Rookie cards
A player's first official cards – the most sought-after grading candidates in sports.
Get Sports Cards Graded
Have your sports cards – soccer, basketball (NBA), football (NFL), baseball and Formula 1 – professionally graded, authenticated and sealed in the PGS case. Fast, insured and customs-free. From rookies and autos to numbered parallels. Made in Germany, from €15.95 per card.
Why grade?
Why get sports cards graded?
With sports cards condition heavily drives value – grading makes it objectively visible.
The market for sports cards is growing fast in Europe – from soccer cards (Panini, Topps) to basketball (NBA), football (NFL), baseball (MLB) and Formula 1. Especially in demand are rookie cards, autographs (autos), patch & memorabilia cards and numbered parallels. When you get sports cards graded, we confirm their authenticity and document their condition objectively – the basis for fair prices.
Modern inserts and chrome/refractor cards have sensitive surfaces: scratches, print lines and whitening on the corners noticeably affect the grade. We rate every card under controlled lighting and magnification and also check clean cut edges and centering – a particularly common topic with sports cards.
The sealed PGS case protects your card permanently, the serial number with QR code makes the grade verifiable at any time, and the pop report transparently shows how rare a grade is – a clear advantage for resale.
Is it worth it?
Which sports cards are worth grading?
Player, rarity and condition determine the grading benefit.
Autographs & patches
On-card autos and memorabilia cards whose authenticity is documented and protected.
Numbered parallels
Refractors, Prizm & limited /-numbering whose value a high grade secures.
Vintage & icons
Classic cards of great sports legends – objectively rated and securely sealed.
Unsure about the value? Our authenticity & valuation service helps.
What we focus on
Specifics of sports card grading
Sports cards come in many formats and from many manufacturers (Panini, Topps, Upper Deck and more). We grade common standard sizes from soccer, basketball, football, baseball and motorsport. Chrome and refractor cards are checked especially for surface issues such as clouding and scratches; for numbered parallels we also pay attention to clean edges.
Centering is often the decisive criterion for sports cards – offsets occur more frequently due to production than with TCGs. Our rating makes that transparent so buyers and sellers share the same objective basis.
Grading criteria
What is rated?
Four subgrades form the overall grade from 1 to 10.
Centering
Even cut – an especially common topic with sports cards.
Corners
Corner sharpness, whitening, dents.
Edges
Edge wear and colour chipping – common on dark borders.
Surface
Scratches, print lines and clouding – decisive on chrome & refractors.
How the four criteria form the overall grade is explained on the grading scale and subgrades pages.
In 4 steps
The process at PGS
1 · Order
Pick a service in the configurator and complete your order online.
2 · Send in
Send your cards insured to Cologne or drop them off in person.
3 · Grade
Authentication & rating of the four subgrades under controlled lighting.
4 · Seal
Case with serial number & QR code, then insured return shipping.
The full path from sending in to the sealed slab is described on the grading process page.
Germany instead of the USA
Advantages over shipping abroad
No customs, no value charge, no months of waiting: with grading in Germany your cards never leave the country, so import duties and long transport routes are avoided. The price is fixed up front, processing takes 1–15 business days, and shipping stays insured throughout. See the full comparison at PSA vs. PGS, all costs at grading prices.
FAQ
Common questions about sports card grading
Which sports cards can I have graded?
We grade common sports cards from soccer, basketball (NBA), football (NFL), baseball (MLB) and Formula 1 – from manufacturers such as Panini, Topps and Upper Deck.
Are rookie cards and autographs worth grading?
Yes. Rookies, on-card autos and numbered parallels are among the most valuable sports cards – a high grade in a sealed case clearly increases protection and resale value.
What do you focus on with chrome & refractor cards?
For chrome and refractors we check the surface especially for clouding, print lines and scratches, plus centering, which is often decisive for sports cards.
What does sports card grading cost?
From €15.95 per card as a fixed price without value charge. All services and prices are in the price overview.
How long does it take?
Between 1 and 15 business days depending on the service. Track it live on the status page.
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