The month of February brought a whirlwind of activity to the trading card grading scene, with numbers soaring to over 1.6 million cards authenticated across the key grading entities. This surge painted a picture of a booming market, with a notable 25% increase from the previous year, showcasing the enduring allure of collecting in the digital age.
While January’s figures slightly surpassed those of February, the overall trend pointed to a growing appetite for sports cards and Trading Card Games (TCG). The split between the two revealed a significant tilt towards sports cards, comprising 55.5% of the total submissions. This statistic underscored the unwavering popularity of sports cards, catering to enthusiasts eager to capture a piece of their favorite athletes’ legacies.
Among the grading giants, PSA emerged as the leader in volume, processing a staggering 1.24 million cards. Baseball cards took center stage, with over 293,000 cards making their way through the grading process. However, it was the charismatic duo of Shohei Ohtani and CJ Stroud who stole the spotlight, with their cards flooding the grading rooms. Ohtani’s move to the Dodgers and Stroud’s breakout NFL season fueled the gravitation towards their cards, resulting in PSA handling 26,800 and 16,400 cards for the two athletes, respectively.
The grading craze extended beyond PSA, as SGC and other grading companies found themselves inundated with a wave of modern cards from the 2023 sports season, particularly in football and baseball. The player roster at SGC boasted a mix of legends and rising stars, featuring the likes of Michael Jordan, Ohtani, and Stroud in the limelight. Meanwhile, ISA Grading and Beckett Grading also experienced a surge in submissions, with Beckett notably grading the 2023 Topps NOW Connor Bedard rookie sticker as its most requested issue.
This surge in card grading not only underscores the dynamism of the sports memorabilia market but also highlights the shifting trends within the industry. Emerging talents like Ohtani and Stroud are capturing the attention of collectors and investors alike, signaling a promising future for the hobby. The numbers tell a tale of growing interest in both modern and vintage sports cards, hinting at an exciting journey ahead for enthusiasts seeking to immerse themselves in the world of sports collectibles.
