There are so many different opinions on what grading service you should use for your sportscards. The big three in no particular order are PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), SGC (Sportscard Guaranty) and BGS (Beckett Grading Services). I believe that the correct grading service depends on the type of card, meaning one grading service may be a poor choice for a particular type of sportscard and perfect for another. In other words, between these three services, there is no such thing as a bad service, it’s just the choice that you make.

1. PSA: The first third-party grading company and perhaps the most trusted. If you look at any high-end vintage (pre-1970) auction magazine, it is filled with cards graded by PSA. They simply have graded more vintage cards than any other grading service, which makes them the popular choice for vintage cards. PSA is also good for cards up until about the mid-1980’s. Up until recently, PSA worked on a 10 point scale with no half-grades (i.e. no 8.5’s), but have added half-grades to keep up with BGS and SGC. The only difference being there is no 9.5 grade for PSA, it is either MINT 9 or GEM MT 10. PSA also was the first to make a set registry where people can display the cards that they own in categories such as player, year, hall of famers, etc. with a ranking compared to other people collecting that set.
2. SGC: An excellent company for vintage cards that has the edge over PSA for pre-war cards. The holder is a little larger than the thin PSA holder, but many collectors seem to like the black background because it creates contrast with the card that accentuates the colors of the card. While PSA is good for vintage as well as modern, SGC is a poor choice for modern cards, that is just the trend. SGC is also known for very consistent, strict grading, which has built them a very solid reputation. They work on a half-point scale like Beckett. A 10 is “perfect” while a 9.5 is GEM MT. Started a set registry as well.
3. BGS: This is the choice for modern cards after about the mid-1980’s. I recommend not getting vintage cards graded by Beckett’s BVG (Beckett Vintage Grading) service because they are not as respected as the other grading services. BGS works on a 10 point, half-grade scale like SGC, where a 10 is “pristine” and a 9.5 is GEM MT. BGS 10 cards sell exponentially higher than that of BGS 9.5’s or PSA 10’s. BGS also utilizes a sub grade system that measures centering, corners, edges and surface on a 10 point scale and averages the four together to makeup the final grade. Their holders are practically bulletproof as well and have started a set registry to keep up with PSA’s Set Registry.

Here’s a quick recap:

PSA: Excellent for vintage and modern up until the mid-1980’s. Covers the widest range of years of the three.

SGC: The best for pre-war cards. Do not use SGC for modern cards.

BGS: The best for modern cards. Do not have your vintage cards graded by BGS.

Happy Collecting

Joe (joe@joeknowscards.com)

Getting your cards graded by a third-party grading service is the best way to maximize the value of your collection. This is so because your sportscard gets a stamp of approval from a well respected organization that has seen many valuable cards and has graded them objectively. In addition, placing them in a holder prevents the card from getting damaged. Grading a sportscard can add exponential value to your card. For instance, a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Rookie card has an ungraded value of $30,000, but last year a PSA MINT 9 sold for $282,588. Common cards of non-stars from important sets also fetch big money because people try to collect the set in as high a grade as possible. The ungraded value on a 1986 Fleer Basketball #76 Johnny Monroe is $1.25, but a PSA GEM MT 10 sold for a staggering $7,995! This Dan Marino 1984 Topps Rookie card is graded a BGS 10 Pristine by Beckett Grading Services. It’s ungraded book value is around $60 but watch what this card sells for on eBay, eBay, and you will see what I mean about the importance of getting your sportscards graded.

Happy Collecting

Joe (joe@joeknowscards.com)