| Professional Card Grading Services~ We Grade THEM! |
1976 Topps Garagiola #1 Joe
Garagiola (very scarce!)
Garagiola (very scarce!)
Professionally graded cards are cards that are sent to a service that authenticates and grades the cards. The cards are then sealed in a tamper-proof case, or "slab."
These services can be useful, especially when it comes to buying expensive cards. There are numerous counterfeits out there, along with cards that have been trimmed or altered
to make it appear as if the card were nicer than it really is. Some grading services will put the fear factor into you - "Beware of the "Card Doctor..." But make no mistake about
it; these companies are in it for the money- these services rake in bijillions of dollars a year! On this page WE ARE GOING TO GRADE THEM! I will assign our own grade for
each of the four major grading services currently out there: Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA), SGC (Sports card Guarantee Company (SGC), Beckett's Grading Service
(BGS), and Global Authenticators Inc. (GAI) (NOTE: GAI has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in December 2008, see below). I have probably a couple hundred
graded cards from each of the four companies and I will give my honest opinions of each service. Hopefully from this you can make an informed decision of your own about
which service (if any) you wish to use.
These services can be useful, especially when it comes to buying expensive cards. There are numerous counterfeits out there, along with cards that have been trimmed or altered
to make it appear as if the card were nicer than it really is. Some grading services will put the fear factor into you - "Beware of the "Card Doctor..." But make no mistake about
it; these companies are in it for the money- these services rake in bijillions of dollars a year! On this page WE ARE GOING TO GRADE THEM! I will assign our own grade for
each of the four major grading services currently out there: Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA), SGC (Sports card Guarantee Company (SGC), Beckett's Grading Service
(BGS), and Global Authenticators Inc. (GAI) (NOTE: GAI has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in December 2008, see below). I have probably a couple hundred
graded cards from each of the four companies and I will give my honest opinions of each service. Hopefully from this you can make an informed decision of your own about
which service (if any) you wish to use.
Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA)
Professional Sports Authenticators, or PSA for short, claims to be the "cornerstone" of your collection (actually I feel the
cards themselves are the cornerstone, not the plastic slabs they are put in). They have been around the longest of the all
the grading services so they get a plus for longevity (+). However McDonald's Hamburgers have been around the longest
but does that make them the BEST? Not in my book. PSA used to use a primitive 10 point scale and in our opinion were
very consistent in their inconsistency. I can go through my PSA graded cards and find too many that are over or under
graded. That is not good. PSA was a lot more inconsistent early on but since 2008 they use a half point scale which at
least is more accurate than before. Early PSA cards with the 10 point scale get a (-) from us but with the newer half point
grading system we give them a plus (+) which evens it out. So PSA has improved on it's grading scale to their credit.
Qualifiers. PSA uses "Qualifiers" which are used when a card is off centered for the grade (OC), miscut (MC), stained with
gum, wax, or some liquid stains (ST), or marked with a pen, pencil, etc. (MK). If a card has been altered, colored or
trimmed PSA will not assign a grade, but will assign an "Authentic" label if the card is indeed authentic. Qualifiers
greatly bring down the "value" of the card. While a vintage PSA 9 MINT card with no qualifiers will generally receive a
premium over listed prices, a PSA 9 MINT (OC) vintage card will be significantly reduced. Miscut (MK), stained (ST) and
authentic (AUT) will usually bring even less prices as they are not as desired as cards without qualifiers. For more on
PSA's grading check out our PSA SUCKS PAGE! Because the qualifiers give a more discernible reason as to why a card
received a particular grade, we are going to give them a plus (+) for that. Holders. Holders are pretty standard and do
not take in account minimal size differences that do occur in vintage cards. So they get a minus (-) for the generic
holders. The labels are fine and clearly state the year, card manufacturer, card number, player, and PSA's assigned
grade. While I have seen many sloppy labels (some mislabeled cards even) in general they do the job. Overall PSA cards
are considered very reputable and I usually don't have a problem buying them. Probably because they have been around
the longest, the fact remains that PSA cards usually sell for a higher price than with other reputable services (+) for high
grade cards. Now the real bad, Membership Fees. To submit cards to PSA you have to either go to a PSA Authorized
Dealer and have them submit your cards or you have to "pony up" and pay $100 for a yearly membership fee. The fee
does include 6 free grading submissions, a monthly Sports Market Report (SMR) which lists cards prices (which by the
way do not fluctuate very much month to month, in fact the prices are pretty stable for most vintage cards) and you can
check out rich collectors and their GEM MINT 10 graded cards or advertising for snobby big auction houses. I have
subscribed to PSA a couple times and feel it's an ok deal, but I would rather have my money go towards more cards than
paying for "extras" like the SMR and a free book. So I give PSA a (-) for yearly membership fees.
cards themselves are the cornerstone, not the plastic slabs they are put in). They have been around the longest of the all
the grading services so they get a plus for longevity (+). However McDonald's Hamburgers have been around the longest
but does that make them the BEST? Not in my book. PSA used to use a primitive 10 point scale and in our opinion were
very consistent in their inconsistency. I can go through my PSA graded cards and find too many that are over or under
graded. That is not good. PSA was a lot more inconsistent early on but since 2008 they use a half point scale which at
least is more accurate than before. Early PSA cards with the 10 point scale get a (-) from us but with the newer half point
grading system we give them a plus (+) which evens it out. So PSA has improved on it's grading scale to their credit.
Qualifiers. PSA uses "Qualifiers" which are used when a card is off centered for the grade (OC), miscut (MC), stained with
gum, wax, or some liquid stains (ST), or marked with a pen, pencil, etc. (MK). If a card has been altered, colored or
trimmed PSA will not assign a grade, but will assign an "Authentic" label if the card is indeed authentic. Qualifiers
greatly bring down the "value" of the card. While a vintage PSA 9 MINT card with no qualifiers will generally receive a
premium over listed prices, a PSA 9 MINT (OC) vintage card will be significantly reduced. Miscut (MK), stained (ST) and
authentic (AUT) will usually bring even less prices as they are not as desired as cards without qualifiers. For more on
PSA's grading check out our PSA SUCKS PAGE! Because the qualifiers give a more discernible reason as to why a card
received a particular grade, we are going to give them a plus (+) for that. Holders. Holders are pretty standard and do
not take in account minimal size differences that do occur in vintage cards. So they get a minus (-) for the generic
holders. The labels are fine and clearly state the year, card manufacturer, card number, player, and PSA's assigned
grade. While I have seen many sloppy labels (some mislabeled cards even) in general they do the job. Overall PSA cards
are considered very reputable and I usually don't have a problem buying them. Probably because they have been around
the longest, the fact remains that PSA cards usually sell for a higher price than with other reputable services (+) for high
grade cards. Now the real bad, Membership Fees. To submit cards to PSA you have to either go to a PSA Authorized
Dealer and have them submit your cards or you have to "pony up" and pay $100 for a yearly membership fee. The fee
does include 6 free grading submissions, a monthly Sports Market Report (SMR) which lists cards prices (which by the
way do not fluctuate very much month to month, in fact the prices are pretty stable for most vintage cards) and you can
check out rich collectors and their GEM MINT 10 graded cards or advertising for snobby big auction houses. I have
subscribed to PSA a couple times and feel it's an ok deal, but I would rather have my money go towards more cards than
paying for "extras" like the SMR and a free book. So I give PSA a (-) for yearly membership fees.
Check out the stain below "Willie" on the 1966 Topps #1 card to the right (NO qualifier!)
Sportscard Guarantee Company (SGC)
SGC has been around for several years now and have really proven to be one of the best and most consistent (+) services out there.
Part of this may be due to the fact that SGC started out with a more definitive grading scale than PSA. SGC has a 10 to 100
grading scale which takes into effect in-between grades (+). I have never had an unpleasant experience with SGC. Their customer
service is tops (+). For instance, once I did not send enough money along with my submission. It was only a few dollars but SGC
went ahead and processed the order. I did that with PSA once and they held up the order until they received payment. Which is their
right, but for a couple bucks? So who do you think still gets my business? Holders; SGC holders are very nice, though I don't care
for the printed labels, which are so-so. However SGC at least takes the time to make sure the labels are cut properly (unlike PSA).
There is a black insert that is custom cut (+) to the individual card which is very nice as it can accommodate the very slight
difference in card width/ height (again, unlike PSA). This black insert also allows for a better presentation of the card and is very
attractive (+). Another plus (+) is NO Membership Fees and free Population Reports SGC provides on it's website. SGC also
offers the only Written Guarantee (+). If an owner of a SGC graded card feels the card is overgraded he can resubmit the card for
review and if SGC agrees they will assign the new grade and pay the difference between the two grades (current fair market value).
This is probably the reason for SGC's consistancy through the years. You certainly don't see many overgraded SGC cards (if any, I
may have a few undergraded SGC cards), while I have several examples of PSA overgraded cards (see the PSA graded 1966
Topps Mays above and also our PSA SUCKS PAGE!). The only drawback to SGC is the fact that sometimes you don't know why a
card received a particular grade (-). It would be helpful if they provided sub-grades on the back of the holder (see Becketts, SCDA).
Also SGC is a bit more lenient on centering then Becketts or PSA, though still within grading guidelines. Overall I rate SGC very
high. They have maintained consistency from the start while PSA and Becketts did not. Of all the "reputable" grading services out
there (currently Becketts (BVG, BGS only), PSA, and SGC) I personally feel that SGC is the best of them.
Part of this may be due to the fact that SGC started out with a more definitive grading scale than PSA. SGC has a 10 to 100
grading scale which takes into effect in-between grades (+). I have never had an unpleasant experience with SGC. Their customer
service is tops (+). For instance, once I did not send enough money along with my submission. It was only a few dollars but SGC
went ahead and processed the order. I did that with PSA once and they held up the order until they received payment. Which is their
right, but for a couple bucks? So who do you think still gets my business? Holders; SGC holders are very nice, though I don't care
for the printed labels, which are so-so. However SGC at least takes the time to make sure the labels are cut properly (unlike PSA).
There is a black insert that is custom cut (+) to the individual card which is very nice as it can accommodate the very slight
difference in card width/ height (again, unlike PSA). This black insert also allows for a better presentation of the card and is very
attractive (+). Another plus (+) is NO Membership Fees and free Population Reports SGC provides on it's website. SGC also
offers the only Written Guarantee (+). If an owner of a SGC graded card feels the card is overgraded he can resubmit the card for
review and if SGC agrees they will assign the new grade and pay the difference between the two grades (current fair market value).
This is probably the reason for SGC's consistancy through the years. You certainly don't see many overgraded SGC cards (if any, I
may have a few undergraded SGC cards), while I have several examples of PSA overgraded cards (see the PSA graded 1966
Topps Mays above and also our PSA SUCKS PAGE!). The only drawback to SGC is the fact that sometimes you don't know why a
card received a particular grade (-). It would be helpful if they provided sub-grades on the back of the holder (see Becketts, SCDA).
Also SGC is a bit more lenient on centering then Becketts or PSA, though still within grading guidelines. Overall I rate SGC very
high. They have maintained consistency from the start while PSA and Becketts did not. Of all the "reputable" grading services out
there (currently Becketts (BVG, BGS only), PSA, and SGC) I personally feel that SGC is the best of them.
HOW WE SCORE 'EM
Pluses (+) 7: Consistency, Customer Service, Custom Inserts, Attractive Holders, In-Between Grading Scale, NO membership
fees, Written Guarantee if card is overgraded.
Negatives (-) 1: No sub-grades.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: SGC 92 Near Mint-Mint+
Pluses (+) 7: Consistency, Customer Service, Custom Inserts, Attractive Holders, In-Between Grading Scale, NO membership
fees, Written Guarantee if card is overgraded.
Negatives (-) 1: No sub-grades.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: SGC 92 Near Mint-Mint+
1972 Topps #309 Roberto Clemente SGC 88 NM/MT
Beckett's Grading Service (BGS)
Beckett's has long been the hobby's premier price guide (at least for Dealers). Becketts jumped into the graded card industry with not one, but 3 different
services; Beckett's Grading Service (BGS), Beckett's Vintage Service (BVG), and Beckett's Collector Club Grading (BCCG). If they just stuck to specifically
BVG/BGS we would rank them right up alongside SGC. Unfortunately Beckett's seems to think there are 3 different grading scales (-), when at the same time
the hobby is supposed to be "unifying" grading. First I am going to talk about BVG and BGS. I'll get to BCCG in a bit. BVG grades vintage cards up through
1980. BGS grades cards 1981 to present. Why they need two different services is beyond me. A NM card is a NM card, whether it is from 1956 or 2006.
BVG/BGS holders are great. They are durable and the labels have a sub-grades for centering, corners, edges and surface (+). Older BVG & BGS cards are
graded very consistent, perhaps even on the conservative side (+) which means your cards won't be overgraded. They also use in-between grading (IE. "6.5
EX-MT+, 7.5 NM+," etc.) which is far more accurate than a simple 1-10 scale (+). Older BVG/BGS cards have realized high resale prices, however keep in
mind that sometimes the cards may in fact be UNDER graded and as such you may not get full value if you sell your card (-). For example, a BVG 6.5 EX-MT+
card will sell for less than a PSA 7 NM or SGC 84 NM card when in fact it may BE a NM card. Maybe even better. Older BGS/BVG cards are top rate.
Beckett's Collectors Club Grading (BCCG) service is not top rate. You can find them frequently on Shop At Home channels, given away as "freebies' with the
purchase of Beckett publications, and you can pick them up very cheap on ebay. This is because they are very cheap. Becketts grades the card very quickly,
hence the low price. Consider it "bulk" grading. The grading is much more general than the other Beckett services and can be somewhat deceiving. Check out
the Nolan Ryan card to the left. It is graded an "8" which would be a NM/MT card with most grading services. However look underneath and you see
"Excellent or Better." I question why anyone would send a card to BCCG and I question Beckett's for even having such a cheap service. We are not even
going to grade BCCG.
NOTE: As of this year (2006), Beckett's BVG graded cards will no longer have subgrades; just a final grade like the other 2 major grading services (PSA and
SGC). The vintage cards I have seen are not graded conservatively as they once were. In fact I have seen some cards which seem to be overgraded (much like
PSA). As such I am going to deduct .5 which lowers their overall grade from EX-MT+ 6.5 to EX-MT 6. Hey, if BVG can make changes, I can too!
services; Beckett's Grading Service (BGS), Beckett's Vintage Service (BVG), and Beckett's Collector Club Grading (BCCG). If they just stuck to specifically
BVG/BGS we would rank them right up alongside SGC. Unfortunately Beckett's seems to think there are 3 different grading scales (-), when at the same time
the hobby is supposed to be "unifying" grading. First I am going to talk about BVG and BGS. I'll get to BCCG in a bit. BVG grades vintage cards up through
1980. BGS grades cards 1981 to present. Why they need two different services is beyond me. A NM card is a NM card, whether it is from 1956 or 2006.
BVG/BGS holders are great. They are durable and the labels have a sub-grades for centering, corners, edges and surface (+). Older BVG & BGS cards are
graded very consistent, perhaps even on the conservative side (+) which means your cards won't be overgraded. They also use in-between grading (IE. "6.5
EX-MT+, 7.5 NM+," etc.) which is far more accurate than a simple 1-10 scale (+). Older BVG/BGS cards have realized high resale prices, however keep in
mind that sometimes the cards may in fact be UNDER graded and as such you may not get full value if you sell your card (-). For example, a BVG 6.5 EX-MT+
card will sell for less than a PSA 7 NM or SGC 84 NM card when in fact it may BE a NM card. Maybe even better. Older BGS/BVG cards are top rate.
Beckett's Collectors Club Grading (BCCG) service is not top rate. You can find them frequently on Shop At Home channels, given away as "freebies' with the
purchase of Beckett publications, and you can pick them up very cheap on ebay. This is because they are very cheap. Becketts grades the card very quickly,
hence the low price. Consider it "bulk" grading. The grading is much more general than the other Beckett services and can be somewhat deceiving. Check out
the Nolan Ryan card to the left. It is graded an "8" which would be a NM/MT card with most grading services. However look underneath and you see
"Excellent or Better." I question why anyone would send a card to BCCG and I question Beckett's for even having such a cheap service. We are not even
going to grade BCCG.
NOTE: As of this year (2006), Beckett's BVG graded cards will no longer have subgrades; just a final grade like the other 2 major grading services (PSA and
SGC). The vintage cards I have seen are not graded conservatively as they once were. In fact I have seen some cards which seem to be overgraded (much like
PSA). As such I am going to deduct .5 which lowers their overall grade from EX-MT+ 6.5 to EX-MT 6. Hey, if BVG can make changes, I can too!
HOW WE SCORE 'EM (BVG/BGS only)
Positives (+) 3: Conservative & Consistent Grading (earlier BGS/BVG examples), Durable holders, Subgrades (Older
BVG, BGS).
Negatives (-) 3: Ethics (3 different grading services?), Possible Lower Resale for some cards (due to conservative
grading on early BVG cards), No subgrades on newer holders.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: Beckett (BVG/BGS) 6 EX-MT
Positives (+) 3: Conservative & Consistent Grading (earlier BGS/BVG examples), Durable holders, Subgrades (Older
BVG, BGS).
Negatives (-) 3: Ethics (3 different grading services?), Possible Lower Resale for some cards (due to conservative
grading on early BVG cards), No subgrades on newer holders.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: Beckett (BVG/BGS) 6 EX-MT
1977 Topps #650 Nolan Ryan BCCG 8 (read carefully)
Global Authenticators Inc. (GAI)
A relatively newer company, GAI made itself reputable almost immediately by name recognition. Their claim to
fame was the fact that the company was started by one of PSA's top graders. Well it sure seemed to help as GAI
established themselves as one of the top four grading services. And actually we really like their holders. Like SGC,
they have custom inserts (+) which highlight the card. Their labels are the best with a metallic label that is neatly
done. A unique feature is the top edge is also labeled so you can see what the card is even while stacked up with
other graded cards. GAI probably has the nicest looking holders out there. (+). Another plus is in-between grading
(+). A negative is that there are no subgrades (-) and also we don't know what the "1st Graded" means on the
label. So what if it's "1st Graded." Does it somehow increase the value of the card? No. GAI gets another negative
(-) for charging a membership fee like their UNHOLY MOTHER, PSA. GAI cards have a pretty good resale value;
however a PSA card of the same grade will usually bring a somewhat higher price. However a big blow-it was the
fact that GAI actually graded a counterfeit card (-3) a few years back. It was a 1963 Bazooka and they graded
and slabbed at least one example. It was reported in Sports Collectors Digest and was very embarrassing for GAI.
Oops. If they can grade one fake card as being "authentic," then that really raises our eyebrows as to who exactly is
grading their cards. Mr. Magoo???
NOTE: Global Authenticators Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection (-) as of December 2008. While
this puts their future on hold, I would still say that graded GAI vintage cards are a good deal if you can get them for
less than PSA or SGC graded cards in similar grades. That is a plus (+) in our book.
fame was the fact that the company was started by one of PSA's top graders. Well it sure seemed to help as GAI
established themselves as one of the top four grading services. And actually we really like their holders. Like SGC,
they have custom inserts (+) which highlight the card. Their labels are the best with a metallic label that is neatly
done. A unique feature is the top edge is also labeled so you can see what the card is even while stacked up with
other graded cards. GAI probably has the nicest looking holders out there. (+). Another plus is in-between grading
(+). A negative is that there are no subgrades (-) and also we don't know what the "1st Graded" means on the
label. So what if it's "1st Graded." Does it somehow increase the value of the card? No. GAI gets another negative
(-) for charging a membership fee like their UNHOLY MOTHER, PSA. GAI cards have a pretty good resale value;
however a PSA card of the same grade will usually bring a somewhat higher price. However a big blow-it was the
fact that GAI actually graded a counterfeit card (-3) a few years back. It was a 1963 Bazooka and they graded
and slabbed at least one example. It was reported in Sports Collectors Digest and was very embarrassing for GAI.
Oops. If they can grade one fake card as being "authentic," then that really raises our eyebrows as to who exactly is
grading their cards. Mr. Magoo???
NOTE: Global Authenticators Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection (-) as of December 2008. While
this puts their future on hold, I would still say that graded GAI vintage cards are a good deal if you can get them for
less than PSA or SGC graded cards in similar grades. That is a plus (+) in our book.
HOW WE SCORE 'EM
Pluses (+) 4: Attractive Holders, Custom Inserts (taken from SGC), Half Point Grading Scale, GAI cards are
generally now more affordable than similar graded cards (BGS, BVG, PSA, SGC).
Negatives (-) 6: No sub-grades, Authenticated a fake card (-3), Yearly Membership Fees, Bankruptcy.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: GAI 4.5 VG/EX+
Pluses (+) 4: Attractive Holders, Custom Inserts (taken from SGC), Half Point Grading Scale, GAI cards are
generally now more affordable than similar graded cards (BGS, BVG, PSA, SGC).
Negatives (-) 6: No sub-grades, Authenticated a fake card (-3), Yearly Membership Fees, Bankruptcy.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: GAI 4.5 VG/EX+
1935 Diamond Stars #44 Rogers Hornsby GAI 4.5
VG/EX+
VG/EX+
A Bit On Grading Services NOT mentioned here- There are a slew of them, CTA, MINT Grading Service, PRO, FGA, and a lot more. You really need to be skeptical
when purchasing these cards as most are OVERgraded and some may even be counterfeit (FGA has slabbed numerous counterfeit issues in their shady history), or altered
(trimmed, etc.). We are not saying these services are all bad, but you really need to be careful when purchasing them. Also keep in mind cards graded by these services tend to
have an extremely LOW resale value. One grading service that (I thought) did a good job but pulled out early in the grading business was SCD Authentic (Sports Collector's
Digest Authentic; see 1971 Topps Reggie Jackson at top right of this page). The late hobby "pioneer" Larry Fritsch even took out advertisements to promote SCDA, but after
purchasing a couple examples recently I have since changed my mind. In particular a 1968 Topps #280 Mickey Mantle graded by SCDA as being "5 EX." However there is a
slight crease running horizontally through the card and as such I don't see how ANY grading service could give a creased card an EX grade. That latest example sent me over
the edge and I know say that SCDA maybe was smart to pull out before they got a bad rap in the hobby. Keep in mind there is another service out there also called "SCD
Authentic" (Sports Card Direct Authentic, or "Screw Collectors Daily," see pic below) and these look identical to the Sport Collector Digest Authentic. Very clever. However they
are a completely different company and they seem to be very generous with their grading!
when purchasing these cards as most are OVERgraded and some may even be counterfeit (FGA has slabbed numerous counterfeit issues in their shady history), or altered
(trimmed, etc.). We are not saying these services are all bad, but you really need to be careful when purchasing them. Also keep in mind cards graded by these services tend to
have an extremely LOW resale value. One grading service that (I thought) did a good job but pulled out early in the grading business was SCD Authentic (Sports Collector's
Digest Authentic; see 1971 Topps Reggie Jackson at top right of this page). The late hobby "pioneer" Larry Fritsch even took out advertisements to promote SCDA, but after
purchasing a couple examples recently I have since changed my mind. In particular a 1968 Topps #280 Mickey Mantle graded by SCDA as being "5 EX." However there is a
slight crease running horizontally through the card and as such I don't see how ANY grading service could give a creased card an EX grade. That latest example sent me over
the edge and I know say that SCDA maybe was smart to pull out before they got a bad rap in the hobby. Keep in mind there is another service out there also called "SCD
Authentic" (Sports Card Direct Authentic, or "Screw Collectors Daily," see pic below) and these look identical to the Sport Collector Digest Authentic. Very clever. However they
are a completely different company and they seem to be very generous with their grading!
1957 Topps #400 Dodgers Sluggers 6.5 EX/NM???
Here is an example of a "Sports Cards Direct Authentic" graded card. I would rate this as a 3rd rate service which means don't waste your money. Notice the grade, 6.5 EX/NM (Excellent to Near Mint) which is essentially a
NM card. However look at the centering side to side; it is way off! This company gave it a 6 on centering, which is pretty damn generous! Now if this card were to be sent to other grading services here is how I think it would grade
(assuming the corners and surface are EX/NM): Becketts 2.5 Good to Very Good or 3 Very Good (Becketts is extremely tough with centering; if Becketts gives the card a 2 for centering, the highest grade it could get would be
2 grades higher, or a 3 Very Good), GAI 4.5 VG/EX+ or maybe 5 EX, PSA 5 EX or 6 EX-MT with an (OC) qualifier, SGC 50 VG/EX to 60 EX. Granted this is an educated guess but you can see that probably none of
these companies would give this card the grade Sports Cards Direct Authentic did. As such this card has been misrepresented and essentially whatever fees (grading fee, shipping fees, etc.) the person paid to this service is essentially
WASTED! In fact this card sold on ebay for $30.57. If it were really an EX/NM card it would have sold for at least $100. So in conclusion, I would not waste my money sending cards to this service and if you are considering
purchasing a card graded by Sport Cards Direct Authentic bear in mind that the chances are the card is OVERgraded and bid accordingly (like the winner of this card did, he got a good deal!).
NM card. However look at the centering side to side; it is way off! This company gave it a 6 on centering, which is pretty damn generous! Now if this card were to be sent to other grading services here is how I think it would grade
(assuming the corners and surface are EX/NM): Becketts 2.5 Good to Very Good or 3 Very Good (Becketts is extremely tough with centering; if Becketts gives the card a 2 for centering, the highest grade it could get would be
2 grades higher, or a 3 Very Good), GAI 4.5 VG/EX+ or maybe 5 EX, PSA 5 EX or 6 EX-MT with an (OC) qualifier, SGC 50 VG/EX to 60 EX. Granted this is an educated guess but you can see that probably none of
these companies would give this card the grade Sports Cards Direct Authentic did. As such this card has been misrepresented and essentially whatever fees (grading fee, shipping fees, etc.) the person paid to this service is essentially
WASTED! In fact this card sold on ebay for $30.57. If it were really an EX/NM card it would have sold for at least $100. So in conclusion, I would not waste my money sending cards to this service and if you are considering
purchasing a card graded by Sport Cards Direct Authentic bear in mind that the chances are the card is OVERgraded and bid accordingly (like the winner of this card did, he got a good deal!).
This service is even below 3rd rate. This one was on eBay recently. Who in the hell is "Sports Collectors Dimension???" Instead of "Dimension," this company should use the word "Dementia" as anyone crazy enough to send
an authentic 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle to this rinky-dink, bottom feeder of a grading service is either a scam artist or just plain crazy. This card sold on eBay for $1000 with just two bids, but if it was slabbed by
a reputable service it would have fetched at least 6 times that amount, if not more. Chances are very high that this card is either a fake, trimmed, or altered in some way. Chances are also very high that this grading disservice
is either out of business already or on the brink of being so. Buyer beware!!!
an authentic 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle to this rinky-dink, bottom feeder of a grading service is either a scam artist or just plain crazy. This card sold on eBay for $1000 with just two bids, but if it was slabbed by
a reputable service it would have fetched at least 6 times that amount, if not more. Chances are very high that this card is either a fake, trimmed, or altered in some way. Chances are also very high that this grading disservice
is either out of business already or on the brink of being so. Buyer beware!!!
Sports Collectors Dimension???
In summary, grading services where supposed to take the guess "work out" of grading. But instead they cause just as much confusion as before grading services! When you have 4 major services and 4
different grading guidelines, how exactly does this unify grading? It doesn't. Just like one collector may grade a card "NM," and another collector grades it "EX," so you have BVG calling a card "EX" and
PSA grading it "EX-MT." It is all subjective. The only real benefit of a grading service is this; a plastic holder to store and display your cards. Nothing more and nothing less. Cards graded GEM MINT
were MINT before they were slabbed weren't they? Vintage cards have somehow survived in high grades (take for example the highest graded T206 Honus Wagner, a PSA 8 NM/MT, how did this card
survive nearly 100 years without being "slabbed?") without the benefit of tamper-proof, protective pieces of plastic. The reason for these services is simple; to make money providing a service you can do
yourself (with a little knowledge). There are also plenty of protective sleeves and holders to protect your cards without costing you $6 to $10 (or more) per card to slab. So consider these things before
shelling out hundreds of dollars which otherwise could be used for buying... more CARDS!!!
For more on how to grade your cards, check out our "How To Grade" Page!
different grading guidelines, how exactly does this unify grading? It doesn't. Just like one collector may grade a card "NM," and another collector grades it "EX," so you have BVG calling a card "EX" and
PSA grading it "EX-MT." It is all subjective. The only real benefit of a grading service is this; a plastic holder to store and display your cards. Nothing more and nothing less. Cards graded GEM MINT
were MINT before they were slabbed weren't they? Vintage cards have somehow survived in high grades (take for example the highest graded T206 Honus Wagner, a PSA 8 NM/MT, how did this card
survive nearly 100 years without being "slabbed?") without the benefit of tamper-proof, protective pieces of plastic. The reason for these services is simple; to make money providing a service you can do
yourself (with a little knowledge). There are also plenty of protective sleeves and holders to protect your cards without costing you $6 to $10 (or more) per card to slab. So consider these things before
shelling out hundreds of dollars which otherwise could be used for buying... more CARDS!!!
For more on how to grade your cards, check out our "How To Grade" Page!
HOW WE SCORE 'EM
Pluses (+) 4: Longevity, Newer Half Point Grading Scale, Qualifiers, Higher Resale Value for high grade cards.
Negatives (-) 3: Inconsistent (especially with the older 10 point grading scale), Generic holders do not take in account card minor card size differences, Yearly membership fees.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: PSA 7 NM
Pluses (+) 4: Longevity, Newer Half Point Grading Scale, Qualifiers, Higher Resale Value for high grade cards.
Negatives (-) 3: Inconsistent (especially with the older 10 point grading scale), Generic holders do not take in account card minor card size differences, Yearly membership fees.
OUR FINAL ASSIGNED GRADE: PSA 7 NM
1953 Bowman Color #117 Duke Snider
1971 Topps #20 Reggie Jackson
1952 Topps #175 Billy Martin ELITE MINT 9?
Even from the small scan I can tell this card is nowhere near "MINT 9" as graded by Elite Grading Service. I have never heard of them until today when I saw this card in an eBay store for about $900. While the corners
may or may not be MINT, what immediately grabs your attention is the centering. Which is way off, both top to bottom and side to side. So you can slab this card in a cheap holder, claim that it is MINT 9, but that does
not mean diddly squat. In fact what it means is that ELITE is a lousy grading service and anyone sending cards to this company (if they are even still around) should have their head examined, are just ignorant and
uninformed, OR they are into scamming the ignorant and uninformed. In this case, the card isn't worth anything close to $900. Because of the centering alone, the card should grade no better than EX (SGC) and PSA might
grade it a bit higher but with the off center qualifier (OC). Either way the card is closer to EX condition than MINT 9. A PSA 5 EX 1952 Topps #175 Billy Martin recently sold on eBay for $119 (plus $5 shipping) and it had
similar centering issues so figure this card is worth something in that vicinity. PSA's Sports Market Report (July 2009) lists a PSA 5 example at $190 so figure you can get one for less depending on centering and eye appeal
factors.
may or may not be MINT, what immediately grabs your attention is the centering. Which is way off, both top to bottom and side to side. So you can slab this card in a cheap holder, claim that it is MINT 9, but that does
not mean diddly squat. In fact what it means is that ELITE is a lousy grading service and anyone sending cards to this company (if they are even still around) should have their head examined, are just ignorant and
uninformed, OR they are into scamming the ignorant and uninformed. In this case, the card isn't worth anything close to $900. Because of the centering alone, the card should grade no better than EX (SGC) and PSA might
grade it a bit higher but with the off center qualifier (OC). Either way the card is closer to EX condition than MINT 9. A PSA 5 EX 1952 Topps #175 Billy Martin recently sold on eBay for $119 (plus $5 shipping) and it had
similar centering issues so figure this card is worth something in that vicinity. PSA's Sports Market Report (July 2009) lists a PSA 5 example at $190 so figure you can get one for less depending on centering and eye appeal
factors.
1960 Topps #350 Mickey Mantle PRO 6 EX/NM???
Here is another one. Is this 1960 Topps #350 Mickey Mantle, graded by PRO grading service REALLY a EX/NM card? Just the corners alone would knock the grade down to around VG-EX. But even worse, check out the
centering top to bottom. The bottom does not even have a border, as such this card could be called "miscut" and for sure PSA would have given it the miscut qualifier (MC). It certainly would not have graded so high by either
BGS, PSA, or SGC (GAI is no longer grading cards). Yet the seller is asking close to $200 for this card on eBay. So before shelling out the hard earned moola, be informed!
centering top to bottom. The bottom does not even have a border, as such this card could be called "miscut" and for sure PSA would have given it the miscut qualifier (MC). It certainly would not have graded so high by either
BGS, PSA, or SGC (GAI is no longer grading cards). Yet the seller is asking close to $200 for this card on eBay. So before shelling out the hard earned moola, be informed!
1954 Topps #128 Henry "Hank" Aaron RC
This card was posted on GMAgrading.com's website. While centered nicely side to side, it is off center top to bottom. As such, I would have a hard time calling this card NM+, let alone NM. If submitted to Becketts, PSA, or
SGC, the card would come back probably no better than EX-MT, which is at least a full grade lower than what GMA is calling this card. Overgrading is a dis-service to collectors. It is a false grade and someone not
knowledgeable thinks they are paying for a card that is accurately graded. First, consider the source. Is the card graded by a REPUTABLE service? There are only 3 reputable 3rd party grading services that are widely recognized
in the hobby, Becketts (BVG or BGS only), PSA and SGC. And even they make mistakes occasionally. So why would you want to pay money for having your cards graded to a company that is essentially blowing smoke up yer
#$%? You will never be able to sell these cards for even close to what similar graded cards by Becketts, PSA and SGC sell for. So it is just a waste of money. By the way, GMA's big claim is that they offer the lowest prices for
grading cards, $2 per card!!! Compared to reputable companies, this is dirt cheap. But remember the saying "you get what you pay for." In this case you are getting paid for a plastic holder and that's about it. The above 1954
Topps #128 Hank Aaron baseball card is his rookie card and it is a very expensive card. As such you are throwing your money away if you think you are going to get PSA prices for a GMA "graded" card. Even for $2. You
would probably get more for your card by breaking it out of the holder and selling it as "ungraded." I kid you not. Another thing about GMA; their website contained so many "typo's" it made me laugh out loud. How can a
professional website misspell simple words while trying to portray itself as a company who is the same league as Becketts or PSA? Granted I have my share of typo's but I am not claiming to be something I'm not either.
SGC, the card would come back probably no better than EX-MT, which is at least a full grade lower than what GMA is calling this card. Overgrading is a dis-service to collectors. It is a false grade and someone not
knowledgeable thinks they are paying for a card that is accurately graded. First, consider the source. Is the card graded by a REPUTABLE service? There are only 3 reputable 3rd party grading services that are widely recognized
in the hobby, Becketts (BVG or BGS only), PSA and SGC. And even they make mistakes occasionally. So why would you want to pay money for having your cards graded to a company that is essentially blowing smoke up yer
#$%? You will never be able to sell these cards for even close to what similar graded cards by Becketts, PSA and SGC sell for. So it is just a waste of money. By the way, GMA's big claim is that they offer the lowest prices for
grading cards, $2 per card!!! Compared to reputable companies, this is dirt cheap. But remember the saying "you get what you pay for." In this case you are getting paid for a plastic holder and that's about it. The above 1954
Topps #128 Hank Aaron baseball card is his rookie card and it is a very expensive card. As such you are throwing your money away if you think you are going to get PSA prices for a GMA "graded" card. Even for $2. You
would probably get more for your card by breaking it out of the holder and selling it as "ungraded." I kid you not. Another thing about GMA; their website contained so many "typo's" it made me laugh out loud. How can a
professional website misspell simple words while trying to portray itself as a company who is the same league as Becketts or PSA? Granted I have my share of typo's but I am not claiming to be something I'm not either.
1981 Topps #261 Rickey Henderson
Another GMA "graded" card I saw on eBay. MINT 9??? I don't think so. Even if the card was pulled right out of a pack does not mean the card is in MINT condition. Chances are, it's not. Topps was notorious for centering
problems from it's beginning to modern day cards. The above second year Rickey Henderson card has some serious centering issues, namely a "diamond" or "slant" cut. Check out how the top border goes from wide to narrow
going from left to right. It is also really noticeable on the right border. A true "MINT" card should be perfectly centered or close and a slant or diamond cut would significantly lower the card's grade. As such I would grade this
card no better than EX-MT; maybe EX-MT+ if the card is otherwise perfect. Becketts, PSA and SGC would not give this card a "MINT" grade and would have probably given it anywhere from EX-MT to NM.
More on centering. Back before grading became more involved, centering was not considered that big of a deal. I remember in the 1970's going to card shows and dealers claiming cards were "MINT" even though they were
off-center. If the card looked like it came out of a pack they would call it NM or MINT. Today with 3rd party graders, grading has become far more detailed. Cards are examined for picture quality, centering, surface, edges,
corners, etc. It is very rare for a vintage card to be in true "MINT" condition, while it is very common for today's modern cards to be in MINT condition. Quality control has improved drastically among card manufacturers.
However that is what is great about vintage cards, they weren't perfect. Most were handled and loved and the cards have their own "personality" sort to speak. Today's cards are impersonal and are collected more for monetary
value instead of for the love of the game or player. Card manufacturers today know this and produce "rare" cards, which is a ploy to attract buyers to their product. Good luck with that. I am happy to collect vintage cards only.
problems from it's beginning to modern day cards. The above second year Rickey Henderson card has some serious centering issues, namely a "diamond" or "slant" cut. Check out how the top border goes from wide to narrow
going from left to right. It is also really noticeable on the right border. A true "MINT" card should be perfectly centered or close and a slant or diamond cut would significantly lower the card's grade. As such I would grade this
card no better than EX-MT; maybe EX-MT+ if the card is otherwise perfect. Becketts, PSA and SGC would not give this card a "MINT" grade and would have probably given it anywhere from EX-MT to NM.
More on centering. Back before grading became more involved, centering was not considered that big of a deal. I remember in the 1970's going to card shows and dealers claiming cards were "MINT" even though they were
off-center. If the card looked like it came out of a pack they would call it NM or MINT. Today with 3rd party graders, grading has become far more detailed. Cards are examined for picture quality, centering, surface, edges,
corners, etc. It is very rare for a vintage card to be in true "MINT" condition, while it is very common for today's modern cards to be in MINT condition. Quality control has improved drastically among card manufacturers.
However that is what is great about vintage cards, they weren't perfect. Most were handled and loved and the cards have their own "personality" sort to speak. Today's cards are impersonal and are collected more for monetary
value instead of for the love of the game or player. Card manufacturers today know this and produce "rare" cards, which is a ploy to attract buyers to their product. Good luck with that. I am happy to collect vintage cards only.
Now here is a dilemma. Here we have 3 different 1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris cards, all professionally graded as being "NM-MT." Ok, here is were it gets tricky. How much to pay? Well, PSA's Sports Market Report lists a
1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris in a PSA 8 NM-MT grade for $2250 (yes, that's two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars). This is "retail" price, what a dealer would ask for the card. So the seller of this card on eBay is asking
$3500 + $20 shipping for a total of $3520.00 which is $1270 MORE (>) than PSA's SMR (November 2009). Remember folks, we are in a "recession" right now. Ok so also see this SGC graded example, also NM/MT. The
seller of the SGC Maris card is asking a more reasonable $2695 + $3.50 shipping for a total of $2698.50. That is $448 dollars more (>) than PSA's SMR but at least it is somewhere in the ballpark. Now check out the GAI
graded Maris card. Like the other two it has nice centering, image, corners, etc. A vintage NM-MT 1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris is a real treasure; it's about the highest grade you are going to find (though I am sure there are a few
higher graded examples, but certainly not affordable for most) and it's an important card in the hobby. But the seller of the GAI 8 Maris is asking just $1250 or "Best Offer" plus $11.50 shipping. So that comes to $1261.50,
which is $988.55 LESS (<) than SMR! So you be the judge; which is the better bargain? The only thing I can think as to why the GAI card is so much less is that GAI are no longer in the grading and authenticating business as they
filed for Chapter 11 protection last year. But while in business they were considered one of the top four grading services. So I can understand the GAI Maris selling for less than PSA, Becketts, or SGC but are you telling me that the
GAI card is worth a thousand dollars less than the other two examples above? For sure, the GAI graded Maris will sell much more quickly (if it hasn't already) than the other two graded cards. This is all very confusing. It all has to
do with how each grading service is perceived. Most think PSA is the best and some are willing to pay for it. Some, like myself, know that a nice card can be a nice card with or without a PSA holder. If I were in looking to
purchase this Maris card and had the choice of the above 3 examples I would definitely go with the GAI. We are talking a $1000 difference and more! Plus I can make an offer for the GAI example and possibly get it for less than
a grand. Then with the money I save I can buy some more cool cards. But as far as grading services being "a good thing for the hobby," exactly what the hell does that mean? That you can get more (or less) money for your cards?
That one grader may call a card "NM," while another calls the same card "EX-MT?" The only thing I really think that is beneficial about grading services is the fact that there are some expensive cards out there and there are cards
that have been altered or trimmed. While usually you can spot such things, is it worth taking a chance on an expensive card? Other than that and the fact that your cardboard treasure is going to outlive you, isn't this all just a bit
silly???
1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris in a PSA 8 NM-MT grade for $2250 (yes, that's two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars). This is "retail" price, what a dealer would ask for the card. So the seller of this card on eBay is asking
$3500 + $20 shipping for a total of $3520.00 which is $1270 MORE (>) than PSA's SMR (November 2009). Remember folks, we are in a "recession" right now. Ok so also see this SGC graded example, also NM/MT. The
seller of the SGC Maris card is asking a more reasonable $2695 + $3.50 shipping for a total of $2698.50. That is $448 dollars more (>) than PSA's SMR but at least it is somewhere in the ballpark. Now check out the GAI
graded Maris card. Like the other two it has nice centering, image, corners, etc. A vintage NM-MT 1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris is a real treasure; it's about the highest grade you are going to find (though I am sure there are a few
higher graded examples, but certainly not affordable for most) and it's an important card in the hobby. But the seller of the GAI 8 Maris is asking just $1250 or "Best Offer" plus $11.50 shipping. So that comes to $1261.50,
which is $988.55 LESS (<) than SMR! So you be the judge; which is the better bargain? The only thing I can think as to why the GAI card is so much less is that GAI are no longer in the grading and authenticating business as they
filed for Chapter 11 protection last year. But while in business they were considered one of the top four grading services. So I can understand the GAI Maris selling for less than PSA, Becketts, or SGC but are you telling me that the
GAI card is worth a thousand dollars less than the other two examples above? For sure, the GAI graded Maris will sell much more quickly (if it hasn't already) than the other two graded cards. This is all very confusing. It all has to
do with how each grading service is perceived. Most think PSA is the best and some are willing to pay for it. Some, like myself, know that a nice card can be a nice card with or without a PSA holder. If I were in looking to
purchase this Maris card and had the choice of the above 3 examples I would definitely go with the GAI. We are talking a $1000 difference and more! Plus I can make an offer for the GAI example and possibly get it for less than
a grand. Then with the money I save I can buy some more cool cards. But as far as grading services being "a good thing for the hobby," exactly what the hell does that mean? That you can get more (or less) money for your cards?
That one grader may call a card "NM," while another calls the same card "EX-MT?" The only thing I really think that is beneficial about grading services is the fact that there are some expensive cards out there and there are cards
that have been altered or trimmed. While usually you can spot such things, is it worth taking a chance on an expensive card? Other than that and the fact that your cardboard treasure is going to outlive you, isn't this all just a bit
silly???
1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris GAI 8 NM-MT 1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris PSA 8 NM-MT 1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris SGC 88 NM/MT
Do these three cards look like they are all GEM MINT 10? This "Grading Service" TMA should have called itself "GEM MINT 10 Grading Service" as it appears ANY card you send
them they slab and assign a GEM MINT 10 label to it. Is this for real??? By the way "TMA" stands for "Tickle My Arsehole...." This is just a simple waste of money.
them they slab and assign a GEM MINT 10 label to it. Is this for real??? By the way "TMA" stands for "Tickle My Arsehole...." This is just a simple waste of money.
1967 Topps #250 Hank Aaron 1974 Topps #300 Pete Rose 1971 Topps #550Harmon Killebrew
1965 Topps #134 '64 World Series Game #3 Mantle's Clutch HR (Mickey Mantle)
This is an example of a BCCG graded card; it is given an assigned number grade (6) which on any other grading service (including Becketts) would be the equivalent of "Excellent-Mint" or
"EX-MT." But this is a Becketts Collector's Club graded card. So note the fine print underneath the large "6." "Good or Better." And judging from the card itself (tape stains, crease in upper right
corner area) this is a lower grade example. But this 1965 Topps #134 Mantle's Clutch HR is a terrific and affordable vintage Mickey Mantle card in any condition!
"EX-MT." But this is a Becketts Collector's Club graded card. So note the fine print underneath the large "6." "Good or Better." And judging from the card itself (tape stains, crease in upper right
corner area) this is a lower grade example. But this 1965 Topps #134 Mantle's Clutch HR is a terrific and affordable vintage Mickey Mantle card in any condition!