105: Cards 101

Full lessons are coming as our cards section grows. Here's the outline and the basics.

Lesson 105.1: Rookies, parallels and numbered cards

• Rookie cards are a player's first cards in a major release.
• Parallels are versions of a base card with a different color, finish or pattern.
• Numbered cards are stamped with a print run (for example, "/99"). The number tells you how many were made of that version, not what it's worth.

Lesson 105.2: Grading companies

PSA, BGS (Beckett) and SGC are the most common card graders. Each uses a 10-point scale with its own definitions and labels. Verify every cert on the grader's own website.

Lesson 105.3: Centering and surfaces

Graders look closely at centering (how even the borders are), corners, edges and surfaces. Hold cards by the edges, sleeve them right away, and keep them out of sunlight.

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Add a card with the set, year, card number and parallel, plus photos of front and back.

Educational only. This is not insurance, tax, legal or investment advice. Collectibles can lose value; past prices don't predict future ones.

Sources

General guidance; no outside figures are cited in this course outline.

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Last reviewed 2026-10-28 · Draft