceptional preservation level. All surfaces, edges and corners are in pristine condition reminiscent of the card when first produced/pulled from a pack. A true “9” will not have any flaws upon close scrutiny.

10 – Gem Mint: Represents absolute perfection. No flaws, blemishes or sign of wear present on the entire card. Edges are uncirculated, surfaces have shimmering original luster and colors are dazzling bright. A true “10” gem is considered the pinnacle of collectible condition.

Hopefully this in-depth breakdown helps explain what each letter/number grade from PSA signifies in terms of condition assessment for a baseball card. PSA set the gold standard for third party grading decades ago and their rigorous scale remains the most recognized system worldwide among collectors. Whether buying raw or already-slabbed cards, understanding the PSA grades is essential for properly evaluating investment potential and relative rarity of any given vintage baseball card.

The grading of baseball cards is an important part of the hobby for collectors and investors. Over the decades, various grading scales have been developed to assign a condition grade to a card to indicate its state of preservation and value relative to other graded examples. The two largest and most prominent third-party grading services for sportscards are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Both use a 1-10 point scale to grade the condition or quality of a card, with 10 being the highest mint grade and 1 the lowest grade for a very poor quality card.

The current PSA/BGS 10-point scale has become the industry standard, but it was not always the case. In the early days of the hobby in the 1980s, there was no universal grading system used. Collectors would describe a card’s condition in general terms like “near mint”, “very good”, or “poor”. In the 1990s, Beckett introduced their monthly magazine which included population reports that listed how many examples of particular cards had been graded by BGS at each level. This helped bring more consistency and objectivity to condition assessment.

In 2000, PSA launched a similar population reporting service and their grading quickly became the most recognized. On the PSA/BGS 10-point scale, the grades are defined as follows:

PSA/BGS 10 – Designates a flawless card, often referred to as “gem mint”. Corners are sharp, surfaces are clean and smooth with no print defects or flaws of any kind under close inspection.

PSA/BGS 9 – Considered near mint (NM) or “mint” condition. May have a slight production flaw or imperfection but nothing significant enough to detract from eye appeal. Corners remain sharp.

PSA/BGS 8 – Still near mint but edges could be a touch more rounded. Surfaces remain smooth with light print flaws possible.

PSA/BGS 7 – Edges will start to show slight rounding but card faces remain clean. Very minimal wear.

PSA/BGS 6 – Designated as an “excellent” grade. Edges will show more rounding and surfaces could have minor print defects or light scratches. Still displays nice color and detail.

PSA/BGS 5 – Called “very good”. Definite rounding of edges with scratches or print lines on surfaces now acceptable. Color and details still clear.

PSA/BGS 4 – Edges will be dull or rounded. Scratches and print lines or spots now expected on surfaces. Slight discoloration possible. Designated a “good” grade.

PSA/BGS 3 – Edges rounded and worn down significantly. Heavy scratches, stains or discoloration on surfaces lowering eye appeal. Designated a “fair” grade.

PSA/BGS 2 – Edges severely worn and rounding. Heavily scratched surfaces with color loss. Designated a “poor” grade.

PSA/BGS 1 – Considered ungraded. Severe surface damage and edges completely worn down. Staple holes, tears, pieces missing.

In addition to the numeric grade, PSA and BGS also designate special labels for attributes like centering, corners and edges which can affect value. A “black label” from PSA signifies a true “gem mint” quality card that is not only a PSA 10 but has perfect centering, corners and edges as well. This is the pinnacle grade and cards achieving it gain a substantial premium.

Other third party graders also use variations of the 10-point scale. SGC, for instance, uses a similar definition of grades but labels them as “pristine”, “gem mint”, “excellent”, etc. instead of numbers. CGC, the main comic book grading company, does use numeric scores of 1-10 that correspond closely to the sportscard scales.

In the raw, ungraded market, conditions are still generally described verbally as “near mint”, “very good”, etc. But the consensus is the PSA/BGS numeric scale provides collectors the most objective way to compare graded cards and understand relative condition and scarcity. As the population of a certain vintage card increases at the top grades over time, it also affects perceived value and demand. The grading scale allows for a standardized condition assessment that the modern hobby is now built upon.

Grading Baseball Cards Explained

Grading the condition and quality of baseball cards is an important part of the hobby. Whether buying, selling, or collecting, being familiar with the various grading scales is crucial. The two major third-party grading companies, PSA and BGS/SGC, utilize 10-point scales to assess the condition and appearance of a card. Let’s take a deeper look at how these scales work and what they mean.

PSA Grading Scale

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is widely considered the largest and most respected third-party grading service for sports cards. They examine cards on details like centering, corners, edges and surface to arrive at an overall grade between 1-10.

10 (Gem Mint) – A true pristine 10, with perfect centering, corners, edges and surface. These cards will have exceptional eye appeal and command huge premiums due to their rarity and condition. Only a tiny fraction of submissions receive the coveted PSA 10 grade.

9 (Mint) – Nearly flawless. May have a slight flaw noticeable only upon rigorous inspection. Still exceptionally well-centered with sharp corners and edges. Highly desirable for investors and collectors.

8 (Near Mint-Mint) – Very well-preserved with minimal signing of wear. Centering is tight, corners are sharp. Small surface blemishes may be visible upon close examination. Still a highly presentable grade.

7 (Near Mint) – Light wear is noticeable, such as edge or corner nicks. Centering shifts slightly off but card face is still clean. An above average example that is generally free of distractions.

6 (Ex-Mt/Mt) – Moderate wear is now visible. Corners have more definite rounding and edgewear. Centering is now noticeably off-center. Surface blemishes may be seen from a normal viewing distance.

5 (Very Good) – Clear signs of wear with dulling of the surface. Corners are rounded. Edges have cuts or nicks. Centering is often significantly off. Condition affects the eye appeal at a glance.

4 (Good) – Definite wear is visible overall with dulling of colors and graphics. Corners have rounded tips. Significant edgewear is seen. Centering faults are considerable and diminish the look.

3 (Fair) – Heavily worn with rounded corners and edges. Prominent creases, stains or print defects are now seen. Surface has heavy dulling or scuffing. Card lacks most original crispness.

2 (Poor) – Severely worn and damaged. Big creases, tears or stains cover portions of the cardboard. Corners are significantly rounded. Condition greatly affects the integrity and appeal of the card face.

1 (Poor) – The card is ragged and truly beaten up. Portions may be missing chunks or entirely detached. Surface is heavily worn to the point of obscuring designs and graphics. Grade reserved for only the most deplorable of raw cards.

BGS/SGC Grading Scale

Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and Sportcard Guaranty (SGC) use a similar but not identical numerical system for assessing condition:

Gem Mint (10) – A true flawless presentation, with perfect centering, corners, edges and surfaces. These cards have phenomenal eye appeal and quality control.

Mint (9) – Excellent card with minimal to no flaws under close scrutiny. Sharp corners and borders with brilliant surfaces.

Near Mint (8) – Very well-preserved with only light handling marks. Corners remain sharp and edges are clean. A respectable grade.

Very Good (7) – Clear signs of mild use or aging but features remain bold. Corners have begun to soften and edges show light wear.

Good (6) – Fair to average condition reflective of moderate circulation. Edges have rounded corners and handling marks on surfaces.

Fair (5) – Clear signs of wear and aging affecting eye appeal at a glance. Corners are smooth, edges are worn, surfaces faded or marked.

Poor (4) – Heavily worn overall with rounded corners, worn edges and diminished surfaces. Significant aging affects integrity.

Very Poor (3) – Severely worn and damaged with heavy rounding, marking or substantial flaws impairing motif.

Bad (2) – Damage/defects have greatly compromised the card. Significant portions missing or creased.

Poor (1) – Cards graded a “1” are essentially non-graded, with over 75% damage/defects affecting usability.

Whether a collector values PSA, BGS/SGC, or even ungraded cards the most comes down to personal preference. But understanding these leading grading scales is key to properly assessing condition, value, and preservation of any baseball card in the collecting hobby. With any grade, a numeric ruler creates consistency for buyers and sellers to evaluate condition across different examples over time.