The month of February marked a bustling period in the world of trading card grading, with an impressive 1.6 million cards undergoing authentication across the four major grading entities. While this figure represented a slight decrease from January, it showcased a substantial 25% surge compared to the same timeframe 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 for sports cards, constituting a majority share of 55.5% and emphasizing the enduring popularity of this category.
Among the key players in the grading arena, PSA emerged as the leader in card volume processing, grading a hefty 1.24 million cards. Baseball cards took the spotlight with over 293,000 cards receiving grading services. Noteworthy athletes, Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud, commanded attention as their cards were notably prevalent in the submissions. With Ohtani’s anticipated move to the Dodgers and Stroud’s impressive NFL season, their cards garnered significant interest, resulting in PSA processing 26,800 cards for Ohtani and 16,400 for Stroud within the span of the month.
The grading frenzy extended beyond PSA, with SGC and other grading companies also experiencing a surge in submissions, particularly from the 2023 sports season encompassing football and baseball. SGC’s roster of graded players featured a mix of legendary figures and emerging stars, with the likes of Michael Jordan, Shohei Ohtani, and CJ Stroud capturing considerable attention. Additionally, ISA Grading and Beckett Grading encountered a substantial influx of submissions, with Beckett notably grading the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as a standout issue.
This upsurge in trading card grading activities underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the sports memorabilia market. Rising talents like Ohtani and Stroud are swiftly gaining traction among collectors and investors, manifesting their growing popularity in the hobbyist landscape. As evidenced by the escalating grading figures, the interest in both contemporary and vintage sports cards shows no sign of waning, hinting at an exhilarating future for the trading card collecting realm.
