The card grading sector experienced a surge of activity in February, brimming with over 1.6 million cards being authenticated, marking a significant rise from the previous year. The standout figures in this bustling landscape were none other than the dynamic duo of Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud, carving their names at the top of the grading hierarchy.
Throughout February, the primary card grading bodies collectively processed over 1.6 million cards, although slightly lower than January’s count, it still displayed a formidable 25% escalation compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. When dissected, the domination favored sports cards over Trading Card Games (TCG) like Pokemon and Magic The Gathering, with sports cards claiming a majority share of 55.5%, reaffirming its enduring allure among collectors.
At the forefront of the grading frenzy stood PSA, having authenticated a whopping 1.24 million cards. Within this colossal number, baseball cards emerged prominently, with more than 293,000 cards undergoing grading. Stars like Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud seized the limelight, their cards flooding the grading queue. Ohtani’s venture to the Dodgers and Stroud’s captivating NFL season greatly fueled their grading popularity, with PSA processing 26,800 cards for Ohtani and 16,400 for Stroud during the month.
The grading fervor extended beyond PSA, reaching other grading entities such as SGC, which saw a surge in modern cards from the 2023 sports season, notably in football and baseball categories. The roster of graded players at SGC encompassed both established icons and emerging talents, with luminaries like Michael Jordan sharing the spotlight with the rising stars Ohtani and Stroud. Concurrently, ISA Grading and Beckett Grading also encountered a substantial influx of submissions, with Beckett notably assessing the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as its most frequently graded item.
The flourishing trend in card grading underscores the vibrant and dynamic essence of the sports memorabilia market, with fresh talents like Ohtani and Stroud resonating strongly with collectors and investors. Evidenced by the escalating grading statistics, the passion for both contemporary and vintage sports cards continues to burgeon, promising an exhilarating trajectory for this beloved hobby.
