There are several companies that professionally grade baseball cards to determine their condition and assign them a numerical grade. The two largest and most well-known grading services are Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Both companies have graders that carefully examine each card submitted under bright lighting from multiple angles. They look at factors like centering, corners, edges and surface to determine the card’s state of preservation compared to what it would have looked like freshly pack-pulled.
The grading process takes several steps. When a collector submits their card to be graded, it is first logged into the company’s system so it can be properly tracked. An identifier number is assigned to that specific card submission. Then, the card moves to the actual grading stage. Highly-trained graders take the card out of its protective holder and closely inspect every aspect of it under bright lighting and magnification. They look for flaws, imperfections, signs of wear or other defect that may have occurred over the decades since the card was printed. Each aspect is compared to pristine, “gem mint” samples as the benchmark.
After grading is complete, the card is assigned a numerical grade on a scale – usually 1 through 10. For PSA, 1 is Poor and 10 is Gem Mint. BGS uses a similar scale of 1 to 10 but labels the levels differently – 1 is Poor, 4 is Very Good, 7 is Near Mint, and 10 is Black Label Perfect. Tenth decimal increments can also be used, such as 7.5. The exact grade depends on the severity and number of flaws observed during analysis compared to the benchmark samples. Things like poor centering that is still within recognized tolerances may result in a grade of 8 instead of a 9. Likewise, a slightly off-centered card might get a 7.
Once graded, the card is then encapsulated by the grading company in a tamper-proof protective holder. For PSA, their holders clearly display the grade in the top-left corner along with other details like the sport and year. BGS slabs also prominently feature the numerical grade along with holographic and other security features to ensure authenticity. A certified label on the back of the holder includes a barcode linking to the online record for that specific item. This provides verification and a paper trail that can be traced if ever questioned.
Graded cards then get registered into the company’s publicly searchable online census database. This allows potential buyers to verify traits like the assigned grade, date graded, registration number and any other details about the encapsulated item. Counterfeit or altered cards can then be more easily identified. Registry adds an extra layer of confidence for collectors and investors interested in the historical preservation and financial value of rare cards.
The grading process provides standardization, authentication and documentation that gives investors greater peace of mind – especially for expensive vintage cards. A PSA 10 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle in gem mint condition could be worth over $500,000 today. Third-party certification from a respected company like BGS or PSA goes a long way in providing assurance to potential buyers that they can confidently purchase high-dollar cards. It also allows collectors to showcase, sell and trade graded assets more efficiently with a commonly understood universal scale respected across the entire hobby.
Professional baseball card grading services thoroughly examine each submission under sharp magnification to determine a consistent numerical grade based on its condition compared to pristine examples. They encapsulate and register the item, providing documentation that builds confidence for collectors and investors in the preserved state and authenticity of the historically significant pieces of sports memorabilia. This rigorous process adds standardization, authentication and marketability to the trading card industry.
