It wasn’t until Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) was born that cards were viewed by independent third party graders, assigned a numerical and corresponding word (gem mint, mint, near mint-mint, near mint, excellent-mint, excellent, etc., etc.) and placed in a slab for safe keeping.

Since that time, we’ve seen other grading companies come (and some go).  At the moment, PSA is joined by Sportscard Guaranty (SGC) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS)  as the most widely recognized graders in the hobby.  That isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

While their methods, holders and labeling may be different, the concept is the same.  Third party grading is meant to give the buyer and seller a point at which they can agree regarding the condition of any trading card.

PSA now uses ‘half grades’ for cards its graders feel are ‘tweeners’…cards that are better than one full grade but not as good as the next  highest full grade.  SGC uses two digits..starting at 10, going to 20 and upward through 98.  It also includes a numeric grade below its own number that generally matches what PSA uses.  Beckett uses half grades and also assigns individual grades for corners, centering,etc.

PSA grades more cards than any other company.  SGC is often lauded for its grading of pre-World War II cards while Beckett is often the choice for modern issues.  However, all three grade cards of all eras.  It’s usually just a matter of personal preference, price, service, etc.

Graded cards often sell at a premium, although sometimes if the grade isn’t what you’d hoped for, the cost of the grading may be more than what the card is worth.  This is where bargains can be found on eBay.  For instance, PSA 7 cards are very nice and common cards from the 1960s and 70s in that grade (and even 8s) can often be found online for $5 and less.  You’ll build a nice collection for a cheap price.

When determining whether to have your cards graded, it’s best to consult a dealer to see what he thinks they would grade if sent in.  Newcomers often overstate the grade of their cards.  In the case of sports card grading, mint means just that—mint.  Razor sharp corners, good centering, no print flaws, scuffing or other issues.  Until you’re certain of your ability to grade, it’s best to buy a few cards in various grades or look at online guides to see what constitutes a specific numeric grade.

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Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #371 LEE STANGE $19.99 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $19.99

1954 Wilson Franks Sammy White PSA 3 Red Sox $131.25 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $131.25

1972 Topps #81 Mike Hedlund Royals PSA 8 $6.52 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $6.52

1969 Topps Decals, Frank Robinson #35 - PSA 10 Orioles! $144.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $144.99

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #237 BILLY O'DELL $16.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $16.99

2008 Topps Opening Day Gold #105 Derek Jeter 170/2199 PSA 8.5 New York Yankees $20.00 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $20.00

1999 Upper Deck Century Legends #121 Satchel Paige PSA 8 Negro Leagues $8.50 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $8.50

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #74 DON MOSSI $16.99 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $16.99

1971 Topps Baseball Jack Billingham #162 Graded PSA 8 $18.00 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $18.00

1962 POST BASEBALL CANADIAN 183 DON ZIMMER CUBS NM CARD PSA 4 $29.00 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $29.00

c. 1912 Postcard The Umpire was cool and collected SGC 20/1.5 $89.99 Time Remaining: 33m Buy It Now for only: $89.99

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #201 JIM DICKSON $16.99 Time Remaining: 33m Buy It Now for only: $16.99

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Obviously, we’re big believers in graded baseball cards.  Grading tends to eliminate any question about whether a card may have been altered by trimming or other methods to make it look better than it really is.  It’s still possible, though to buy ungraded cards, have them graded and enjoy the increase in value if you’ve got a good eye.  Collectors usually pay more for graded cards.  It’s as simple as that.

If you’re buying ungraded vintage baseball cards, see if the dealer is selling graded cards too.  If he is, that generally means there’s a reason he didn’t have the card you’re looking at graded.  Maybe it has print marks that will drop it from a mint 9 or near mint 8 card to an EX 5 in the eyes of the grader.  If he doesn’t ever sell graded cards (search by “completed items” to get his last month of sales), chances are he doesn’t believe in it or just doesn’t want to be bothered.  In that case, maybe the “near mint” Hank Aaron card he’s selling is actually a 7 or an 8.  Just make sure you look very closely at enlarged images and ask the seller any questions before the end of the auction.

If you are buying graded cards, we’re also bullish on the PSA 6 and PSA 7 grades for most vintage sets (or their SGC and Beckett equivalents). Often, a PSA 6 has just two light touches of wear or maybe a small nick in the side.  PSA 7s often look identical to 8’s except for a tiny touch of wear on a corner or they’re 9’s hiding in a 7 holder because they don’t quite meet the stringent centering requirements of a ‘mint 9’ card. You can buy 7s for a fraction of the cost of an 8 or 9 in many cases.

We don't recommend buying cards PSA has graded with "off center" qualifiers.   Without that qualifier the card would drop two grades not to mention the fact that for many collectors, centering is a very important factor in a card's eye appeal.  The card may be inexpensive for the grade, but is it a wise buy?  Sometimes, perhaps.  It's a judgment call in that case.  Remember...buy the card, not the holder.

When putting together vintage graded sports card sets, buying a straight 7 gives you the best of both worlds—a nice quality set that’s very sellable if you eventually want to do that, while not costing you a month’s pay for a few dozen cards.  This is especially true in the mid-to-late 60s, where the supply of graded cards in PSA 7-8 is quite large.  You can often buy these so cheaply that it'll cost you less than it cost the seller to grade them...sometimes for just a couple of dollars!  It's hard to find quality 'raw' cards at shows for that price, which means it's a no-brainer.   Inexpensive baseball cards doesn’t have to mean crummy.

Another tip is to look for sellers who are offering large lots or complete sets of mixed vintage cards.  Sometimes sellers are too lazy or don’t have time to list cards individually.  Competition to buy lots is often less tough than it is for singles since collectors often look for specific cards.  Many times, collectors have bought those types of lots, cherry picked the best cards for their own collection and re-sold the rest for a profit or at least came close to breaking even. Others simply buy the lot and do the legwork of listing individually.

Be sure to look at the description and don’t be afraid to ask questions about the lot.  Are there any near mint type cards?  Who are they and how many?  Sometimes they’ll even be glad to send you photos if you ask.

Look for 99-cent opening bid auctions.  You won’t believe how often cards sell for the minimum bid or barely over.  Many higher grade 1960s and 70s commons sell for a buck.  It's a great way to find great cards in bulk, while buying exactly what you need.  Just be sure the seller is willing to combine shipping (most do).

Sort eBay listings by newest listings first.  Cheap baseball cards wait for no man. Sometimes, a Buy it Now offer is really good but many times they don’t last long.  Don’t be afraid to jump on a high quality, freshly listed  card at a fair price.  The early bird does indeed sometimes snare the Hall of Famer.  Here's a link to some nice mid to high grade cards up for bid or sale now.

The market for 1980s baseball cards was strong as the general public began to see what some of those old  cards that were in America’s attics were bringing on the open market.

Interest gradually increased throughout the decade, especially after the much-publicized court case challenging Topps' monopoly brought the new players into the market. Rookie cards of players like Don Mattingly and Darryl Strawberry got a lot of attention by 1984 thanks to their home city of New York, but it wasn't until the late 80s, when those early-mid 80s rookie cards were still hot and valuable and Upper Deck came on board that there was a 'boom'.

Mr. Mint, Alan Rosen,  appeared on national TV a couple of times and America went to its closets and rediscovered their collections or started new ones. Topps got some buzz for its 40th anniversary too, in '91.  Collectors young and old awaited the arrival of Beckett's monthly magazine. Non-collectors buying for 'investment' because everything was growing in value throughout the decade.

As a total of five companies battled for market share by the end of the decade, production ramped up to meet demand.  Only this time, too many cards were produced.  Starting in about 1986, and continuing through the mid-1990s, non-collectors began stockpiling unopened boxes and sets.  By the late 90s, it was obvious that none were worth even their original purchase price.  The original speculators were gone, dumping product on the market.  There wasn't much talk outside the hobby about 'overproduction' until several years later when the material stopped selling, eBay revealed how easily available it was and the kids who collected during that 'boom' were long gone.

Dozens of sets inside each company’s brand were produced from the late 1990s on, leading to another problem:  confusion in the marketplace that still exists today.

The 1981-present era isn’t devoid of great cards.  You can find value in 1982 Topps Cal Ripken rookie cards (both his #21 from the regular set and his Topps Update card from the year-end boxed set), the 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols and the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.

As those 1980s and 90s youngsters grow into adulthood, many are coming back on board, bringing their kids in tow as they go back to buy some of the cards they couldn't afford when prices were high.

The autographed insert cards that became the rage by the late 1990s, now provide the basis for the modern card market.  They are the true stars of the 1980s to present baseball card market, but you can be excused for having a soft heart for those old cardboard heroes of the one manufacturer era. Click here to shop for 1981-present baseball cards, sorted by year, via eBay.

Yogi Berra and Stan Musial are among the rookie cards claimed by Bowman, which continued producing sets through 1955.  The 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays rookie cards are the most valuable produced by Bowman, beating upstart Topps to the punch by one year.

Topps entered the scene in 1951, but didn’t produce its first full set until the following year.  The 1952 Topps baseball cards are among the hobby’s most desirable—and expensive.  The final series didn’t sell well and many were destroyed including hundreds, if not thousands, of Mantle’s first Topps card, which now sells for several thousand dollars even in less than perfect shape.  High grade Mantles sell for tens of thousands of dollars and only a handful exist today.

Topps continued to be the lone licensed partner of Major League Baseball throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s.  Fleer issued some “All Time Greats” sets in the early 60s and a small set of current players in ’63.  The 1963 Fleer baseball cards were issued with a cookie that didn’t pass the taste test for many youngsters.

Most of baseball’s stars had their first rookie cards on Topps products including Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Roger Maris, Brooks Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Pete Rose, Tom Seaver, Rod Carew, Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith and more.

Topps finally lost a challenge to its monopoly in the late 1970s and the 1980 Topps baseball cards were the last to have no competition.  Vintage baseball cards issued from the 1940s -1980 make up the most popular eras and sets for today's collectors.  Attainable, affordable in average condition and reflecting tremendous interest in the game and its cardboard heroes.

Click here for thousands of 1942-1980 cards listed on eBay.

Since we already have a section on 19th century baseball cards, we'll focus only on cards issued from the early 1900s-1941.

Caramel cards are also popular among collectors of early 20^th century memorabilia.  Joe Jackson’s first big league card was a caramel card, the E-90-1, although he did have a minor league card issued by Old Mill Tobacco.  Collectors have debated the merits of each of those inaugural Joe Jackson baseball cards for years.

Several different sets of E cards were issued for a number of years and they remain as popular as they were when the local candy shop handed them out more than 100 years ago.

The “W” series of strip cards were often issued at candy stores as well.  Rather crude drawings of some of the well-known players of the day are among the cheapest cards from the era.

1930s baseball cards are dominated by the Goudey Gum Company, which brought bubble gum cards to retail outlets all over the country.  Produced on a fairly large scale, the 1933 Goudey set includes several Babe Ruth cards as well as Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean, Tris Speaker and dozens of others.  Goudey issued a smaller set, without Ruth but advertised by Gehrig the next year.

The 1934 Goudey baseball set is much more affordable if slightly less power-packed.  Goudey also produced other, less popular but still collectible sets for the rest of the decade.

From 1934-36, National Chicle issued a gum card set known as Diamond Stars.  The art deco design is interesting, despite the absence of Ruth and Gehrig.  The Diamond Stars are often available at very attractive prices, except for the final cards in the set, which are quite a bit more expensive.

The 1939 Play Ball set launched a series of three sets that also have a strong following.  The black and white cards are square in size and feature a slightly glossy photo.  Play Ball cards were also issued in 1941 and '42.

There are numerous other sets from which to choose including some of the early Exhibit cards, often sold at fairs and carnivals during the era. Looking to sample pre-War cards on a low budget?  Here are five you can afford.

Collectors Pre-War baseball cards can often be a serious bunch, intensely interested in even the most minor variation, error or quirk.  They are often blessed with disposable income that makes it a challenge to compete against them at auction.  However, there are luckily enough cards out there, even from decades past, to provide comfortable space to every level of collector.  How many are out there?  On an average day, you're likely to find 15,000-20,000 singles available.  Click here to see what's on the block right now.

Tobacco baseball cards, issued with packages of chew and smokes began to hit the market with the arrival of Old Judge cards in the 1880s.  Allen & Ginter and Goodwin’s Champions are among the other well-known 19^th century baseball cards.

The colorful Goodwin’s cards of 1888 are especially attractive. There was a collector's album for the Champions cards and the few surviving examples sell for high prices when placed in major sports card catalog auctions.  Current card manufacturers Topps and Upper Deck have issued modern era sets loosely based on the design of those classic originals.

The Old Judge cards were issued in massive numbers, updated to reflect players changing teams and featuring studio poses that make for some very unique images.  While rather dull in color, their studio posed pictures paint an interesting picture of uniforms of the period and are a passion for 19^th century collectors, who delight in finding unknown variations of the set.  Despite the quantity produced, most were lost to time and disinterest in the days before they were even considered collectible.  A large book, issued recently, catalogs most of the known Old Judge cards of the era.  For those who collect the set, it's an excellent resource.

Just So Tobacco, Gypsy Queen and Kalamazoo Bats are among the other popular 19th century baseball card issues.  Trade cards, given away as an advertisement for various products often picture cartoon or artist''s renderings of baseball scenes.  These are readily available online and because they usually don't depict actual big leaguers of the era, can be found at very reasonable levels.  Low to mid-grade copies usually bring less than $100 at auction.

Nineteenth century baseball cards are rare, but certainly not impossible to find.  Some dealers even specialize in them and honestly, the pricing of the mid-grade cards seems to offer an opportunity for long term growth based on the simple laws of supply, demand and unique appeal.

We have combed through eBay's listings and you can click here to see the 19th century baseball cards being offered now, all authenticated and graded.

PSA also does a tremendous volume of grading for autographs, tickets, bats and other items.  A subsidiary of Collectors Universe, the southern California-based company is a regular at major sports card shows across North America.

You can find PSA labels on everything from the earliest cards produced in the 19^th century to the latest hot rookie autograph card pulled from a pack.

Its “Set Registry” enables collectors build sets of PSA authenticated baseball cards and compare them to others who are doing the same thing.  An organizational tool, it lets you know at a glance what you have, the grade of each card and an average grade for your partial or completed set.

The PSA “Population Report” lists each card that PSA has ever graded, the total number of cards graded and how many have been assigned to each specific numerical grade.  It’s how to determine which cards are the hardest to find in high grade.  Prices for graded sports card auctions will often reflect what the pop report says.  Since many collectors break their cards out of holders for a wide variety of reasons, the pop report is never 100% accurate but it’s a pretty good barometer used by most collectors of PSA graded baseball cards.

PSA has introduced a variety of different holders to accommodate the various sizes of vintage sports cards, from Turkey Red cabinets to Exhibit cards and Topps Supers.

Here’s an overview of the PSA grading standards:

GEM-MT 10: Gem Mint
 A practically flawless card is considered a PSA Gem Mint 10. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss. A Gem Mint 10 card does not have any stains. Allowances are made in the case of slight printing imperfections so long as it doesn’t impede the card’s general appeal. The image must be centered within a tolerance of 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on back.

MINT 9: Mint 
 A superb card with only one of these minor flaws: a very slight wax stain on reverse, a minor printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 60/40 to 65/35 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

NM-MT 8: Near Mint-Mint
  A high-end card that can exhibit the following upon close inspection: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

NM 7: Near Mint
  A card with a slight surface wear visible under close inspection. Corners could have slight fraying and the picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. A minor printing blemish and slight wax staining on the back of the card is acceptable. Centering must be approximately 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

EX-MT 6: Excellent-Mint
  This card may have visible surface wear or a minor printing defect non-inhibitive to it’s appeal. Other factors contributing to this grade may be: a very light scratch, slightly graduated fraying of the corners, “out-of-register” picture focus, loss of original gloss, a minor wax stain on reverse, slight notching on edges and  some off-whiteness on borders. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

EX 5: Excellent   These cards may exhibit very minor rounding of the corners and surface wear is visible. There may be diminished gloss and minor chipping on the edges. The picture could be out of focus and close inspection may reveal light scratches that don’t diminish the card’s appeal. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

VG-EX 4: Very Good-Excellent
  These cards may have slightly rounded corners, noticeable but modest surface wear with some original gloss. Light scuffing or scratches could be evident. Borders could be slightly off-white and there may be a light crease. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

VG 3: Very Good
  These cards reveal rounding on the corners, though not extreme. Surface wear, light scuffing or scratches are apparent. Noticeable wear on the edges and off-register focus are apparent. Most of the card's original gloss will be gone. Somewhat yellowed and/or discolored borders, a visible crease and printing defects are possible. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.

GOOD 2: Good  
These cards show accelerated rounding on the corners and obvious surface wear. There may be scratching, scuffing, light staining, or chipping of enamel on obverse. Several creases, loss of the original gloss and considerable discoloration are apparent. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.

FR 1.5: Fair
  These cards show extreme wear (including scuffing, scratching, pitting, chipping and staining), and may affect the framing of the picture. Brown and dirty borders, out-of-register picture, heavy creases but fully intact (not missing solid pieces of the card due to major tears, etc…) despite heavy wear. This includes the back layer of the card and entire corners. The centering must be approximately 90/10 or better on the front and back.

PR 1: Poor  
These cards exhibit much of the same damage as in a PSA Fair 1.5, only the damage has advanced to a stage that the card’s visible appeal has all but vanished. It may be missing small pieces, and the creasing nearly breaks through the layers of cardboard. It may contain extreme discoloration and/or dirtiness making it difficult to read or identify content on the card, front and back. It may contain warping or other types of destructive defects.

Half-Point Grades:

Cards with high-end qualities between PSA Good 2 and PSA Mint 9 could get a half-point increase. All attributes will be graded and there will be a clear focus on centering.

A card must be 5-10% better centered than the lowest percent allowed within a grade. The overall strength of the card such as the corners or print could give the card the edge it needs in spite of marginal centering. Qualifiers will not apply to grades that achieve the half-point increase.

QUALIFIERS:

Nearly every card submitted to PSA will be graded. Those containing significant flaws will get “qualified” grades as follows:

                           OC (Off Center): 
An “OC” designation is for cards where the centering falls below the minimum standard for that grade. This is done by comparing the measurements of the borders from left to right and top to bottom. The centering is designated as the percent of difference at the most off-center part of the card. A 5% grace is given to the front centering minimum standards for cards which grade NM 7 or better. For example, a card that meets all of the other requirements for PSA MINT 9 and measures 60/40 off-center on the front automatically meets the PSA front centering standards for MINT 9. If a card meets all of the other requirements for PSA MINT 9 and measures 65/35 off-center on the front, it may be deemed to meet the PSA front centering standards for MINT 9 if the eye appeal of the card is good.

                           ST (Staining):
Designated for cards with staining below the minimum standards for the grade.

                           PD (Print Defect): 
Designated for cards with significant printing defects.

                           OF (Out of Focus): 
 Designated for cards with focus below the minimum standards for the grade.

                           MK (Marks): 
 Designated for cards with writing, ink marks, pencil marks (etc…) or evidence of the impression left from the act of writing.

                           MC (Miscut): 
 Designated for cards that exhibit an atypical cut for the issue or ones that contain partial portions of more than one card.

                           UNGRADEABLE CARDS:
Cards that bear evidence of trimming, re-coloring, restoration, or any other forms of tampering, or are of questionable authenticity will not be graded. PSA also does not grade autographed cards dated earlier than 1998 or any cards manufactured by Star except Star Baseball and 1996 Star Topps (reprint) Basketball Cards; only factory imprint signatures can be graded.

The Grading of Hand-Cut Cards

Any card that has been hand-cut off a panel, box, or others (Post Cereal, Hostess, Bazooka, Strip cards, etc…) can be graded by PSA. This service excludes traditional sheet-cut cards. PSA will not grade cards cut from sheets that can be obtained in a normal fashion.

PSA only assigns grades to cards with clearly defined borders. There must be visible/defined border on all four sides. Cuts that exceed the visible border will be encapsulated as “Authentic” only. Undersized cards that suffer in general eye appeal may be rejected by PSA graders and deemed unsuitable for authentication.

A size requirement is till required for all cards, even without visible/defined borders to be graded. Without full borders, a label of “Authentic” will be assigned. PSA will also allow cards that have had coupons or tabs removed from the original card. All cards eligible for this service will be designated as "Hand-Cut" on the PSA label to distinguish them from the intact, "with tab" or "with coupon" examples. They strive to maintain consistency in their guidelines for authentication.

The highest grades in this category are achieved with cuts that are relatively close to the visible borders without exceeding the limit. Those that exhibit a clean, accurate and properly shaped cut have the best chance of obtaining the highest grade. General eye appeal is key. Excess paper or cardboard around the edges of the visible borders, are of significant importance for overall eye appeal. All cards of this type will be designated as "Hand-Cut" on the PSA label. With the exception of the aforementioned items, normal grading criteria will apply.

No Grade Definitions

If a card receives one of the following grades then it was determined to be ungradable:

                           N-1 Evidence of Trimming - Trimmed cards display evidence of one of the following: Hook up or down, have one razor sharp edge, a difference in toning along the edge, a wavy look.

                           N-2 Evidence of Restoration – When a card's paper stock is built up.

                           N-3 Evidence of Re-coloration - Where a card's color has been artificially improved.

                           N-4 Questionable Authenticity – A counterfeit card.

                           N-5 Altered Stock - When the paper stock is altered in one or more of the following ways: Stretching and trimming, recoloring and restoring, trimming and recoloring, restoring and trimming, crease or wrinkle is pressed out, or gloss is enhanced.

                           N-6 Minimum Size Requirement - When a card is significantly undersized according to factory specifications.

                           N-7 Evidence of Cleaning - When a whitener is used to whiten borders or a solution is used to remove wax, candy, gum or tobacco stains.

                           N-8 Miscut - When the factory cut of a card is abnormal. The grading fees are refunded.

                           N-9 Don't Grade - When an issue is not graded. The card may be oversized or an obscure issue. The grading fees are refunded.

                           N-0 Authentic Only - PSA is only certifying that the item is genuine, without a numerical grade. There are multiple reasons for this including but not limited to: the existence of an alteration, one with malice or otherwise, a major defect or the original submitter may have requested that PSA encapsulate the card without a grade. The "Authentic" label means that the item, in our opinion, is real but nothing more.

The Importance of Eye Appeal and Subjectivity in Grading

PSA has been grading cards for over a decade. Their standards have become the benchmark for the hobby. One of their most frequently asked questions has to do with the importance of eye appeal and centering.

Objective measures taken in grading include things like locating print defects, staining, surface wrinkles, measuring centering, etc… The subjective element is understanding the market tolerance as it relates to value. Once this is achieved, PSA graders can apply that knowledge with their best judgment and grade cards based on their eye appeal and centering.

Sometimes the subjective elements can hinder the cards value in spite of excellent objective elements. For example, a 1957 Topps Sandy Koufax card has great contrast between the white borders and the picture because the background is very dark. It is possible that a 1957 Topps Sandy Koufax, one that technically measures for a particular grade – let's say 70/30, may be prevented from reaching that unqualified grade because the market would view that card as off-center – based on eye appeal issues. Although a rare occurrence, from time to time a judgment call has to be made on a card that pushes the limits for centering.  You can see PSA graded baseball cards for sale below and get more information on the company's products and services here.

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #371 LEE STANGE $19.99 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $19.99

1954 Wilson Franks Sammy White PSA 3 Red Sox $131.25 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $131.25

1972 Topps #81 Mike Hedlund Royals PSA 8 $6.52 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $6.52

1969 Topps Decals, Frank Robinson #35 - PSA 10 Orioles! $144.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $144.99

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #237 BILLY O'DELL $16.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $16.99

2008 Topps Opening Day Gold #105 Derek Jeter 170/2199 PSA 8.5 New York Yankees $20.00 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $20.00

1999 Upper Deck Century Legends #121 Satchel Paige PSA 8 Negro Leagues $8.50 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $8.50

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #74 DON MOSSI $16.99 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $16.99

1971 Topps Baseball Jack Billingham #162 Graded PSA 8 $18.00 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $18.00

1962 POST BASEBALL CANADIAN 183 DON ZIMMER CUBS NM CARD PSA 4 $29.00 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $29.00

PSA 8 1966 TOPPS BASEBALL #201 JIM DICKSON $16.99 Time Remaining: 33m Buy It Now for only: $16.99

1947-1966 Exhibits Warren Spahn B on Cap in PSA 9 Mint $150.00 Time Remaining: 33m

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SGC’s grading scale includes both its own two-digit formula and a single numeric grade, a/la PSA.  You can see the SGC grading scale here.

A smaller company, SGC is based on the east coast and is usually present at most of the major sports card shows, where they greet very loyal customers, especially those who collect cards from the first half of the 20^th century.  They have been very well received by long-time collectors, who swear by the accuracy and knowledge of the staff.  Unlike PSA, SGC does not require a membership for collectors to submit cards for grading.  Prices range from just a few dollars per submission to a few hundred, depending on the level of service and what's being graded.

SGC also has its own population report for the sets and cards it grades.  Cards graded by the company have rarely come under scrutiny by collectors for inaccurate grading, however the company processes far fewer cards than its larger rival, PSA.

The number of SGC graded baseball cards offered for sale online includes many of the hobby’s most rare and desirable pre-War cards.  You can see what’s currently available in an SGC holder on eBay here.  Usually, you'll find more than 10,000 listings.

BGS typically refers to modern era cards graded by the company while BVG is for vintage cards.

Beckett Grading Services uses a 1 to 10-point grading scale, with descending increments of one-half point (for example 10, 9.5, 9, 8.5, etc.).  The company offers a detailed report and separate “subgrades” on your card’s key attributes such as centering and corners.  It doesn’t use “OC” for off-center or “MK” for mark like PSA.

Beckett Graded baseball cards in top grade can be identified at a glance through the company’s premium-colored labels. A gold label on the cardholder’s ‘flip’ or label, signifies the highest graded cards (9.5-10). A silver label is placed on the label of cards graded 8.5 to 9. Cards in all other grades are identified with a white label.

our key categories are used for ‘subgrades’ on the BGS report card. They are: centering, corners, edges and surface.  Grades from each of those categories will be used to help determine a card’s final overall grade. The subgrades are printed on the label that is facing up on the back of the Beckett graded cards.

Beckett often makes headlines for its newer rookie card sales.  Collectors of modern era cards often prefer them graded by Beckett and will pay thousands of dollars for cards in BGS 9.5 or 10 grades.  In fact, many of the highest priced 21st century cards sold online are in Beckett holders.  However, a T206 Honus Wagner card was graded by Beckett a couple of years ago after a non-collector decided to liquidate a small collection that had been in the family.  It sold for $317,250, even in a lowly "Poor" grade.  Beckett graded cards do not suffer in the market.

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Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

1968 Topps AL KALINE # 240 (BVG 9) HOF $369.99 Time Remaining: 36m Buy It Now for only: $369.99

1950 Bowman #191 Dick Starr BVG 7 NM St Louis Browns $26.10 Time Remaining: 49m Buy It Now for only: $26.10

1971 Kellogg's #40 Mel Stottlemyre BVG 3 $16.00 Time Remaining: 49m Buy It Now for only: $16.00

1961 Topps #353 Howie Bedell RC BVG 8 NM-MT $11.01 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 51m

1968 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan Rookie Card BVG 5.5 BGS Jerry Koosman $349.99 Time Remaining: 53m Buy It Now for only: $349.99

Earl Monroe rookie 1969 BVG 6.5 $75.00 Time Remaining: 55m Buy It Now for only: $100.00

1972 Topps Nolan Ryan #595 Beckett BVG Graded 5.5 Excellent+ EX+ $34.95 Time Remaining: 1h 7m Buy It Now for only: $34.95

1952 Topps Baseball #65 ENOS SLAUGHTER Cardinals HOF BVG 3.5 VG+ $65.00 Time Remaining: 1h 24m Buy It Now for only: $65.00

2001 Topps Traded Chrome Albert Pujols BVG 9 MINT $28.88 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 28m

1962 TOPPS SANDY KOUFAX #5 BVG 5 (EX) - LOS ANGELES DODGERS $26.01 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 28m

1949 Bowman Baseball #98 PHIL RIZZUTO New York Yankees BVG 1.5 Fair $60.00 Time Remaining: 1h 36m Buy It Now for only: $60.00

1958 Topps Baseball #321 WILLIAMS/KLUSZEWSKI Sluggers Supreme HOF BVG 3.5 VG+ $55.00 Time Remaining: 1h 45m Buy It Now for only: $55.00

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GAI graded all types of cards, but primarily vintage cards.  They were the first company to grade unopened packs and were still doing so at last check.  PSA has assumed the larger role in that regard, however.

However, since PSA, SGC and Beckett have risen to the dominant role in the industry, many collectors have chosen to crack their cards out of Global holders and have them re-graded and re-holdered by those companies.  Sometimes bargains can be had by spotting solid vintage graded GAI cards since not that many people are searching for them these days.

As of early 2012, Global Authority’s Facebook and Twitter pages were active, but dormant.   Because of some of the uncertainty surrounding the company, GAI or Global graded cards can often be found at below market prices and are sometimes a good source for cheap baseball cards.  Look for sellers who have an old stash they are moving.  There are plenty of sellers, too.  Over 2,000 cards graded by GAI are on eBay.