The feverish whirlwind of card grading activity continued its relentless pace into February, with the authentication of over 1.6 million cards painting a vivid picture of the bustling collector’s market. This surge, while slightly dipping from January’s numbers, marked a substantial 25% increase compared to the same period last year, hinting at the enduring popularity of sports cards and Trading Card Games (TCG) like Pokemon and Magic The Gathering in the hearts of enthusiasts.
In the realm of card grading entities, PSA emerged as the primary player, processing a whopping 1.24 million cards during the month. The allure of baseball cards stood out prominently, with more than 293,000 of them receiving the coveted grades. Among the sea of submissions, the names of Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud glittered like prized gems, reflecting their escalating presence in the market. Ohtani’s shift to the Dodgers and Stroud’s meteoric rise in the NFL scene fueled the submission spree, with PSA alone handling 26,800 cards for Ohtani and 16,400 for Stroud.
The grading frenzy extended beyond PSA, as other grading giants like SGC and a host of companies reported a substantial influx of cards from the 2023 sports season, predominantly from football and baseball genres. The roster of graded players at SGC boasted a mix of legends and emerging stars, with the likes of Michael Jordan, Ohtani, and Stroud commanding significant attention. Meanwhile, ISA Grading and Beckett Grading braved through a deluge of submissions, with Beckett notably dubbing the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as its most solicited issue.
This surge in card grading activities reverberates as a testament to the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the sports memorabilia arena. With fresh talents like Ohtani and Stroud carving their paths to fame, collectors and investors find themselves captivated by the allure of acquiring these sought-after pieces of history. The escalating numbers in grading figures serve as a compelling narrative of the burgeoning interest in both contemporary and vintage sports cards, setting the stage for an exhilarating journey ahead in the hobby that continues to capture the hearts of enthusiasts worldwide.
