How To Get Your Baseball Cards Graded

You’ve been collecting baseball cards since you were a kid. You have hundreds, maybe even thousands of cards, but what are they worth? The answer might surprise you.

Introduction

Acquiring a professional card grade can increase the value of your card significantly, sometimes by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. While the process may seem daunting, it is actually quite simple. In this article, we will walk you through the steps of getting your baseball cards graded.

1) Select a reputable grading company: There are many companies that offer grading services, but not all of them are created equal. Do your research and select a company that has a good reputation and is known for providing accurate grades.

2) Prepare your cards for shipping: Once you have selected a grading company, you will need to prepare your cards for shipping. This usually involves putting them in protective sleeves or top loaders and then packaging them securely so they will not be damaged in transit.

3) Ship your cards to the grading company: Once your cards are prepared for shipping, you will need to send them to the grading company. Most companies offer shipping labels that you can use to send your cards at a reduced rate.

4) Wait for your cards to be graded: Thegrading process can take several weeks, so be patient! Once your cards have been graded, you will receive them back in the mail along with a certificate of authenticity.

What is a Graded Card?

A graded card is a sports card that has been evaluated by a professional grading company and given a numerical grade based on its condition. A 1st generation cards goes directly from the manufacturer (often through a distributor) to the hobby shop, where it is purchased by the collector. Some cards are “pulled” from packs and become 2nd generation cards. These 2nd generation cards can be bought, sold or traded between collectors but their value will always be lower than a 1st generation graded cards of the same player and condition. The 3rd generation cards are those that have been sent to a professional grading company to be graded.

Prices for 3rd generation cards are often times much higher than what you would pay for an ungraded card because they have been professionally evaluated and their condition is guaranteed. When you buy a 3rd generation graded card, you are buying both the card and the guarantee of condition. There are many different ways to get your baseball cards graded depending on which company you choose to use, but most of them follow these basic steps:

1. You will need to send your baseball cards to the grading company in a protective sleeve or top loader. Make sure that your cards are well protected before sending them off because the grading company will not be responsible for any damage that occurs during shipping.
2. Once your baseball cards arrive at the grading company, they will be inspected by an specialist who will determine the grade of each card based on its condition. The specialist will also assign each card a numeric grade from 1 to 10, with 10 being perfect mint condition and 1 being poor condition.
3. After your baseball cards have been graded, they will be sealed in a protective case and returned to you along with a certificate of authenticity detailing the grade of each card.

When getting your baseball cards graded, it is important to choose a reputable grading company that has experience in authenticating and grading sports memorabilia. There are many companies out there that claim to offer professional grading services but do not have the expertise or credibility needed to provide accurate grades. Doing some research before choosing a company is important in order to ensure that you get your money’s worth when getting your baseball cards graded.

The Different Companies that Grade Cards

There are several different companies that grade baseball cards. The two most popular companies are PSA and Beckett. Each company has their own process for grading cards.

To have your card graded by PSA, you will need to send in your card to their office. They will then grade your card and give it a condition rating. Once your card is graded, you will receive a certificate of authenticity from PSA.

Beckett also grades baseball cards. However, their process is slightly different. With Beckett, you will need to submit your card to an authorized dealer. The dealer will then send the card to Beckett to be graded. Once your card is graded, you will receive a certificate of authenticity from Beckett.

There are other companies that grade cards as well, but these are the two most popular companies. If you are looking to get your baseball cards graded, you should look into these two companies.

The Pros and Cons of Getting Your Cards Graded

There are many die-hard baseball fans out there who love nothing more than collecting baseball cards. For some, the hobby is simply about amassing as many cards as possible, while for others, the focus is on building a collection of high-quality, valuable cards. If you fall into the latter category, you may have considered getting your cards graded by a professional service. But is this really worth the time and expense? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of getting your baseball cards graded.

Pros:
-Achieve a Higher Value: One of the main reasons to get your cards graded is to achieve a higher value. A professionally graded card will almost always be worth more than an ungraded card, simply because it has been independently verified as being in good condition.
-Enjoy Peace of Mind: Another big advantage of having your cards graded is that it gives you peace of mind. When you know that your cards have been professionally assessed and given a favourable grade, you can relax and enjoy your collection, safe in the knowledge that it is valuable and well-protected.

Cons:
-Costly: The main downside of getting your cards graded is that it can be quite costly. Depending on which company you use and how many cards you need to be assessed, the bill can soon add up.
-Risk of Damaged Cards: Another potential downside is that there is always a risk that your cards could be damaged during the grading process. Although most companies take great care with submissions, accidents can happen, so it’s important to be aware of this risk before sending off any valuable items.

So there you have it – some pros and cons to consider if you’re thinking about getting your baseball cards graded. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and whether you feel that the benefits outweigh the costs.

How to Get Your Cards Graded

Grading baseball cards is the process of assessing the condition of a card and assigning it a numerical score based on that condition. The higher the score, the more valuable the card is considered to be.

While there are many different companies that grade cards, the two most well-known and respected are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Both companies use a 10-point scale, with PSA’s going from 1 (poor) to 10 (gem mint), and BGS from 1.5 (poor) to 10 (gem mint).

To get your cards graded, you will first need to select which company you would like to use. Once you have done that, you will need to send your cards in along with any required fees. Once the grading process is complete, you will receive your cards back in the mail along with a certificate of authenticity detailing the condition of each card.

The costs associated with grading can vary depending on the company you choose, but generally range from $10-$30 per card. In some cases, there may also be an additional fee for return shipping.

If you are looking to sell your graded cards, most buyers will prefer cards that have been graded by either PSA or BGS. As such, it is generally recommended that you use one of these two companies when having your cards graded.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Your Cards Graded?

The cost of getting your cards graded can vary depending on a few factors. The first is the type of grading service you use. There are a few different companies that offer grading services, and each has their own pricing structure. The second factor is the number of cards you want to have graded. Most companies charge by the card, so if you have a large collection, it will cost more to get them all graded. Finally, the condition of your cards can affect the cost. If your cards are in better condition, it will usually cost less to have them graded.

How to Find the Value of Your Graded Cards

The value of a graded sports card is based on a number of factors with the most important being the card’s assigned condition grade, the integrity of the protective case, and the current market conditions.

With that in mind, here a few things you can do to find out your card’s value:
1. Look for recent sales of similar cards. This will give you an idea of what buyers are currently paying for cards in similar condition. You can find recent sales prices online at auction sites or sports card price guides.
2. Check the “ask” price of similar cards. The “ask” price is what sellers are currently listing their cards for sale at. While you may not actually get this amount if you decide to sell your card, it will give you an idea as to what people are hoping to get for their cards. Again, you can find this information online at auction sites or sports card price guides.
3. Use a pricing guide as a reference tool only. Pricing guides list estimated values for cards in different grades and conditions but these amounts are only meant to be used as general reference points. The actual value of your card may be higher or lower than the amount listed in a pricing guide depending on current market conditions.

Are Graded Cards a Good Investment?

When you get your cards professionally graded, you’re paying for an expert’s opinion of the condition of your card. A grading company’s main purpose is to provide this service to collectors, and in turn, help to create a secondary market for trading cards.

The value of a professionally graded card is based on numerous factors including, but not limited to: brand, player, era, scarcity/demand, and of course – condition. The condition of a card is determined by analyzing its numerous attributes which are then given a numerical rating on what’s called a “scale.” The most commonly used scale in the hobby is the 1-10 scale with “1” being considered sub-par or poor condition and “10” being Near Mint to Mint condition.

A card that receives a grade of “1” is still considered a collectible piece as it represents a certain era or player, but it will typically only trade or sell for a very small percentage of its ungraded counterpart. On the other hand, cards receiving grades of “9” or “10” are considerably more valuable and sought after by collectors.

The bottom line – should you get your cards professionally graded? It depends on your collecting goals and budget. Some collectors simply can’t afford it while others recognize the value in owning graded cards as part of their investment portfolio.

Conclusion

Once you have decided to get your baseball cards graded, there are a few things you should do to ensure that the process goes smoothly. First, be sure to research the company you are thinking of using. Find out how long they have been in business, what their reputation is, and what their fees are. Once you have found a company you feel comfortable with, send them your cards and be sure to insure your shipment. Once your cards arrive at the grading company, they will be reviewed by experts and given a grade based on their condition. The whole process usually takes about two weeks, and you will be notified as soon as your cards are ready to be shipped back to you. Getting your baseball cards graded can be a great way to preserve their value and ensure that they will be enjoyed by future generations.