There are several reputable third-party grading companies that baseball card collectors can choose from to have their cards professionally graded. The three largest and most well-known grading companies for sports cards are PSA, BGS (Beckett Grading Services), and SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corp). Each company has its own established grading standards and procedures that collectors should understand before submitting cards.
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is generally regarded as the gold standard for third-party grading in the hobby. They were the first company to offer grading services when they started back in the late 1980s. PSA pioneered the concept of encapsulating cards in protective plastic holders with the assigned numerical grade visible. They receive millions of cards for grading each year and use a rigorous 70-point inspection process with high-powered magnification to examine every aspect of each card. Their 9-10 grading scale is the most widely accepted in the industry for determining the value of graded cards. Recent scandals around damaged cards slipping through quality control at PSA have eroded some faith in the brand, but they still handle the most submissions by far.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) was launched in 1999 as a division of Beckett Media, known for publishing price guides and magazines related to collectibles. BGS uses a similar 100-point grading scale as PSA but takes a slightly different approach in some areas like surfaces. Their black label holder design stands out compared to PSA’s classic white label. BGS had a smaller market share for many years but has gained popularity recently with a focus on customer service and faster turnaround times. Pricing is usually higher to submit cards to BGS compared to PSA.
SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corp) launched in 2000 and offers a lower-cost alternative to PSA and BGS with competitive grading and simpler slabs. SGC’s grading is considered slightly more lenient compared to the other two major companies. While SGC slabs lack the brand cachet of PSA or BGS currently, they continue to grow in acceptance each year. In recent times, SGC has made quality control and consistency of their assigned grades a top priority.
Additional smaller grading companies include CSG (Collectible Graders Service), HGA (Hours & Hours Grading Accessories), and others. But PSA, BGS, and SGC dominate around 95% of the third-party card grading market between them.
There are some key factors collectors should consider when deciding which company to use:
Turnaround Times – PSA is often the slowest at 6-12+ months currently due to high volume. BGS aims for 30 days or less. SGC is usually the quickest at around 2 weeks.
Pricing Structure – PSA uses a tiered price scale based on declared value. BGS costs tend to be slightly higher. SGC offers the most affordable per-card fees.
Grading Philosophy – PSA is the strictest and most conservative. BGS is in the middle. SGC is viewed as the most lenient major grader.
Resale/Tracking History – PSA slabs have decades of records and drive the pricing/populations databases. BGS a strong #2. SGC gaining acceptance each year.
Customer Service – Recent reports suggest BGS provides the best submitter/customer support experience nowadays.
Collectors should research each company’s standards and strengths to decide which fits the specific cards being graded and long-term goals for a collection. For maximum resale value or census tracking, PSA remains the gold standard choice, though higher prices and longer waits are common drawbacks today versus alternatives like BGS or SGC. Properly researching third-party grading options is important before making a submission.
