DSG’s Sports Card
Grading Scale
DSG uses a detailed 10-point scale to assess every sports card that crosses our desk — corners, edges, surface, and centering, judged against published standards. Review the criteria for every grade below, from Flawless Diamond 10 down to Poor 1.
Flawless Diamond 10
A detailed 10-point scale
Every card is measured against published standards for corners, edges, surface, and centering.
Half grades awarded
Exceptionally nice cards that just barely miss the next grade earn a 1/2 grade bump.
Centering capped at 3
The maximum amount that centering can reduce a card’s grade is 3 points.
Corners◆Edges◆Surface◆Centering
Sports card grading criteria
DSG uses a detailed 10-point grading scale to assess sports cards. Review DSG’s standards for each grade below — each one shown with a real card graded by DSG, from a Flawless Diamond Rickey Henderson down to a Poor 1 Tris Speaker that’s clearly been to battle.
Flawless Diamond 10 Most coveted
A truly perfect card with 50/50 centering on the front, 52/48 or better centering on the back, and no visible flaws. This is the most coveted grade in the industry.
Rickey Henderson
Gem Mint 10
Four sharp corners, free of stains, no breaks in surface gloss, and no visible wear. A slight print spot is allowable if it does not detract from the aesthetics of the card. This card will look “pack fresh” and beautiful to the naked eye.
Peyton Manning
Mint 9
Four sharp corners. One very slight hit to a corner or two very minor flaws to the surface or edges may exist, such as a slight printers’ mark or a very small imperfection on the borders or surface. Without magnification, this card will look very close to a Gem Mint.
Frank Thomas RC
NM/Mint 8
Corners are sharp to the naked eye but may exhibit slight wear under magnification. A few small flaws may exist, but nothing super noticeable to the naked eye. Slight wear to up to two corners upon magnification, a couple of very slight chips to the edges, or a couple of very small scratches or printers’ marks are acceptable with an 8.
Michael Jordan RC
NMT 7
Slight wear on the corners, minor scratching, and some minor print spots. Print lines or refractor lines are acceptable. Cards can be slightly skewed.
Jackie Robinson ’54
NM 6
Slight fuzzing of the corners will be evident, a skewed cut may be more evident, focus or register may be off, slight rough edges may exist, and the surface may not have its original luster.
Jim Brown RC
EX 5
Minor rounding or fuzzing of corners, rough edges or chipping along an edge. One very slight one-sided surface crease may exist. The original luster of the card may be lost from the surface with some scratching, but the card still looks good.
Yogi Berra
VG/EX 4
Corners are slightly rounded with noticeable surface wear. Light hairline one-sided creases may show on the front and back of the card. A light tear (1/8th inch or less) or minor damage may exist on the card surface.
Hank Aaron RC
VG 3
Corners on a grade 3 are rounded — but not excessive — and stronger creasing may exist. Poorer focus, registration, discoloration, and staining are more noticeable. Centering on the back is not considered toward the grade.
Jackie Robinson ’53
Good 2
This card usually has one or more print marks, smudges, or stains, multiple two-sided creases, a pinhole or slight tears in the card, surface scuffing, rounded corners, and ink or pencil marks.
Whitey Ford
Poor 1
This is the lowest grade possible. If you have a grade 1, you can clearly see it has been to battle. But rest assured, if it is in our encapsulation you know 100% for certain that at least it is an authentic card and not a counterfeit. This is a card graded often because its owner loves it.
Tris Speaker
The four pillars of every grade
Each card that comes through DSG is evaluated across the same four attributes, front and back, under consistent lighting and magnification.
Corners
Sharpness under the naked eye and magnification — from razor-sharp points down to rounding and fuzzing.
Edges
Chipping, roughness, and wear along all four borders of the card, front and back.
Surface
Gloss, print quality, scratches, creases, stains, and any loss of original luster.
Centering
Measured front and back against the standard for each grade — and capped at a maximum 3-point reduction.
Unlock the true value of your cards
Ready to grade your cards? Submit your cards online or book on-site grading at your shop, show, or event. Accurate grades, reliable turnaround.
Questions about the scale? Email support@dsggrading.com