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Sports Card Grading Trends Report For February 2025

In our February 2025 report on the latest grading trends, we look at the complete numbers of grading during January, which is the latest month available to us.

The end of 2024 was underwhelming from a grading perspective. There was a decline in the final months, especially for sports. But 2025 is a brand new year, bringing winds of change or whatever hackneyed metaphor you want to use.

Was there a change in the grading? Find out in our overview of sports card grading trends for January 2025.

Let’s get the suspense out of the way, shall we? January was a fantastic month for the grading companies and, therefore, for all of mankind.

The number of graded cards went up by 15% compared to December 2024 and 14% compared to the previous January. When we have a bumper month, the question is: what is spurring this remarkable growth?

TCG versus sports

The first question we always wonder is how TCGs (or Pokemon, if we are being real here) compare to sports. What created the momentum for grading in January?

Here are the numbers for PSA:

Type of SubmissionNumbers Submitted In JanuaryMovement in Comparison To December
TCG570,600+3%
Baseball262,400+14%
Basketball165,400+12%
Football158,200+26%
Non-Sport48,200-24%
Hockey35,300+13%
Soccer33,300+3%
Multi-Sport9,300+35

Pokémon mostly trod water in January. But there were substantial gains for baseball and basketball. However, the strongest sport by far was football. That is not a massive shock if you have been following all of the Jayden Daniels hysteria.

In general, the 2024 rookie crop has proven strong and has helped propel sports to a stronger performance than we have seen in some time. There was also a new development in the battle over the fourth most popular sport.

Hockey has leapfrogged soccer to regain what many people (well, Canadians) believe is its rightful spot.

Top grading companies for January 2025

PSA has lost the top spot! No, just kidding. But how has the balance between the grading companies changed in January?

Grading CompanyNumber of SubmissionsMovement from December 
PSA1,300,000+7%
CGC306,000+38%
SGC170,000+30%
BGS64,000+69%

Considering how many problems CGC has had over the last few months, it is incredible to see how well they have done over the last month.

An increase of 38% is nothing short of impressive. It is a similar story for BGS, which has also grown very nicely despite its issues. However, BGS is starting from a very low number. Indeed, PSA had the most modest increases of all.

Top graded card eras for January 2025

After months of doing nothing but increasing, the share of ultra-modern cards went down in December. What happened in January?

DecadePSA (Sports Only)PSA (TCG Only)BGS (Sports Only)SGC (Sports Only)CGC (TCG Only)
2020s61%70.3%74.9%51.8%63.9%
2010s7.3%10.2%7.6%7.2%14.6%
2000s3.9%10.3%3.2%3.1%7.5%
1990s10.7%7.8%6.8%6.1%13.6%
1980s8.5%0.5%4.1%5%0.2%
1970s3.4%0.3%1.4%5.6%0.1%
1960s2.6%0.3%1.1%7.4%0%
The 1950s and earlier2.7%0.2%1%13.9%0%

The share of ultra-modern in PSA submissions stood pat in January. That means the decreased number held for another month. With the increase in submissions, vintage had a strong month.

The share of ultra-modern decreased significantly for SGC and BGS, in the latter case by double digits. It was without a doubt a strong month for vintage card submissions.

Sports Card Grading Trends For January 2025: Gem Rate

The 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 January?

DecadePSA (Sports Only)PSA (TCG Only)BGS (Sports Only)SGC (Sports Only)CGC (TCG Only)
2020s46%59.9%64.8%36.4%69.3%
2010s35.7%39.7%45.7%22.9%42.8%
2000s20.5%13.2%16.8%7.1%21.9%
1990s16.5%10.6%9.5%4.1%9.3%
1980s8.3%18.9%2.8%1%11.3%
1970s1.2%0.4%0.2%1.8%0.3%
1960s0.3%1.2%0%0%0%
The 1950s and earlier0%1.3%0%0%5.5%

The gem rate for PSA is marginally lower, especially for 2010 cards. But the difference is not too significant. SGC also saw no major differences. The one dramatic change could be seen in the BGS percentage, which went up by almost 10%. Could we be seeing an intentional long-term change in this regard? Time will tell.

Top graded players and characters for January 2025

In December, Shohei retook first place from our friend Wemby. Will that continue as we get closer to baseball season? We have also seen Jayden Daniels’s hysteria reach a fever pitch. Will he rise to the top?

Meanwhile, the Charizard, Pikachu and Mew triumvirate continued to rule supreme. As always. Will anything change now?

Most Graded Athletes

AthleteAmount Submitted In JanuaryMovement from December
Victor Wembanyama21,500-2%
Shohei Ohtani21,000-10%
Michael Jordan20,600+6%
Paul Skenes13,600+47%
Caitlin Clark13,100+43%
Jayden Daniels8,900+41%
CJ Stroud8,600-14%
Elly De La Cruz7,300+6%
Ken Griffey Jr.7,100+10%
Kobe Bryant6,100+2%

Wemby is back on top. But neither the Spurs star, nor Shohei are doing particularly well. Both have lost ground overall. Skenes, Clark and Daniels are the next wave and gained strongly in January.

They may bid for the top, especially when we have more cards for them. Meanwhile, the ability of Jordan and Griffey to continue hanging around is nothing short of spectacular.

Most Graded TCG Characters

CharacterAmount Submitted In January  Movement from January  
Pikachu45,200+10%
Charizard41,200-5%
Umbreon15,100+62%
Mew14,200-6%
Eevee10,500+61%
Mewtwo9,200+2%
Blastoise8,900-6%
Charmander8,400+1%
Venusaur7,600-8%
Squirtle7,400+1%

Stop the presses! We have a different top three. Pikachu and Charizard are in the top two as usual, though they have flipped places. But Umbreon has overtaken Mew in third place. A shocking development indeed.

Combined character and athletes list

Characters or AthletesAmount Submitted In SeptemberMovement from January  
Pikachu45,200+10%
Charizard41,200-5%
Victor Wembanyama21,500-2%
Shohei Ohtani21,000-10%
Michael Jordan20,600+6%
Umbreon15,100+62%
Mew14,200-6%
Paul Skenes13,600+47%
Caitlin Clark13,100+43%
Eevee10,500+61%

The list is split between Pokemon characters and athletes, with the two top TCG characters vastly outperforming any of the athletes. That is an improvement for Pokemon, who had 4 in the last in December.

Top graded sets for January 2025

We had a surprise top spot in December when Topps Now took the top spot. That was quite the achievement for a release that had once not been taken seriously. What happened in January?

SetNumber Graded In SeptemberChange from January  
2023 Panini Select Football9,900+345%
2024 Topps Now Baseball8,700-36%
2024 Topps Chrome Update Baseball6,900+347%
2023 Panini Donruss Optic Football6,400-21%
2023 Panini Prizm Basketball6,300-1%
2024 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs5,600-5%
2024 Topps Update5,500+81%
2023 Panini Prizm Football5,300-2%
1986 Fleer Basketball5,300+67%
2024 Panini Donruss Football5,200+86%
  

2023 Panini Select Football is now the dominant release, rising to first place with a bullet. The Topps Now Baseball release wallows behind and has lost much steam.

That is partially because the baseball world is now heavily focused on 2024 Topps Chrome Update. That release was significantly boosted by all the drama surrounding the Paul Skenes Debut Patch card.

TCG

SetNumber Graded In SeptemberChange from January  
2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX41,100+511%
2023 Pokémon MEW EN-15128,500+3%
2024 Pokémon Ssp EN-Surging Sparks26,600+73%
2023 Pokémon Japanese Sv2a- Pokémon 15120,100-18%
2023 Pokémon Sword & Shield Crown Zenith18,900+2%
2024 Pokémon Scr En-Stellar Crown12,000-12%
1999 Pokémon Game11,800-11%
2024 Pokémon Svp-SV Black Star Promo 11,500+10%
2023 Pokémon Svp-SV Black Star Promo 11,500+15%
2024 Pokémon Japanese SV8-Super Electric Breaker10,600-7%

The 2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX has captured the TCG worlds imagination. It has not only shot into first place, but has completely obliterated the competition. It is far outperforming any recent sets.

Aside from 2024 Pokémon Ssp EN-Surging Sparks, which had a good month, most of the other sets underperformed.

We didn’t bother to do a combined set chart because it was all Pokemon this time. A real sign of strength for TCG. Last time the Topps Now release managed to just barely sneak in.

Top graded cards for January 2025

The Topps Now Shohei 50/50 card was the top by a mile in December. Did it stay there in January, or were people over that achievement by now?

Meanwhile, 2023 Pokémon Mew EN-151 Charizard EX Special Illustration Rare #199 took the top spot for TCG.

Sports

CardNumber Graded In January  Change from January  
2024 Topps Now Shohei Ohtani #7223,100-39%
2024 Panini Instant WNBA Draft Night Caitlin Clark2,000N/a
2024 Bowman U Now Cooper Flagg #11,200+188%
2023 Panini Prizm Victor Wembanyama #1361,000-1%
2024 Panini Select WNBA Caitlin Clark #72900+140%
#DN1 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie #1800-35%
2024 Topps Update Paul Skenes #US 100800+107%
2023 Topps Chrome Victor Wembanyama #1800-27%
1990 Hoops Mark Jackson #205700+7%
2024 Panini Instant WNBA Caitlin Clark #198700+398%

The Shohei card has dropped a lot. But it remains in the top spot. TheCooper Flagg is a fascinating new entry. We will be seeing a lot more of this wonderkid, I believe. And Caitlin Clark now has two cards in the top ten.

TCG

CardNumber Graded In January  Change from January  
2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Umbreon EX Special Art Rare #2175,900+191%
2023 Pokémon Mew EN-151 Charizard EX Special Illustration Rare #1993,600-3%
2024 Pokémon Scr EN-Stellar Crown Squirtle Illustration Rare #1482,800+7%
2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Sylveon EX Special Art Rare #2122,800+418%
2023 Pokémon svp EN-SV Black Star Promo Pikachu W/Grey Felt Hat Pokemon X Van Gogh #852,500+15%
2024 Pokémon Scr EN-Stellar Crown Bulbasaur Illustration Rare #1432,400+1%
2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Eevee EX Special Art Rare #2242,400+464%
Charmander Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box #442,400-1%
2024 Pokémon Ssp EN-Surging Sparks Pikachu EX Special Illustration Rare #2382,400-6%
2024 Pokémon Paf EN-Paldean Fates Mew EX Special Illustration Rare #2322,300-4%

It is the 2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Umbreon EX Special Art Rare #217 card that is propelling Umbreon into the top three for characters. There are three cards from this new release that have taken the hobby by storm.

Combined Top Card Charts

CardNumber Graded In January  Change from January  
2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Umbreon EX Special Art Rare #2175,900+191%
2023 Pokémon Mew EN-151 Charizard EX Special Illustration Rare #1993,600-3%
2024 Topps Now Shohei Ohtani #7223,100-39%
2024 Pokémon Scr EN-Stellar Crown Squirtle Illustration Rare #1482,800+7%
2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Sylveon EX Special Art Rare #2122,800+418%
2023 Pokémon svp EN-SV Black Star Promo Pikachu W/Grey Felt Hat Pokemon X Van Gogh #852,500+15%
2024 Pokémon Scr EN-Stellar Crown Bulbasaur Illustration Rare #1432,400+1%
2024 Pokemon Japanese Sv8a-Terastal Fest EX Eevee EX Special Art Rare #2242,400+464%
Charmander Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box #442,400-1%
2024 Pokémon Ssp EN-Surging Sparks Pikachu EX Special Illustration Rare #2382,400-6%

Bottomline Of The Sports Card Grading Trends For January 2025

January kicked off 2025 with a bang, showing a 15% increase in grading submissions from December. This surge paints an optimistic picture for the hobby, but what’s driving it?

Fresh faces are making their mark. Paul Skenes, Caitlin Clark, and Jayden Daniels all saw submission increases by over 40%, suggesting a changing of the guard in the sports card world.

Meanwhile, Pokemon continues its reign, with the 2024 Terastal Fest EX set dominating January’s numbers. The Umbreon EX Special Art Rare has become particularly sought after, leading a wave of Pokemon enthusiasm.

Perhaps the most intriguing development is the vintage quiet comeback. The decreased share of ultra-modern submissions across all grading companies hints at collectors rediscovering older cards. This could signal a maturing market where proven commodities are gaining favor.

The grading landscape itself is evolving. While PSA maintains its lead, both CGC and BGS showed impressive growth – 38% and 69% respectively. These gains suggest the grading market might be more competitive than expected in 2025.

Looking ahead, several key trends bear watching. The 2024 rookie class’s performance across sports could reshape the market. Vintage submission rates might continue their upward trend. Pokemon’s dominance could face challenges from new sets. And the competition between grading companies might intensify further.

If January’s patterns hold, 2025 could be one of the most dynamic years in recent hobby history. The mix of emerging stars, vintage resurgence, and evolving market dynamics promises an interesting journey ahead.

More in Grading »

Shaiel Ben-Ephraim

Shaiel Ben-Ephraim

Shaiel Ben-Ephraim is the emeritus editor of Cardlines. He continues to write for several hobby outlets, including this one and Cardbase. He collects primarily vintage baseball and soccer and has a weird obsession with 1971 Topps.

In his spare time, Shaiel is sobbing into his bourbon when the Mets lose and playing Dungeons and Dragons. In a past life, Dr. Ben-Ephraim was a political science professor, journalist, and diplomat. But cards are more fun.

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