SGC grading question

[Fandom0610]

Im just wondering if SGC is as strict if not stricter in their grading as PSA? Ive heard a couple opinions on this, but wanted to see what other people think about this. I know SGC is a particularly popular choice for older cards, but how about modern cards? How do they measure up compared to PSA?

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Fandom0610

Im just wondering if SGC is as strict if not stricter in their grading as PSA? Ive heard a couple opinions on this, but wanted to see what other people think about this. I know SGC is a particularly popular choice for older cards, but how about modern cards? How do they measure up compared to PSA?

It seems like both PSA and SGC grade various card attributes differently. This is why some MC cards frequently seem to end up with one card company versus another. JMHO

[Zach Wheat]

Link to a thread on the pre-war side covering related issues:

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=363454

[deweyinthehall]

I am purely a collector, now working my way through building 1960s sets.

I have found that I can purchase SGC cards for less than the same grade from PSA, and still have the cards (which I always break out) look far better, to my eyes, than an equivalently graded PSA card.

SGC all the way, for this collector and set builder.

[ClementeFanOh]

SGC has become more strict the past several years, there's no question. They
seem particularly fond of severely penalizing cards for micro creases, as one
example. PSA isn't truly strict, they are inconsistent and unpredictable. PSA
is prone to misapplying their stupid qualifiers as well. To use a teaching
analogy, SGC is like the professor who is harsh but consistent. PSA is like the
professor who gives an "A" one week, then a "C" the next for the same work.
I strongly suspect we'd be unpleasantly surprised if we knew the qualifications
of most PSA graders.

Trent King

[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

SGC has become more strict the past several years, there's no question. They
seem particularly fond of severely penalizing cards for micro creases, as one
example. PSA isn't truly strict, they are inconsistent and unpredictable. PSA
is prone to misapplying their stupid qualifiers as well. To use a teaching
analogy, SGC is like the professor who is harsh but consistent. PSA is like the
professor who gives an "A" one week, then a "C" the next for the same work.
I strongly suspect we'd be unpleasantly surprised if we knew the qualifications
of most PSA graders.

Trent King

This has probably been asked/discussed elsewhere on these boards, but since you raised it - does anyone have any idea of the process to become a PSA grader, or a grader for any company, and what the qualifications might truly be?

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

I am purely a collector, now working my way through building 1960s sets.

I have found that I can purchase SGC cards for less than the same grade from PSA, and still have the cards (which I always break out) look far better, to my eyes, than an equivalently graded PSA card.

SGC all the way, for this collector and set builder.

I agree. I have done this for certain cards. I have not crossed all of them, but most work out. I have done the same for the early GAI cards and had good success as well. The problem with GAI cards is the inconsistency in cards graded later in the era of GAI as well as micro trimming. I have also crossed some of the old red label SCD cards and had good success.