
The month of February witnessed a bustling activity in the trading card grading world, with an impressive 1.6 million cards authenticated by the leading grading entities. This surge in card submissions marked a significant 25% increase from the previous year, indicating a growing interest in the hobby. Among the standout athletes driving this trend were Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud, whose cards commanded attention and dominated the grading charts.
Despite a slight dip from January’s numbers, the combined efforts of the top four grading companies revealed a robust performance in February. Sports cards took the lead, comprising 55.5% of the total submissions, showcasing the enduring popularity of this segment among collectors. PSA emerged as the front runner in card grading volume, processing a staggering 1.24 million cards, with baseball cards leading the way with over 293,000 submissions.
Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud emerged as the darlings of the grading scene, with their cards flooding in for authentication. Ohtani’s move to the Dodgers and Stroud’s impressive NFL season propelled their cards to the top of the submission list, with PSA alone handling 26,800 and 16,400 cards for Ohtani and Stroud, respectively. This surge in submissions for both these athletes reflects the growing demand for their cards in the collector’s market.
The grading frenzy extended beyond PSA, with other grading companies like SGC witnessing a surge in submissions, particularly from the 2023 sports season in football and baseball. The roster of graded players at SGC featured a mix of legends and emerging stars, with the likes of Michael Jordan, Shohei Ohtani, and CJ Stroud garnering significant attention. ISA Grading and Beckett Grading also navigated through a substantial number of submissions, with Beckett notably grading the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as its most submitted issue, adding to the diversity of cards in the grading mix.
This spike in card grading activity underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the sports memorabilia market, with newcomers like Ohtani and Stroud making a splash alongside established legends. The surge in submissions for both modern and vintage sports cards indicates a positive trajectory for the hobby, offering collectors and investors a promising outlook on the future of the market. With Ohtani and Stroud at the forefront of this grading surge, the stage is set for an exciting and vibrant period in the world of sports card collecting.