The month of February set the trading card grading scene abuzz with a whopping activity level, as over 1.6 million cards were authenticated. This surge marks a significant yearly increase and denotes a flourishing market for collectors and enthusiasts. Notably, athletes Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud stole the spotlight, dominating the grading charts and further elevating their appeal in the ever-growing collector’s market.
The top four card grading entities reported a staggering figure of 1.6 million cards authenticated in February, showcasing a remarkable 25% uptick compared to the same period last year. Although this number slightly dipped from January’s statistics, the overall trend points towards an escalating interest in trading card authentication. The split between sports cards and Trading Card Games (TCG) like Pokemon and Magic The Gathering revealed a clear majority of 55.5% favoring sports cards, emphasizing the enduring popularity of this sector within the hobby.
PSA emerged as the frontrunner in card grading volume, processing an impressive 1.24 million cards during the month. Among the plethora of cards graded, baseball cards stood out with over 293,000 submissions. Within this assortment, the dynamic duo of Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud captured significant attention, with their cards being among the most submitted for grading. Ohtani’s recent transition to the Dodgers and Stroud’s remarkable breakout season in the NFL further boosted their grading prominence, with PSA handling 26,800 cards for Ohtani and 16,400 for Stroud in February alone.
The grading frenzy extended beyond PSA, as other prominent grading companies such as SGC also experienced a substantial influx of modern cards from the 2023 sports season, particularly in football and baseball categories. The graded player roster at SGC featured a mix of legends and rising stars, with notable names like Michael Jordan, Shohei Ohtani, and CJ Stroud garnering significant attention. Additionally, ISA Grading and Beckett Grading navigated through a plethora of submissions, with Beckett notably grading the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as its most submitted issue for the month.
This surge in card grading activity underscores the vibrant and evolving nature of the sports memorabilia market, with emerging talents like Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud making a substantial impact among collectors and investors alike. The mounting interest in both modern and vintage sports cards signals a promising future for the hobby, as enthusiasts continue to fuel this dynamic and exciting sector within the world of trading card collecting.
