The month of February witnessed a whirlwind of activity in the trading card grading world, with over 1.6 million cards making their way through the authentication process. This surge, although slightly lower than January’s numbers, marked a significant 25% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. The division between sports cards and Trading Card Games (TCG) such as Pokemon and Magic The Gathering revealed a clear preference, with 55.5% of the authenticated cards belonging to the realm of sports, affirming the enduring popularity of this segment.
PSA emerged as the frontrunner in card grading volume, having processed a staggering 1.24 million cards. Among the different categories, baseball cards stood out with over 293,000 submissions for grading. Notably, it was the athletes Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud who stole the spotlight, with their cards being some of the most commonly submitted for grading. Ohtani’s move to the Dodgers and Stroud’s impressive NFL season were key factors contributing to their heightened grading prominence, with PSA handling 26,800 cards for Ohtani and 16,400 for Stroud in the span of a month.
However, the grading fervor was not limited to PSA alone, as other grading entities like SGC and additional companies all experienced a surge in modern card submissions from the 2023 sports season, particularly in football and baseball. The roster of graded players at SGC included both legendary figures and emerging stars, with the likes of Michael Jordan, Ohtani, and Stroud garnering significant attention. It was also reported that ISA Grading and Beckett Grading navigated through a substantial influx of submissions, with Beckett notably grading the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as its most commonly submitted item.
This upsurge in card grading activities underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the sports memorabilia market. New talents like Ohtani and Stroud are steadily gaining traction, capturing the interest of collectors and investors alike. The burgeoning numbers in grading indicate a growing fascination with both modern and vintage sports cards, painting a promising picture for the future of the hobby.
