The major professional sports card grading companies that most collectors use to grade their valuable baseball cards are PSA, BGS (Beckett Grading Services), SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corp), and HGA (Hobby GradingAuthority). All of these companies employ expert graders who will thoroughly examine your cards and assign them a numerical grade based on factors like centering, corners, edges and surfaces. The top grade is PSA 10 or BGS/SGC Black Label which indicates a flawless and pristine card.
With PSA, you have a few submission options. For regular service which takes several months, you can submit cards online yourself through PSA’s website or use a PSA authorized dealer. For bulk submissions of 50 cards or more, you would want to use one of their large submission programs which offer volume discounts. For much faster turnaround times of just a few weeks but at a higher price, PSA also offers a variety of express grading services. No matter which service you use, PSA will slab your cards in their black label holders after grading to protect and authenticate them.
With BGS, the submission process is very similar. You can submit cards directly through their website or use one of their authorized dealers for assistance. BGS offers several tiers of service times and prices from their lowest cost standard service to much faster expedited options. Like PSA, BGS will encase your graded cards in plastic holders branded with their logo and holograms after completion.
SGC is usually a bit more affordable for collectors on a budget compared to PSA or BGS. Their website allows you to easily submit cards online yourself. Turnaround times are shorter at just a few weeks. SGC also offers different pricing tiers depending on how fast you need the cards back. The slabs they use to encapsulate cards after grading feature their distinct green label design and security features.
A relative newcomer compared to the others is HGA. They have been gaining popularity due to offering cutting edge grading techniques and a modern sleek black design for their protective slabs. HGA accepts submissions on their website. You can choose between several service levels with the fastest HGA Express option providing a turnaround time of just a few business days. All graded HGA cards are encased in tamper-evident holders clearly marked with their branding and security features.
No matter which grading company you use, be sure to carefully package your cards with ample protection to prevent any potential shipping damage. It’s also a good idea to purchase grading insurance in case anything were to happen to your cards in transit. Most major companies now even accept submission of video or picture proofs of your cards for instant online verification and quotes prior to shipping physical items. Once graded, your certified and authenticated baseball cards can gain significant collector value, especially top grades of PSA 10 or BGS/SGC Black Label. Proper grading is essential for high end collections and cards you may look to sell at auction. With some research on pricing and turnaround times, you’ll be able to select the best grading service provider to fit your needs and budget. Regularly checking the websites of PSA, BGS, SGC and HGA is recommended to stay on top of any policy or service changes they may implement over time. With a bit of planning, certified graded baseball cards can truly enhance your collection.
