Roundtable Interview with Beckett Graders: The Art of The Grade

Baseball Cards, Basketball Cards, Beckett Updates, Football Cards

By Ryan Wright - February 10, 2026

February 10, 2026

When you click on links to various merchants on this site, like eBay, and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission.

2007-08 Upper Deck NBA Heroes #MJ8 Michael Jordan AU

One joyous part of a collector’s life is owning a grail card, and the next step is getting that card graded. The thrill of chasing down that 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle, a 1958 Topps Jim Brown, or a 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain can dissipate in a hurry when a graded card, assured to be a 10, comes back with a Mint, Near Mint, or lower grade.

If only there was someone who knew the process inside and out that could have told us ahead of time what to expect.

What better place to turn to for answers to our questions than the card grading experts at Beckett. From a roundtable Q&A, we can find out how each part of the grading process affects the final grade of our beloved cards.

Beckett Interview

Centering, edges, corners and surface are the four main categories for grading, is it correct to assume each category is worth 2.5 points towards the overall grade?

2018 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROASO Shohei Ohtani

“We have a weighted algorithm in which each sub-grade carries a different weight in the algorithm. Centering and corners carry more weight as these two grades have always been the focal point for collectors.”

The grade is greatly affected by the lowest subgrade on a given card, what is the rule and thought behind the rule to anchor a grade off the lowest subgrade?

“The biggest flaw on a card is reflected in the lowest sub-grade. For example, if a crease is present resulting in a 2.5 surface grade, a 3.5 is generally the highest grade the card can receive.”

Dispelling other hobby misunderstandings, why are subgrades not taken as a sum of the total? As an example: 9.5 + 9.5 + 9.5 + 7.5 = 9 grade.

“We use a weighted algorithm because we believe centering and corners are more of a focal point for collectors.”

50/50 is a perfect evaluation on the front for centering, how does 60/40 or any other off-center evaluation affect a grade, and by final grade number, if 1 point here or a .5 point there?

“60/40 one way and 50/50 the other way would be 8.5 centering. 60/40 both ways would be 7.5 centering. The grade would go lower for 65/35, 70/30 etc. We do also take into account the back centering but it is obviously weighted much less than the front.”

Some card sets can chip more easily based on design. For products that have a built-in default, does grading change at all knowing said product is more likely to show those faults?

“Cards are looked at a little differently based on the technology at the time they were produced. For example, 1970’s O-Pee-Chee cards are known to have a naturally rough cut on the edges. This is taken into consideration on the edge grade.”

For years there have been hobby rumors that certain cards will not earn a 10 because so many 10s have been issued for said card, a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card rumor comes to mind. Are there any such biases to certain cards not being able to get top grades?

“At Beckett each card is judged on its own merit. There are no biases to cards that we receive for grading. All cards are given the grade we feel they deserve.”

2000 Fleer Showcase #136 Tom Brady RC AU /2000

Is there a style of card that is harder to grade, like acetate/plastic? If so, before sending in this type or these types of cards, what should collectors look more closely at before submitting?

“There are cards that present their own challenges when it comes to grading, but we do our best to assess the card by the condition of that particular card but by also taking into consideration what is typical for that particular set.”

How can a collector understand if the card they have purchased has been altered before submitting?

“Being familiar with the way cards look as issued in packs is the best way to ensure your card will get graded. Knowing what the natural edges of the card you are submitting look like will help determine if the card has been trimmed or shaved.

“Recoloring and trimming are typical alterations that we see most frequently. Recoloring will typically be on the corners or edges, especially on dark bordered cards in order to improve the appearance of the worn areas.

“Trimming is when cards are cut to improve the appearance of the edges. A good rule would be if a card looks too good to be true condition wise, you would want to look very closely at that card for possible alterations.”

What are some of the common mistakes collectors make when submitting their cards? How do these mistakes affect card grades?

“A common mistake is sending cards in top loaders or card savers with no penny sleeve. We suggest sending cards in that are in card savers in penny sleeves.”

Is there a recommended preparation method to cleaning, wiping, or preparing cards to be graded?

“We do not recommend the ‘preparation’ of cards prior to submission. A gentle wiping down of a card with a microfiber cloth to remove small smudges or fingerprints would be acceptable.”

If a Chrome or chromium card has a fingerprint smudge, does that affect the card’s grade?

“A fingerprint smudge would affect the grade.”

How are game tickets and ticket stubs graded?

“A ticket is graded using similar metrics to a trading card. You check the surface, corners and edges. Centering is generally not taken into consideration unless the text is extremely shifted or the ticket is miscut.

“Tickets are classified as a full ticket or a stub. A stub is a partial ticket or a ripped ticket.”