Grading keeps on growing. There is no question that the state of this side of the hobby is healthy overall. However, the growth is slowing down somewhat. In January, we saw an increase of no less than 15% overall in activity.
In February, that went down to 5%, and this month, the rate of submissions is up by just 2%. Still growth, but not much more than standing pat.
A remarkable resurgence of Pokémon has driven the increase in the last two months. That seems to have slowed down. But to what extent? And what happened to sport? Let’s find out with our overview of sports card grading trends for March 2025.
We always wonder how TCGs (or Pokémon, if we are being real here) compare to sports.
Here are the numbers for PSA:
| Type of Submission | Numbers Submitted In March | Movement in Comparison To February |
| TCG | 746,700 | +3% |
| Baseball | 248,800 | -3% |
| Football | 202,500 | +16% |
| Basketball | 146,000 | -4% |
| Non-Sport | 42,400 | -14% |
| Hockey | 28,100 | +6% |
| Soccer | 27,400 | -10% |
TCG had another decent month, but it is no longer surging as it was a couple of months ago. Meanwhile, baseball had a relatively weak month. It was not a great sign for the period leading up to and including Opening Day.
But football had a far stronger month than expected, outperforming all other categories. Meanwhile, hockey jumped past soccer as well. We will see if it can stay above it.
Which companies are enjoying the growth in submissions? Is it evenly spread out, or is PSA enjoying it disproportionately?
| Grading Company | Number of Submissions | Movement from February |
| PSA | 1,470,000 | +2% |
| CGC | 248,000 | -13% |
| SGC | 174,000 | +19% |
| BGS | 69,000 | +30% |
PSA has shown modest growth, which aligns with the overall trend. It is the other companies where we see more dramatic developments.
CGC had a truly weak month despite a fairly strong market. Meanwhile, SGC and BGS had strong months, but their overall numbers remain modest.
2024 was a powerful year for ultra-modern. Correspondingly, vintage seemed to be losing speed. Sometimes, the future of this market seemed somewhat uncertain. But so far, 2025 has seen a partial recovery in the sector. Will that last?
| Decade | PSA (Sports Only) | PSA (TCG Only) | BGS (Sports Only) | SGC (Sports Only) | CGC (TCG Only) |
| 2020s | 64.6% | 76.4% | 68.1% | 57.5% | 63.7% |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 9.4% | 6.1% | 5.1% | 12% |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 7.7% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 8.7% |
| 1990s | 9.3% | 5.5% | 10.4% | 4.5% | 14.9% |
| 1980s | 6% | 0.3% | 7.4% | 9.8% | 0.2% |
| 1970s | 2.4% | 0.2% | 1.7% | 8.8% | 0.1% |
| 1960s | 2.1% | 0.2% | 1.9% | 5.3% | 0.4% |
| The 1950s and earlier | 2.8% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.8% | 0% |
Ultra-modern is up by 1% again this month. That is true for PSA and SGC. There was a similar rise in February. So the trend, again, is towards a lower number of vintage cards graded.
Gem rates are an essential part of the grading companies’ identities. SGC has always been known for having the most challenging grades, while BGS traditionally is the easiest for getting gems, though they differentiate between different levels.
Meanwhile, PSA has usually been somewhere in the middle. How did these reputations hold in March?
| Decade | PSA (Sports Only) | PSA (TCG Only) | BGS (Sports Only) | SGC (Sports Only) | CGC (TCG Only) |
| 2020s | 43.7% | 57.7% | 65.8% | 33.2% | 66.5% |
| 2010s | 35.8% | 37.5% | 32.9% | 22.8% | 48.9% |
| 2000s | 19% | 11.5% | 17.4% | 9.3% | 18.6% |
| 1990s | 13.8% | 7.8% | 10.7% | 4.1% | 13.3% |
| 1980s | 8.3% | 8.7% | 2% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
| 1970s | 1.8% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 1960s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| The 1950s and earlier | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
The PSA gem rate is down from last month. Meanwhile, the BGS rate has shot up significantly, and SGC has decreased somewhat to one of the lowest rates we have seen there. The traditional BGS is the most generous, PSA holds the middle ground, and SGC holds as the hard asses.
The difference between the different grades has also never been more significant. BGS has almost double gem rate compared to SGC. Those two are very consciously styling themselves in the extremes.
Jordan returned to first place among the athletes, with Shohei behind him. Meanwhile, Pikachu beat out Charizard for TCG. Will there be any fresh blood in March?
Most Graded Athletes
| Athlete | Amount Submitted In March | Movement from December |
| Jayden Daniels | 21,500 | +51% |
| Shohei Ohtani | 19,200 | +4% |
| Michael Jordan | 18,500 | -3% |
| Victor Wembanyama | 16,200 | -5% |
| Paul Skenes | 14,100 | -11% |
| Caitlin Clark | 12,800 | -14% |
| Bo Nix | 9,300 | +40% |
| Kobe Bryant | 7,100 | +14% |
| Drake Maye | 7,000 | +44% |
| Michael Penix Jr. | 6,600 | +46% |
| Elly De La Cruz | 6,400 | -10% |
| Caleb Williams | 6,300 | +41% |
A lot of new entries here. But let’s start with our latest top dog, Jayden Daniels. I was surprised to see him down at sixth last month. I should have known that would not last long.
But Jayden made a massive jump even though football season is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and Caleb Williams are all new quarterback entries making waves this month.
| Character | Amount Submitted In March | Movement from March |
| Pikachu | 55,400 | -2% |
| Charizard | 53,600 | +7% |
| Eevee | 27,700 | +50% |
| Mew | 20,500 | +12% |
| Mewtwo | 13,200 | +11% |
| Sylveon | 12,600 | +10% |
| Blastoise | 10,500 | -1% |
| Espeon | 10,500 | +12% |
| Leafeon | 10,500 | +19% |
| Glaceon | 10,400 | +21% |
Pikachu has increased his lead over Charizard. Meanwhile, Eevee has overtaken Umbreon and Mew and is now part of the Big Three. Glaceon and Leafeon are new entries into the top ten.
| Characters or Athletes | Amount Submitted In September | Movement from March |
| Pikachu | 55,400 | -2% |
| Charizard | 53,600 | +7% |
| Eevee | 27,700 | +50% |
| Jayden Daniels | 21,500 | +51% |
| Mew | 20,500 | +12% |
| Shohei Ohtani | 19,200 | +4% |
| Michael Jordan | 18,500 | -3% |
| Victor Wembanyama | 16,200 | -5% |
| Mewtwo | 13,200 | +11% |
| Caitlin Clark | 12,800 | -14% |
The top three in the combined list are all Pokémon. However, sports retain their influence in-depth, with half the chart comprising athletes.
Prizm Football shot to the top, and we expect to see it there for a while, as we do every year. Meanwhile, 2024 Pokémon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX was comfortably at the top of the chart in February.
| Set | Number Graded In September | Change from March |
| 2024 Panini Prizm Football | 23,200 | +60% |
| 2024 Panini Mosaic Football | 12,900 | +37% |
| 2024 Panini Donruss Football | 10,000 | +36% |
| 2024 Topps Chrome Update Baseball | 7,200 | -25% |
| 2023 Panini Select Football | 6,600 | -23% |
| 2024 Topps Update Baseball | 5,100 | -20% |
| 2024 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect Autographs Baseball | 4,600 | +15% |
| 2023 Panini Prizm Basketball | 4,600 | -10% |
| 2024 Topps Now Baseball | 4,300 | -22% |
| 2024 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Baseball | 4,200 | -9% |
2024 Prizm Football has not only remained in first, it has significantly increased its lead. So have the two other big football releases. But beneath the top guns, we are seeing a lot of weakness in sports.
| Set | Number Graded In September | Change from March |
| 2025 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX | 71,400 | +1% |
| 2023 Pokémon MEW EN-151 | 39,000 | +9% |
| 2025 Pokémon Ssp EN-Surging Sparks | 30,300 | -11% |
| 2023 Pokémon Sword & Shield Crown Zenith | 29,400 | +11% |
| 2023 Pokémon Japanese Sv2a- Pokémon 151 | 24,200 | -4% |
| 2025 Pokémon Pre EN Prismatic Evolutions | 19,100 | +240% |
| 2023 Pokémon Svp-SV Black Star Promo | 17,400 | +10% |
| 2024 Pokémon Svp-SV Black Star Promo | 14,900 | +0% |
| 2023 Pokémon of EN-Obsidian Flames | 13,400 | +18% |
| 2025 Pokémon Scr En-Stellar Crown | 12,300 | -11% |
2025 Pokémon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX builds on its lead, though the momentum is gone. 2025 Pokémon Pre EN Prismatic Evolutions is the hot new entry.
Meanwhile, perhaps the most notable thing about this chart is the glaring absence of the classic 1999 Pokémon Game. I have a feeling we have not seen the last of it. But its days of dominance are long gone as people move on to new products.
| Set | Number Graded In September | Change from March |
| 2025 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX | 71,400 | +1% |
| 2023 Pokémon MEW EN-151 | 39,000 | +9% |
| 2025 Pokémon Ssp EN-Surging Sparks | 30,300 | -11% |
| 2023 Pokémon Sword & Shield Crown Zenith | 29,400 | +11% |
| 2023 Pokémon Japanese Sv2a- Pokémon 151 | 24,200 | -4% |
| 2024 Panini Prizm Football | 23,200 | +60% |
| 2025 Pokémon Pre EN Prismatic Evolutions | 19,100 | +240% |
| 2023 Pokémon Svp-SV Black Star Promo | 17,400 | +10% |
| 2024 Pokémon Svp-SV Black Star Promo | 14,900 | +0% |
| 2023 Pokémon of EN-Obsidian Flames | 13,400 | +18% |
This is the most dominant combined chart we have seen in quite some time. There is only one sports release on this entire chart.
Sports
| Card | Number Graded In March | Change from March |
| 2024 Panini Instant WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark #A | 2,400 | -36% |
| 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels #347 | 1,800 | +40% |
| 2024 Panini Donruss Jayden Daniel #389 | 1,600 | +66% |
| 2025 Bowman U Now Cooper Flagg #1 | 1,300 | -19% |
| 2025 Topps Now Shohei Ohtani #722 | 1,100 | -27% |
| 2024 Panini Select WNBA Caitlin Clark #72 | 900 | -16% |
| #DN1 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie #1 | 900 | +14% |
| 2024 Panini Prizm Bo Nix #309 | 700 | +59% |
| 2024 Upper Deck Lane Hutson #229 | 700 | +39% |
| 2024 Panini Donruss Bo Nix #369 | 600 | +28% |
The 2024 Panini Instant WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark #A card maintains first place with an impressive margin.
There are also some interesting new entries of Bo Nix and Lane Hutson, the latest big thing in hockey.
| Card | Number Graded In March | Change from March |
| 2024 Pokémon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Umbreon EX Special Art Rare #217 | 7,600 | -3% |
| 2025 Pokémon Svp EN-SV Black Star Promo Eevee Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box #173 | 6,500 | +271% |
| 2023 Pokémon Mew EN-151 Charizard EX Special Illustration Rare #199 | 5,300 | +26% |
| 2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Sylveon EX Special Art Rare #212 | 4,700 | -3% |
| 2024 Pokémon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Eevee EX Special Art Rare #224 | 4,500 | +7% |
| 2025 Pokémon Japanese SV-P Promo Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Box Purchase Campaign #232 | 4,200 | +37% |
| 2024 Pokémon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Vapreon EX Special Art Rare #211 | 3,900 | +7% |
| 2023 Pokémon svp EN-SV Black Star Promo Pikachu W/Grey Felt Hat Pokemon X Van Gogh #85 | 3,900 | +3% |
| 2025 Pokémon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Flareon EX Special Art Rare #200 | 3,800 | +9% |
| 2025 Pokémon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Vapreon EX Special Art Rare #205 | 3,800 | +2% |
We have the same card at number 1. But there is a clear challenger materializing in the form of 2025 Pokémon Svp EN-SV Black Star Promo Eevee Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box #173.
The combined chart is identical to the TCG chart since none of the sports cards made the list.
Sports is at something of a standstill. Football went up, but baseball went down. But the TCG market is continuing to grow. Slowly but steadily.
There are good signs for football. The rookie quarterbacks from 2024 are proving quite popular. Jayden Daniels is taking off. But sports overall seems stuck as the attention has moved to Pokémon.
It will be interesting to watch BGS and SGC over the coming months. Both have recovered some of their lost business by going in different directions. BGS by being more generous and SGC less so. Will either of those pay off? Because their overall numbers remain poor.
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