The month of February marked a bustling period in the world of trading card grading, with a remarkable uptick in activity. Over 1.6 million cards were authenticated during this time, showcasing a substantial increase from the previous year. Noteworthy athletes, Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud, grabbed the spotlight by dominating the grading charts, reflecting their surging popularity in the collector’s market.
The four major card grading entities reported a total of over 1.6 million cards authenticated in February, showing a slight decrease from January’s numbers but a significant 25% rise compared to the same period last year. Interestingly, the split between sports cards and Trading Card Games (TCG) like Pokemon and Magic The Gathering leaned heavily towards sports cards, comprising 55.5% of the total submissions, highlighting the enduring charm of this segment among collectors.
PSA emerged as the front-runner in card grading volume, processing a staggering 1.24 million cards. Among these, baseball cards took the lead with over 293,000 cards graded. The limelight, however, shone brightest on Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud, whose cards were some of the most frequently submitted for grading. Ohtani’s move to the Dodgers and Stroud’s breakout NFL season played a significant role in their grading dominance, with PSA handling 26,800 cards for Ohtani and 16,400 for Stroud within the month.
The grading frenzy extended beyond PSA, with SGC and other grading companies also experiencing a surge in submissions of modern cards from the 2023 sports season, particularly in football and baseball. At SGC, the list of graded players featured a mix of legends and emerging stars, with the likes of Michael Jordan, Ohtani, and Stroud garnering significant attention. ISA Grading and Beckett Grading also processed a substantial number of submissions, with Beckett notably grading the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as its most submitted issue.
This surge in card grading activity underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the sports memorabilia market, with rising talents such as Ohtani and Stroud capturing the interest of collectors and investors alike. The increasing numbers in card grading indicate a growing enthusiasm for both modern and vintage sports cards, promising an engaging future for the hobby with an array of exciting possibilities.
