Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) – PSA is widely considered the leading authority for sport card authentication and grading. They have been in business since 1991 and have graded hundreds of millions of cards over the years. To submit cards for grading with PSA, cardholders first need to register for a PSA member account on their website. They can then purchase shipping labels to send their cards in for grading. It’s recommended to carefully research PSA’s submission guidelines and pick the appropriate grading service level depending on turnaround time and cost. Cards submitted will be thoroughly inspected and assigned a grade on a scale of 1 to 10 based on several factors like centering, corners, edges and surface. The assigned grade greatly impacts the value of the card. Once graded, the cards are then heat sealed in protective plastic holders with the grade clearly labeled, making them easily identifiable for potential buyers.

Beckett Grading Services (BGS) – Founded in 1992, BGS is another highly respected name in the card grading industry. Like PSA, they have precise standards used by expert graders to assess cards. BGS made some enhancements to their traditional 10-point scale by introducing plus (+) and minus (-) qualifiers after certain numbers, allowing for a greater degree of separation between grades. For example, an 8.5 would be higher than an 8 but lower than a 9. Their online submission process and guidelines are straightforward. BGS also offers special service packages for bulk submissions. The turnaround times can vary from economical 30-day options to rushed 5-day express services.

Hobby Certification Services, LLC (HCS) – While not as large as PSA or BGS, HCS has still graded millions of cards since 1996. They use a similar 10-point scale for consistency. HCS prices are often more affordable compared to the big two. The cards do not carry the same pedigree and may attract lower prices from collectors. They are still a decent option for common/uncommon cards not worth the premium grading fees from PSA/BGS but needing authentication in a holder. HCS offers quick turnaround budget choices as well as higher-end elite verification packages.

Sportscard Guaranty, LLC (SGC) – Launched in 2000, SGC has steadily grown by targeting collectors who want an alternative to the higher costs of PSA/BGS submissions. They charge reasonable pricing and strive to match those companies’ standards. SGC holders adequately preserve cards in multi-panel black holders displaying the numeric grade up front. While resale values may not be quite as high as with PSA or BGS currently, SGC certainly provides a solid option for cost-conscious collectors.

There are a few other smaller grading services available too, but the above four are among the biggest names most trusted by the collectibles community. Ideally, cards intended for long-term preserving and potentially resale should be submitted to PSA or BGS, as their certification holds strong value recognition. But the others can still nicely serve the purpose of authentication in protective slabs for cards of lesser rarity and condition without breaking the bank on grading fees. Doing research to understand the submission processes, pricing structures, turnaround times and relative pedigree of each company is prudent before deciding where to get valuable baseball cards professionally graded.