Like any hobby, sports card collecting has built up a massive catalog of abbreviations, slang and terms over the years. Use our Sports Card Glossary below as a guide to the hobby’s most common and important lingo. Submit requests or revisions to hello@sportscardinvestor.com
A shortened phrase for the sports card hobby.
A transparent plastic sometimes used in the making of cards rather than traditional paper card stock. While popular among many collectors, acetate cards have been known to suffer from discoloration over the years.
The altering of a card’s colors or logos, often used to show a player in a new team’s uniform before photos are available.
An online marketplace for buying, selling and vaulting graded cards.
When a card has been changed from its original condition. Examples of alterations range from trimming edges and corners to recoloring faded pictures.
Founded by Earl Arena and Jean MacLeod, duo responsible for creating some of the most iconic inserts and parallels of the 1990’s as part of Fleer Corporation. Popular creations include Precious Metal Gems, Essential Credentials, Jambalaya, Noyz Boyz, just to name a few.
The process of potential buyers bidding against each other with the highest bidder winning the item(s).
A company that helps facilitate the buying and selling of cards and other collectibles. Popular examples of auction houses are Goldin Auctions, Heritage Auctions, Lelands and Pristine Auction.
The process of an expert examining an item to verify its legitimacy. Autographs are a popular example within the hobby of an item that often needs to be authenticated by an expert.
Authentication is one of the three foundational services offered by companies like PSA, BGS, SGC, along with grading and encapsulation.
A service provided by eBay where qualifying trading cards sold over a certain threshold are automatically shipped to CSG for authentication before being sent to the buyer.
Cards that make up a product’s base set. Examples of non-base cards are autographs, relic cards, parallels inserts.
A product’s entire lineup of Base cards.
A series of baseball cards that were especially popular in the 1960s. Topps also produced Bazooka-branded cards in the early 2000s.
A hobby supply company largely known for the production of top loaders, penny sleeves and other protective accessories for sports and trading cards.
A hobby-based company that is involved in several areas. Beckett publishes the Beckett Price Guide and also offers Beckett Grading Services (BGS).
Short for Beckett Grading Services, a third-party card grading service that began grading in 1999.
When a trading card was printed without anything on the back. Blank Backs are often errors but can also be by design.
One of several retail formats for sports and trading cards. Blaster boxes typically contain between four and 10 packs and are considered one of the more affordable retail configurations.
A retail format that often features several packs of cards with a cardboard backing and clear plastic front. Similar to cello pack formats.
A Virginia-based online retailer that sells sealed wax and other memorabilia.
Refers to a card’s value, and is often associated with the Beckett Price Guide.
A large card that includes a hinge, allowing the item to be open or closed like a book. Booklet cards are generally found in high-end products and often include patches and autographs.
The area around a trading card that typically surrounds the main photograph. Borders are most often a white area or other design that forms a frame within the card. Card borders are often the reference point when determining centering during the grading process.
A manufacturer of gum and trading cards that were popular in the 1940s. Bowman was acquired by Topps in 1956 and discontinued. Topps brought Bowman back in 1989 and it is known today as a product that focuses on baseball prospects. Notable products include Bowman, Bowman Draft, Bowman Chrome, Bowman’s Best, Bowman Sterling, and Bowman Platinum.
The process of opening up a box of cards. Can also refer to what is expected to be in each box, on average.
An additional item often included in more premium sets of cards. These often include oversized cards or other types of memorabilia.
Similar to box break, break can simply refer to the opening of a box of cards. More generally, the term break can also refer to Group Breaks.
A shipping parcel often used to send trading cards that is filled with bubble wrap. The phrase Bubble Mailer with Tracking (BMWT) is commonly used to describe how a card will be shipped.
A purchasing option most associated with eBay where buyers can purchase an item for a set price rather than participate in an auction. Often abbreviated as “BIN.”
A plastic card protector that is sturdier than a penny sleeve but thinner than a top loader. The preferred method to protect cards when shipping to grading services like PSA. Also called a “semi-rigid” card holder.
The physical material that a trading card is made of. Materials like cardboard and paper are the most common while metal, leather and acetate are also used.
The packaging that describes a certain number of boxes of a specific product. Cases of lower or mid-end products can often contain 10 to 20 boxes while higher-end products may only contain two boxes.
Refers to the rarity of a card, and is most associated with a card that appears, on average, just once per case of boxes.
A retail format where packs of cards are wrapped in a plastic similar to cellophane. Cello Packs come in full boxes, typically with 24 packs, and are often hung from a rack at retailers for single purchase. Note: pronounced “sello” as opposed to “chello” (like the instrument).
One of the major categories used when determining the grade of a card. Borders are the most common way to determine centering, though things like logos and lettering can be used for full-bleed cards without borders.
A card that is typically considered one of the most desirable in a product that collectors can “chase.”
A full list of every card in a single product.
Damage often associated with the edge of a card that comes from age or poor handling. Commonly seen on cards with dark borders like black or blue.
A metallic finish found on many of the hobby’s most popular cards.
The sequencing of cards inserted into packs. This can sometimes result in specific patterns where groups of cards can often be found with each other.
An online marketplace that focuses on the buying, selling and trading of fractionalized sports memorabilia.
A Washington-based online marketplace that sells sports and trading cards.
The most common and often least desirable cards in a set. These are most often Base cards of non-rookies or cards that don’t feature parallels, autographs or memorabilia.
Describes the physical quality of a card. Important areas that impact condition include surface quality, corners, centering and edges.
A term used to describe the cracking of an encapsulated card from its slab.
An abbreviation for the grading company Certified Sports Guaranty. An affiliate of the Certified Collectibles Group, CSG began accepting sports card submissions in early 2021.
A Western New York-based online retailer that sells cards and other memorabilia.
Someone who buys and sells trading cards as a business. Often associated with those who buy and sell at card shows, though the increase in online marketplaces has allowed the term to be applied to many more people.
A projected final value of a raw card being sent for grading, once the grade is assigned. Some grading companies charge more money to grade cards with a higher final value. Submitting a card for grading requires a maximum final value estimation which corresponds to specific service levels. Underestimating the declared value can result in upcharges after grading has been completed.
An online marketplace where users can buy, sell and trade fractions of sports and trading cards.
A card that has been cut by the manufacturer to create a specific shape beyond the regular rectangle design of most cards. These cards can sometimes carry a premium over other sets due to their unique designs. Die-Cut cards can also be difficult to find in good condition because of edge damage caused by the additional cuts.
Describes damage most often associated with the corner of a card. “Soft” corners can be created by poor handling of even the card simply shifting within the pack.
A wholesaler that helps push products from the manufacturer to retailers and other card sellers.
Describes the act of altering a card, usually to artificially improve its physical condition. A common example of doctoring is the trimming of a card’s edges or corners to make them appear sharper, or attempting to recolor surface imperfections.
Currently one of Panini America’s flagship brands, Donruss first made cards in 1981.
A chrome version of Panini’s signature Donruss set. Optic debuted in 2016 and has been one of the more popular releases for Panini’s basketball and football cards.
An online marketplace that offers millions of sports and trading cards in addition to various other used and new items.
Wording often used in eBay listings to claim that an item is the only one on eBay, or falsely described as a 1/1 for having bookend serial numbering (e.g. #1/49 or #49/49) or being jersey numbered (e.g. a Kobe Bryant card being #8/99 or #24/99). This type of description is generally frowned upon in the hobby for being deceptive.
Refers to a card that has been sealed in a protective plastic case, typically associated with grading services.
A card that contains a mistake, which often ranges from incorrect photos, names or statistics. Error cards were considered highly valuable in the junk wax era but have since largely fallen out of favor. Some sets like Heritage now include intentional “Error” cards as chase inserts.
Refers to memorabilia included in a sports or trading card that was simply worn at to an event rather than used in a game, and is typically considered less desirable than game-used.
A replica autograph that is stamped on by a manufacturer, rather than authentically signed by the athlete.
A complete set that has been packaged by the manufacturer and sold to collectors. These sets can carry a premium over those put together by the public and can often come with bonuses like extra parallels or packs.
An online retailer that specializes in the selling of sports-related clothing, trading cards, collectibles and other merchandise. Fanatics is responsible for shaking up the sports card market after acquiring exclusive trading card licenses to leagues like the NBA, NFL and MLB in 2021.
Originally a gum manufacturer, Fleer created various sets across multiple sports but stopped production in the early 2000s. The Fleer name is currently owned by Upper Deck, who has produced “Fleer Retro” sets in the 2010’s as an homage to some of the best Fleer designs of all time.
A metallic texture sometimes applied to cards to enhance the design. Foil cards are often highly condition sensitive, like Derek Jeter’s 1993 SP Foil rookie card, which only has a population of 21 in PSA 10.
An acronym for “Fear of Missing Out” that generally refers to hobbyists paying more for a card than what it is worth, often shortly after a product has been released.
Shorthand for sending money via PayPal’s Friends and Family option. Sending money this way avoids additional fees and taxes, but doesn’t include Purchase Protection that comes with sending money with the Goods and Services option. Using F&F is not recommended for buyers or sellers you don’t personally know and trust.
Shorthand for For Sale and For Trade.
Refers to a card design that doesn’t feature a border. These cards feature photos or designs that extend to the edges of the card.
Refers to memorabilia that has been used in a game by an athlete. This category carries a premium over player- or event-worn memorabilia that didn’t appear in a game.
The condition rating given to a card that receives a PSA 10, BGS 9.5, SGC 10 or CSG 10.
A New Jersey-based auction house founded by Ken Goldin that is best known for selling some of the most expensive sports cards and memorabilia in hobby history. In July of 2021, Goldin agreed to terms to sell to Collectors Holdings.
A popular card manufacturer that produced cards in the 1930s and 1940s. The 1933 Goudey release is widely considered one of the most iconic sets ever and contains several cards of Babe Ruth.
A card that has had its authenticity verified and the quality of its physical condition evaluated by a grading service like PSA, BGS, SGC or CSG.
The process of a third-party grading service assigning a numerical value to describe a card’s physical condition.
A numerical scale used by grading services to represent the physical condition of a card. Companies typically grade cards on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being considered the highest quality. In addition to numerical values, grading companies also assign phrases to describe each number. For example, a PSA 10 is considered Gem Mint while a BGS 10 is considered Pristine.
One of several retail formats for trading cards, a gravity feed is a tall box with a slot at the bottom where packs of cards are fed through. As you remove a pack from the slot at the bottom, another pack from above slides down to take its place. Gravity Feeds typically contain several dozen packs per box.
The process of a group of collectors splitting the contents based on a predetermined order or format. Popular formats include participants receiving all of the cards of a specific player or all players from a specific team.
A Washington-based sports and trading card distributor.
A retail format of trading cards that hangs rather than sit on a shelf. Ultra-modern hanger boxes typically contain a single pack of cards.
A Texas-based auction house that has sold some of the most expensive cards and pieces of memorabilia in hobby history.
Short for Hybrid Grading Approach, a third-party grading service best known for unique and custom labels.
Refers to cards considered more valuable or desirable than other cards in a product. Common examples of hits are autographs or memorabilia cards.
A type of product configuration specifically designed to be released online or through hobby shops. Hobby boxes typically contain more guaranteed hits and/or parallels than retail formats.
Refers to products that only appear in hobby formats. This can be entire products that only have hobby box configurations (National Treasures, Flawless) or the specific contents of a product like parallels, inserts or other chases.
Describes a card that has been slabbed or encapsulated in a plastic holder by a grading service.
An annual event that includes many of the hobby’s most important companies and people. Activities range from a card show to educational panels and seminars.
A non-base card that is typically part of a themed series within a product. Insert cards were originally created as chases to increase sales and debuted during the Tobacco card era. The 1990’s are considered the era when inserts really emerged and reigned supreme. Popular examples of ultra-modern inserts are Color Blast, Downtown and Kaboom.
A card that contains a piece of a jersey or uniform from the subject. Pieces of jersey are typically classified as game-worn if a player wore it during an actual game or player/event-worn if the jersey was simply put on for a moment during an event. Jersey cards are typically single-colored swatches, while patch cards contain two or more colors.
Refers to cards produced during the 1980s and 1990s that were overprinted and have mostly lost long-term value outside of secondary scarcity created through grading. While not all cards produced during the Junk Wax Era have lost value, many cards of even the best players often hold little value because they are far too common.
An extremely popular modern insert that features comic-style artwork. Kaboom! has appeared in sets like Absolute Memorabilia for football, Innovation and Crown Royale for basketball, and Prizm English Premier League Soccer The set was also part of 2018 Panini Rewards.
A Florida-based company that specializes in live sports card breaks.
A confectionery company founded in the 1940s that also produced trading cards. Leaf International is not affiliated with Leaf Trading Cards.
A trading card manufacturer founded in 2010. Leaf produces unlicensed trading cards for sports like baseball and basketball but also releases entertainment sets that focus on celebrities.
Founded in 1985, Leland’s is a New Jersey-based sports auction house that has sold multiple million-dollar sports cards over the years.
Refers to cards that have the right to use both player names and team logos on trading cards through deals with leagues like the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB as well as their respective Players Associations.
A common auction term that is often used to describe a group of cards up for sale. An auction of five Chipper Jones rookie cards could be described as a Chipper Jones rookie lot on a marketplace like eBay.
The term lot is also used to describe a specific item or set of items in an auction for clarity. In auctions, items are often identified by lot number (ex: Lot #23) rather than the name of the item.
A mobile app that specializes in live box breaks and card sales.
Refers to the first series of cards printed for a specific set in a year.
A piece of memorabilia created by a card company specifically to appear in trading cards. These haven’t been worn or touched by the athletes on the card.
A trading card company that produces different types of cards. Ultra-modern manufacturers include Leaf, Panini, Topps and Upper Deck.
A sports card pricing tool created by Sports Card Investor founder Geoff Wilson. (Use promo code TRIAL for 7 days free)
The entire checklist of an entire set that includes everything from Base cards to autographs and inserts.
Similar to a Jersey Card, a Memorabilia Card features a piece of memorabilia, though these can range from jerseys to pieces of bats, gloves, sneakers or balls.
A smaller version of a normal-sized card. Some mini cards are included in modern sets as chase cards while the 1975 Topps Mini Baseball set only featured cards measuring 2 ¼” by 3 1/8″.
Cards that feature players with their Minor League teams. Minor League cards are typically less popular than MLB cards though there is a small, passionate following.
A grading term that describes the physical quality of a PSA 9. PSA describes these cards as having sharp corners, no major flaws and are centered no worse than 60/40.
A trading card event that debuted in 2022 that features a card show as well as panels and seminars with some of the hobby’s most influential figures.
A sports card brand from Panini that made its standalone debut in 2019. Mosaic first debuted as an online exclusive labeled Mosaic Prizm in 2017.
An online peer-to-peer sports card marketplace that specializes in low buyer/seller fees and puts a priority on vetting sellers on the platform.
Short for the National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC), the National is an annual sports card and memorabilia show. The National is typically considered the largest sports card show in the world.
Acronym for Not for Sale or Not for Trade.
A numbered card has its print run and number within the run stamped by the manufacturer, often on the back. Example: 5/10.
A Canadian confectionary company that has produced candy as well as trading cards over the years. Often associated with Topps, the modern-day O-Pee-Chee brand is produced by Upper Deck.
The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Hockey release contains an iconic Wayne Gretzky rookie card, which is considered one of the most important and valuable cards in the hobby.
Refers to an autograph that has been signed directly on the card. On-card autographs are typically considered more desirable than autographs signed on stickers that are then placed on the card.
A card that is serial numbered 1/1, indicating a one-of-a-kind card. Not to be confused with things like “eBay 1-of-1”, which is a deceptive term attempting to indicate the only one on the marketplace.
A magnetic holder typically used by collectors for mid- to high-end cards that aren’t graded but need protection similar to a top loader. One-Touch holders are generally preferred to top loaders when it comes to eye appeal and displayability. Sometimes also called “Mags.”
Online storefronts that specialize in trading cards and memorabilia. Blowout Cards and Dave and Adam’s Card World are considered two of the most popular online retailers.
A group of cards packaged by the manufacturer.
Refers to a person who searches, weighs or opens packs before purchasing. Pack searchers often attempt to find “thicker” packs containing jersey/memorabilia cards or autographs.
A major card manufacturer best known for its long history of international sticker sales and the production of ultra-modern football and basketball cards. Panini is best known for iconic sets like Prizm, Optic and Select as well as high-end releases like National Treasures and Flawless.
A base card that features a specific design or unique coloring, making it distinct from the more common base card itself. Popular examples of parallels are colors like Silver, Gold, or Black, or pattern-based parallels like Mojo, Scope or Wave. Parallels usually vary in rarity from unnumbered short prints to serial numbered 1-of-1s. Collecting one of every parallel in a checklist is referred to as “building the rainbow” or “rainbow chasing.”
Refers to a piece of jersey placed inside a trading card. While sometimes synonymous with jersey cards, some collectors use patches to refer to higher-quality jerseys that may contain multiple colors or logos.
A plastic sleeve that can hold and protect a trading card. Penny sleeves are generally the cheapest form of protection and can also be easily placed in a top loader.
Abbreviated as PC, this refers to a collector’s personal collection of cards that they typically don’t intend to sell. This term is often used in the context that a collector will “PC” specific players or teams.
Sometimes abbreviated Pop Report, this is the published census of cards graded by a specific grading company. PSA, SGC, BGS and CSG all have public population reports.
Refers to cards, usually vintage, that were printed after World War II.
Refers to cards printed before World War II.
A publication that lists possible price estimates for sports and trading cards. Similar to Book Value, the term price guide is often associated with the Beckett Price Guide. Online tools like Market Movers from Sports Card Investor also provide pricing data using sales data from marketplaces like eBay, PWCC and Goldin Auctions.
Refers to the overall number of copies of a single card. Some cards have small print runs like 1/1 while others have been printed millions of times.
This refers to the physical plates used to print trading cards. Four plates are used in the process and are colored Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Printing plates can also be found in packs of cards as hits, and are each numbered 1/1. Though rare, printing plates are not typically highly sought after and will not command the price premiums that true 1/1 parallels command.
A shiny parallel, often associated with refractors from Topps. Not to be confused with the Prizm brand or the Prizm parallel associated with Panini.
An Arizona-based auction house that specializes in sports cards and memorabilia.
A flagship set produced by Panini since 2012 that is included in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, UFC and WWE products. Prizm has become extremely popular during the ultra-modern era, and is often one of the most desired sets for Panini rookie cards.
Refers to a parallel from Panini that often features a shiny, metallic surface.
Two separate special lineups of cards from Topps where artists added their own unique designs and styles to reimagine previous cards and sets.
Most often associated with baseball, a prospect is a player that typically hasn’t reached the MLB level yet. Prospect cards are found in Bowman products, part of the Topps brand. Speculating and buying prospects early with the hopes that they become stars is a major part of collecting and investing in baseball cards.
An abbreviation for Professional Sports Authentication, PSA is a California-based grading company founded in 1991. PSA is generally considered the most desirable grading company for selling cards on the secondary market. PSA is part of Collectors.
An online marketplace for sports and trading cards that was founded in 1998.
Short for the shipping method Plain White Envelope. A PWE is a basic envelope and stamp that doesn’t include any type of additional protection like a bubble mailer.
A qualifier is a grading term applied to a card that meets the criteria for a grade, except for one area. As an example, if a card would grade as a PSA 9 if not for 80/20 centering, PSA will grade the card as a 9OC, which stands for off-center. Common qualifiers are off-center (OC), Stain (ST), Print Defect (PD) or Out of Focus (OF).
The process of reviewing cards to ensure they meet the intended quality. Quality Control is often questioned in the sports card hobby when cards from manufacturers arrive extremely off-centered or damaged.
Refers to a card’s complete series of parallels. Collecting the “rainbow” of a certain player has become extremely popular during the ultra-modern era with the rise of parallels.
An online marketplace for buying, selling and trading fractional shares of alternative assets, including sports and trading cards.
Refers to the supply of a card, with rare cards being more limited. Not to be confused with scarce, which indicates that a card’s supply doesn’t meet its demand. Cards can often be rare but not necessarily popular or desirable.
A series of rookie cards associated with the Donruss brand. Originally exclusive to the Donruss set, Rated Rookie cards also appear in the ultra-modern chrome Donruss Optic set.
Refers to a card that hasn’t been graded or encapsulated by a third-party service.
Another name for a lottery or raffle that involves cards. An example of a razz features the original owner raffling off a card through 10 spots at $10 per spot. A winner is selected at random from that group to receive the card. Collectors should approach razzes with caution, as they are often conducted through social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with little protection against fraud or other deceptive practices.
The act of altering a card’s color to better match the original design while hiding damage or aging. Recoloring a card is considered an alteration and will be designated as such by a third-party grading service if discovered.
The process where a card, often an autographed card or other “hit”, is substituted with an agreement that the owner will receive the card at a later date. Ultra-modern redemptions feature codes that the owner must submit to the manufacturer before receiving the card.
Redemptions have become controversial over the years as many are unable to be fulfilled by the manufacturer in a timely manner. This happens for a variety of reasons, though one of the most common is that the autographed card is never returned to the manufacturer by the intended signer.
In these cases the redemptions must be substituted for a different card or other bonus.
Refactors feature different effects when exposed to light. Common features include rainbow-like colors or other designs and patterns. Topps first introduced the term refractor with the debut of 1993 Topps Finest. Panini uses the term “prizm” to describe its refractors (in all of its sets, not just Prizm).
A reproduction of a card that was previously printed. New collectors should pay special attention to sale listings marked “RP” as these are not original copies of the presented card.
A product strictly meant to be sold at major retailers like Target and Walmart. Similar in cards per box to Hobby Boxes, Retail Boxes generally don’t offer as many hits or low-numbered cards.
Refers to cards that appear only in retail formats. Examples could be inserts that only appear in Blaster Boxes or parallels that only appear in Hanger Boxes.
Refers to a player’s first year of cards, though not always their rookie season. Players can have dozens of rookie cards that vary in value. Some, but not all, rookie cards are stamped with some type of rookie designator that varies by manufacturer.
Abbreviation for Rookie Patch Autograph. These types of cards are often the most desirable and expensive in the hobby.
Refers to a card’s supply not meeting the demand. Not to be confused with Rare, which indicates a card with a more limited print run.
A former sports card manufacturer that is now a brand of football cards printed and distributed by Panini.
A protective card case that is held together by a screw. These have become less common with modern collectors who often prefer One-Touch cases held together via a magnet. Screw Down cases have also been known to damage cards when closed too tightly.
Refers to cards being sold through online marketplaces like eBay and COMC or auction houses like Goldin Auctions and Heritage Auctions.
Indicates that a card has been stamped with a serial number. Example: 12/25. Synonymous with Numbered.
The entire print run of cards from a specific year’s product. Can also refer to a product’s Base Set.
A third-party grading service that has a history of expertise in vintage cards and sets. Its phrase “Tuxedo Time” refers to its distinct black slab and primarily white label.
The process of bidding up the price of an item in an unnatural way to benefit the seller. Shill bidding is most common through online marketplaces where sellers can create additional accounts to place bids. Typically these items are ultimately left unpaid to create the illusion of a higher value.
Abbreviated “SP”, refers to cards with a lower print run than most other cards in a set. Numbered cards are also considered short-printed though not every SP card is numbered.
Describes cards sold individually rather than in a pack. Buying singles is typically recommended over opening packs when purchasing for investment purposes.
Describes the plastic case that encapsulates a card through a third-party service.
A series of protective sleeves for graded trading cards that come in a variety of colors.
A sports card media brand and company founded by entrepreneur Geoff Wilson.
A company that sells custom display stands for your trading card collection.
An online marketplace that has pivoted to breaks and NFTs after originally focusing on selling only Raw and Graded rookie cards from premier sets.
A Pittsburgh-based online retailer that sells sports and trading cards.
Stickers are similar to their sports card counterparts but are often meant to be peeled and placed in an album. Historically more popular in Europe and Asia than North America, some stickers like Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer rookie can hold significant value on the secondary market.
Describes an autograph signed on a sticker that is then placed on a trading card. Sticker autographs are typically considered less desirable and valuable than on-card autographs.
Abbreviated SSP, these cards are even more rare than short-prints. While there are no stated print runs for an SSP, the pack odds are definitively more rare than SP. Typically a print run under 50 is considered SSP.
A term used to describe resealable plastic bags, historically used to hold groups of cards or team sets.
Describes a card that features an entire team.
Refers to every player from a single team within a specific set.
Cards that were distributed with packs of cigarettes as a bonus. Most common in the early 1900s, these cards were considered a marketing tool to sell more packs while also providing additional structural support to the packs.
The T-206 set is widely considered the most iconic tobacco card set while the set’s Honus Wagner rookie is considered one of the most important and valuable cards in existence.
A common protective plastic case for cards. Top loaders are typically placed over a card with a penny sleeve for additional protection. These cases provide more protection than penny sleeves but are more flexible than hard plastic cases like one-touches or screw downs.
An iconic sports card manufacturer best known for producing licensed baseball cards for decades. Popular sets include Topps Chrome, Topps Finest, and the Bowman sets. Topps was purchased in 2022 by Fanatics for approximately $500M.
A hobby supply company that produces penny sleeves, top loaders and other trading card-related products.
A sheet of cards that hasn’t been cut into individual cards by the manufacturer yet. Uncut sheets from important sets can sell extremely well on the secondary market.
A sports and trading card manufacturer that has produced cards for multiple sports since 1989. Best known during the ultra-modern era for producing important hockey sets and the iconic Young Guns rookies.
Describes a card that is different from the Base card. Variations can feature different photos or subtle changes to coloring or shading. Parallels and Refractors are also types of variations.
A subjective term that describes older cards. A widely accepted cutoff is 1980, with cards produced before then considered vintage by modern standards.
Describes unopened packs of cards, including single packs as well as sealed boxes.
An online marketplace where users can buy and sell cards.
Abbreviation for “Extended Rookie Card.” A price guide term that describes a card released during a player’s rookie season but not as part of a standard release. A modern example is the XRC Mystery Redemption from Select Football – these cards are released prior to the NFL Draft and award redemptions based on future picks. An example would be a redemption for QB1, which awards the owner a card of the first QB taken in the draft.
A popular set of hockey rookie cards produced by Upper Deck. Young Guns can often hold considerably more value over other rookies.
An extremely rare parallel that features a zebra-print pattern offered in Select products.
A transparent plastic sometimes used in the making of cards rather than traditional paper card stock. While popular among many collectors, acetate cards have been known to suffer from discoloration over the years.
The altering of a card’s colors or logos, often used to show a player in a new team’s uniform before photos are available.
An online marketplace for buying, selling and vaulting graded cards.
When a card has been changed from its original condition. Examples of alterations range from trimming edges and corners to recoloring faded pictures.
Founded by Earl Arena and Jean MacLeod, duo responsible for creating some of the most iconic inserts and parallels of the 1990’s as part of Fleer Corporation. Popular creations include Precious Metal Gems, Essential Credentials, Jambalaya, Noyz Boyz, just to name a few.
The process of potential buyers bidding against each other with the highest bidder winning the item(s).
A company that helps facilitate the buying and selling of cards and other collectibles. Popular examples of auction houses are Goldin Auctions, Heritage Auctions, Lelands and Pristine Auction.
The process of an expert examining an item to verify its legitimacy. Autographs are a popular example within the hobby of an item that often needs to be authenticated by an expert.
Authentication is one of the three foundational services offered by companies like PSA, BGS, SGC, along with grading and encapsulation.
A service provided by eBay where qualifying trading cards sold over a certain threshold are automatically shipped to CSG for authentication before being sent to the buyer.
Cards that make up a product’s base set. Examples of non-base cards are autographs, relic cards, parallels inserts.
A product’s entire lineup of Base cards.
A series of baseball cards that were especially popular in the 1960s. Topps also produced Bazooka-branded cards in the early 2000s.
A hobby supply company largely known for the production of top loaders, penny sleeves and other protective accessories for sports and trading cards.
A hobby-based company that is involved in several areas. Beckett publishes the Beckett Price Guide and also offers Beckett Grading Services (BGS).
Short for Beckett Grading Services, a third-party card grading service that began grading in 1999.
When a trading card was printed without anything on the back. Blank Backs are often errors but can also be by design.
One of several retail formats for sports and trading cards. Blaster boxes typically contain between four and 10 packs and are considered one of the more affordable retail configurations.
A retail format that often features several packs of cards with a cardboard backing and clear plastic front. Similar to cello pack formats.
A Virginia-based online retailer that sells sealed wax and other memorabilia.
Refers to a card’s value, and is often associated with the Beckett Price Guide.
A large card that includes a hinge, allowing the item to be open or closed like a book. Booklet cards are generally found in high-end products and often include patches and autographs.
The area around a trading card that typically surrounds the main photograph. Borders are most often a white area or other design that forms a frame within the card. Card borders are often the reference point when determining centering during the grading process.
A manufacturer of gum and trading cards that were popular in the 1940s. Bowman was acquired by Topps in 1956 and discontinued. Topps brought Bowman back in 1989 and it is known today as a product that focuses on baseball prospects. Notable products include Bowman, Bowman Draft, Bowman Chrome, Bowman’s Best, Bowman Sterling, and Bowman Platinum.
The process of opening up a box of cards. Can also refer to what is expected to be in each box, on average.
An additional item often included in more premium sets of cards. These often include oversized cards or other types of memorabilia.
Similar to box break, break can simply refer to the opening of a box of cards. More generally, the term break can also refer to Group Breaks.
A shipping parcel often used to send trading cards that is filled with bubble wrap. The phrase Bubble Mailer with Tracking (BMWT) is commonly used to describe how a card will be shipped.
A purchasing option most associated with eBay where buyers can purchase an item for a set price rather than participate in an auction. Often abbreviated as “BIN.”
A plastic card protector that is sturdier than a penny sleeve but thinner than a top loader. The preferred method to protect cards when shipping to grading services like PSA. Also called a “semi-rigid” card holder.
The physical material that a trading card is made of. Materials like cardboard and paper are the most common while metal, leather and acetate are also used.
The packaging that describes a certain number of boxes of a specific product. Cases of lower or mid-end products can often contain 10 to 20 boxes while higher-end products may only contain two boxes.
Refers to the rarity of a card, and is most associated with a card that appears, on average, just once per case of boxes.
A retail format where packs of cards are wrapped in a plastic similar to cellophane. Cello Packs come in full boxes, typically with 24 packs, and are often hung from a rack at retailers for single purchase. Note: pronounced “sello” as opposed to “chello” (like the instrument).
One of the major categories used when determining the grade of a card. Borders are the most common way to determine centering, though things like logos and lettering can be used for full-bleed cards without borders.
A card that is typically considered one of the most desirable in a product that collectors can “chase.”
A full list of every card in a single product.
Damage often associated with the edge of a card that comes from age or poor handling. Commonly seen on cards with dark borders like black or blue.
A metallic finish found on many of the hobby’s most popular cards.
The sequencing of cards inserted into packs. This can sometimes result in specific patterns where groups of cards can often be found with each other.
An online marketplace that focuses on the buying, selling and trading of fractionalized sports memorabilia.
A Washington-based online marketplace that sells sports and trading cards.
The most common and often least desirable cards in a set. These are most often Base cards of non-rookies or cards that don’t feature parallels, autographs or memorabilia.
Describes the physical quality of a card. Important areas that impact condition include surface quality, corners, centering and edges.
A term used to describe the cracking of an encapsulated card from its slab.
An abbreviation for the grading company Certified Sports Guaranty. An affiliate of the Certified Collectibles Group, CSG began accepting sports card submissions in early 2021.
A Western New York-based online retailer that sells cards and other memorabilia.
Someone who buys and sells trading cards as a business. Often associated with those who buy and sell at card shows, though the increase in online marketplaces has allowed the term to be applied to many more people.
A projected final value of a raw card being sent for grading, once the grade is assigned. Some grading companies charge more money to grade cards with a higher final value. Submitting a card for grading requires a maximum final value estimation which corresponds to specific service levels. Underestimating the declared value can result in upcharges after grading has been completed.
An online marketplace where users can buy, sell and trade fractions of sports and trading cards.
A card that has been cut by the manufacturer to create a specific shape beyond the regular rectangle design of most cards. These cards can sometimes carry a premium over other sets due to their unique designs. Die-Cut cards can also be difficult to find in good condition because of edge damage caused by the additional cuts.
Describes damage most often associated with the corner of a card. “Soft” corners can be created by poor handling of even the card simply shifting within the pack.
A wholesaler that helps push products from the manufacturer to retailers and other card sellers.
Describes the act of altering a card, usually to artificially improve its physical condition. A common example of doctoring is the trimming of a card’s edges or corners to make them appear sharper, or attempting to recolor surface imperfections.
Currently one of Panini America’s flagship brands, Donruss first made cards in 1981.
A chrome version of Panini’s signature Donruss set. Optic debuted in 2016 and has been one of the more popular releases for Panini’s basketball and football cards.
An online marketplace that offers millions of sports and trading cards in addition to various other used and new items.
Wording often used in eBay listings to claim that an item is the only one on eBay, or falsely described as a 1/1 for having bookend serial numbering (e.g. #1/49 or #49/49) or being jersey numbered (e.g. a Kobe Bryant card being #8/99 or #24/99). This type of description is generally frowned upon in the hobby for being deceptive.
Refers to a card that has been sealed in a protective plastic case, typically associated with grading services.
A card that contains a mistake, which often ranges from incorrect photos, names or statistics. Error cards were considered highly valuable in the junk wax era but have since largely fallen out of favor. Some sets like Heritage now include intentional “Error” cards as chase inserts.
Refers to memorabilia included in a sports or trading card that was simply worn at to an event rather than used in a game, and is typically considered less desirable than game-used.
A replica autograph that is stamped on by a manufacturer, rather than authentically signed by the athlete.
A complete set that has been packaged by the manufacturer and sold to collectors. These sets can carry a premium over those put together by the public and can often come with bonuses like extra parallels or packs.
An online retailer that specializes in the selling of sports-related clothing, trading cards, collectibles and other merchandise. Fanatics is responsible for shaking up the sports card market after acquiring exclusive trading card licenses to leagues like the NBA, NFL and MLB in 2021.
Originally a gum manufacturer, Fleer created various sets across multiple sports but stopped production in the early 2000s. The Fleer name is currently owned by Upper Deck, who has produced “Fleer Retro” sets in the 2010’s as an homage to some of the best Fleer designs of all time.
A metallic texture sometimes applied to cards to enhance the design. Foil cards are often highly condition sensitive, like Derek Jeter’s 1993 SP Foil rookie card, which only has a population of 21 in PSA 10.
An acronym for “Fear of Missing Out” that generally refers to hobbyists paying more for a card than what it is worth, often shortly after a product has been released.
Shorthand for sending money via PayPal’s Friends and Family option. Sending money this way avoids additional fees and taxes, but doesn’t include Purchase Protection that comes with sending money with the Goods and Services option. Using F&F is not recommended for buyers or sellers you don’t personally know and trust.
Shorthand for For Sale and For Trade.
Refers to a card design that doesn’t feature a border. These cards feature photos or designs that extend to the edges of the card.
Refers to memorabilia that has been used in a game by an athlete. This category carries a premium over player- or event-worn memorabilia that didn’t appear in a game.
The condition rating given to a card that receives a PSA 10, BGS 9.5, SGC 10 or CSG 10.
A New Jersey-based auction house founded by Ken Goldin that is best known for selling some of the most expensive sports cards and memorabilia in hobby history. In July of 2021, Goldin agreed to terms to sell to Collectors Holdings.
A popular card manufacturer that produced cards in the 1930s and 1940s. The 1933 Goudey release is widely considered one of the most iconic sets ever and contains several cards of Babe Ruth.
A card that has had its authenticity verified and the quality of its physical condition evaluated by a grading service like PSA, BGS, SGC or CSG.
The process of a third-party grading service assigning a numerical value to describe a card’s physical condition.
A numerical scale used by grading services to represent the physical condition of a card. Companies typically grade cards on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being considered the highest quality. In addition to numerical values, grading companies also assign phrases to describe each number. For example, a PSA 10 is considered Gem Mint while a BGS 10 is considered Pristine.
One of several retail formats for trading cards, a gravity feed is a tall box with a slot at the bottom where packs of cards are fed through. As you remove a pack from the slot at the bottom, another pack from above slides down to take its place. Gravity Feeds typically contain several dozen packs per box.
The process of a group of collectors splitting the contents based on a predetermined order or format. Popular formats include participants receiving all of the cards of a specific player or all players from a specific team.
A Washington-based sports and trading card distributor.
A shortened phrase for the sports card hobby.
A retail format of trading cards that hangs rather than sit on a shelf. Ultra-modern hanger boxes typically contain a single pack of cards.
A Texas-based auction house that has sold some of the most expensive cards and pieces of memorabilia in hobby history.
Short for Hybrid Grading Approach, a third-party grading service best known for unique and custom labels.
Refers to cards considered more valuable or desirable than other cards in a product. Common examples of hits are autographs or memorabilia cards.
A type of product configuration specifically designed to be released online or through hobby shops. Hobby boxes typically contain more guaranteed hits and/or parallels than retail formats.
Refers to products that only appear in hobby formats. This can be entire products that only have hobby box configurations (National Treasures, Flawless) or the specific contents of a product like parallels, inserts or other chases.
Describes a card that has been slabbed or encapsulated in a plastic holder by a grading service.
An annual event that includes many of the hobby’s most important companies and people. Activities range from a card show to educational panels and seminars.
A non-base card that is typically part of a themed series within a product. Insert cards were originally created as chases to increase sales and debuted during the Tobacco card era. The 1990’s are considered the era when inserts really emerged and reigned supreme. Popular examples of ultra-modern inserts are Color Blast, Downtown and Kaboom.
A card that contains a piece of a jersey or uniform from the subject. Pieces of jersey are typically classified as game-worn if a player wore it during an actual game or player/event-worn if the jersey was simply put on for a moment during an event. Jersey cards are typically single-colored swatches, while patch cards contain two or more colors.
Refers to cards produced during the 1980s and 1990s that were overprinted and have mostly lost long-term value outside of secondary scarcity created through grading. While not all cards produced during the Junk Wax Era have lost value, many cards of even the best players often hold little value because they are far too common.
An extremely popular modern insert that features comic-style artwork. Kaboom! has appeared in sets like Absolute Memorabilia for football, Innovation and Crown Royale for basketball, and Prizm English Premier League Soccer The set was also part of 2018 Panini Rewards.
A Florida-based company that specializes in live sports card breaks.
A confectionery company founded in the 1940s that also produced trading cards. Leaf International is not affiliated with Leaf Trading Cards.
A trading card manufacturer founded in 2010. Leaf produces unlicensed trading cards for sports like baseball and basketball but also releases entertainment sets that focus on celebrities.
Founded in 1985, Leland’s is a New Jersey-based sports auction house that has sold multiple million-dollar sports cards over the years.
Refers to cards that have the right to use both player names and team logos on trading cards through deals with leagues like the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB as well as their respective Players Associations.
A common auction term that is often used to describe a group of cards up for sale. An auction of five Chipper Jones rookie cards could be described as a Chipper Jones rookie lot on a marketplace like eBay.
The term lot is also used to describe a specific item or set of items in an auction for clarity. In auctions, items are often identified by lot number (ex: Lot #23) rather than the name of the item.
A mobile app that specializes in live box breaks and card sales.
Refers to the first series of cards printed for a specific set in a year.
A piece of memorabilia created by a card company specifically to appear in trading cards. These haven’t been worn or touched by the athletes on the card.
A trading card company that produces different types of cards. Ultra-modern manufacturers include Leaf, Panini, Topps and Upper Deck.
A sports card pricing tool created by Sports Card Investor founder Geoff Wilson. (Use promo code TRIAL for 7 days free)
The entire checklist of an entire set that includes everything from Base cards to autographs and inserts.
Similar to a Jersey Card, a Memorabilia Card features a piece of memorabilia, though these can range from jerseys to pieces of bats, gloves, sneakers or balls.
A smaller version of a normal-sized card. Some mini cards are included in modern sets as chase cards while the 1975 Topps Mini Baseball set only featured cards measuring 2 ¼” by 3 1/8″.
Cards that feature players with their Minor League teams. Minor League cards are typically less popular than MLB cards though there is a small, passionate following.
A grading term that describes the physical quality of a PSA 9. PSA describes these cards as having sharp corners, no major flaws and are centered no worse than 60/40.
A trading card event that debuted in 2022 that features a card show as well as panels and seminars with some of the hobby’s most influential figures.
A sports card brand from Panini that made its standalone debut in 2019. Mosaic first debuted as an online exclusive labeled Mosaic Prizm in 2017.
An online peer-to-peer sports card marketplace that specializes in low buyer/seller fees and puts a priority on vetting sellers on the platform.
Short for the National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC), the National is an annual sports card and memorabilia show. The National is typically considered the largest sports card show in the world.
Acronym for Not for Sale or Not for Trade.
A numbered card has its print run and number within the run stamped by the manufacturer, often on the back. Example: 5/10.
A Canadian confectionary company that has produced candy as well as trading cards over the years. Often associated with Topps, the modern-day O-Pee-Chee brand is produced by Upper Deck.
The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Hockey release contains an iconic Wayne Gretzky rookie card, which is considered one of the most important and valuable cards in the hobby.
Refers to an autograph that has been signed directly on the card. On-card autographs are typically considered more desirable than autographs signed on stickers that are then placed on the card.
A card that is serial numbered 1/1, indicating a one-of-a-kind card. Not to be confused with things like “eBay 1-of-1”, which is a deceptive term attempting to indicate the only one on the marketplace.
A magnetic holder typically used by collectors for mid- to high-end cards that aren’t graded but need protection similar to a top loader. One-Touch holders are generally preferred to top loaders when it comes to eye appeal and displayability. Sometimes also called “Mags.”
Online storefronts that specialize in trading cards and memorabilia. Blowout Cards and Dave and Adam’s Card World are considered two of the most popular online retailers.
A group of cards packaged by the manufacturer.
Refers to a person who searches, weighs or opens packs before purchasing. Pack searchers often attempt to find “thicker” packs containing jersey/memorabilia cards or autographs.
A major card manufacturer best known for its long history of international sticker sales and the production of ultra-modern football and basketball cards. Panini is best known for iconic sets like Prizm, Optic and Select as well as high-end releases like National Treasures and Flawless.
A base card that features a specific design or unique coloring, making it distinct from the more common base card itself. Popular examples of parallels are colors like Silver, Gold, or Black, or pattern-based parallels like Mojo, Scope or Wave. Parallels usually vary in rarity from unnumbered short prints to serial numbered 1-of-1s. Collecting one of every parallel in a checklist is referred to as “building the rainbow” or “rainbow chasing.”
Refers to a piece of jersey placed inside a trading card. While sometimes synonymous with jersey cards, some collectors use patches to refer to higher-quality jerseys that may contain multiple colors or logos.
A plastic sleeve that can hold and protect a trading card. Penny sleeves are generally the cheapest form of protection and can also be easily placed in a top loader.
Abbreviated as PC, this refers to a collector’s personal collection of cards that they typically don’t intend to sell. This term is often used in the context that a collector will “PC” specific players or teams.
Sometimes abbreviated Pop Report, this is the published census of cards graded by a specific grading company. PSA, SGC, BGS and CSG all have public population reports.
Refers to cards, usually vintage, that were printed after World War II.
Refers to cards printed before World War II.
A publication that lists possible price estimates for sports and trading cards. Similar to Book Value, the term price guide is often associated with the Beckett Price Guide. Online tools like Market Movers from Sports Card Investor also provide pricing data using sales data from marketplaces like eBay, PWCC and Goldin Auctions.
Refers to the overall number of copies of a single card. Some cards have small print runs like 1/1 while others have been printed millions of times.
This refers to the physical plates used to print trading cards. Four plates are used in the process and are colored Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Printing plates can also be found in packs of cards as hits, and are each numbered 1/1. Though rare, printing plates are not typically highly sought after and will not command the price premiums that true 1/1 parallels command.
A shiny parallel, often associated with refractors from Topps. Not to be confused with the Prizm brand or the Prizm parallel associated with Panini.
An Arizona-based auction house that specializes in sports cards and memorabilia.
A flagship set produced by Panini since 2012 that is included in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, UFC and WWE products. Prizm has become extremely popular during the ultra-modern era, and is often one of the most desired sets for Panini rookie cards.
Refers to a parallel from Panini that often features a shiny, metallic surface.
Two separate special lineups of cards from Topps where artists added their own unique designs and styles to reimagine previous cards and sets.
Most often associated with baseball, a prospect is a player that typically hasn’t reached the MLB level yet. Prospect cards are found in Bowman products, part of the Topps brand. Speculating and buying prospects early with the hopes that they become stars is a major part of collecting and investing in baseball cards.
An abbreviation for Professional Sports Authentication, PSA is a California-based grading company founded in 1991. PSA is generally considered the most desirable grading company for selling cards on the secondary market. PSA is part of Collectors.
An online marketplace for sports and trading cards that was founded in 1998.
Short for the shipping method Plain White Envelope. A PWE is a basic envelope and stamp that doesn’t include any type of additional protection like a bubble mailer.
A qualifier is a grading term applied to a card that meets the criteria for a grade, except for one area. As an example, if a card would grade as a PSA 9 if not for 80/20 centering, PSA will grade the card as a 9OC, which stands for off-center. Common qualifiers are off-center (OC), Stain (ST), Print Defect (PD) or Out of Focus (OF).
The process of reviewing cards to ensure they meet the intended quality. Quality Control is often questioned in the sports card hobby when cards from manufacturers arrive extremely off-centered or damaged.
Refers to a card’s complete series of parallels. Collecting the “rainbow” of a certain player has become extremely popular during the ultra-modern era with the rise of parallels.
An online marketplace for buying, selling and trading fractional shares of alternative assets, including sports and trading cards.
Refers to the supply of a card, with rare cards being more limited. Not to be confused with scarce, which indicates that a card’s supply doesn’t meet its demand. Cards can often be rare but not necessarily popular or desirable.
A series of rookie cards associated with the Donruss brand. Originally exclusive to the Donruss set, Rated Rookie cards also appear in the ultra-modern chrome Donruss Optic set.
Refers to a card that hasn’t been graded or encapsulated by a third-party service.
Another name for a lottery or raffle that involves cards. An example of a razz features the original owner raffling off a card through 10 spots at $10 per spot. A winner is selected at random from that group to receive the card. Collectors should approach razzes with caution, as they are often conducted through social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with little protection against fraud or other deceptive practices.
The act of altering a card’s color to better match the original design while hiding damage or aging. Recoloring a card is considered an alteration and will be designated as such by a third-party grading service if discovered.
The process where a card, often an autographed card or other “hit”, is substituted with an agreement that the owner will receive the card at a later date. Ultra-modern redemptions feature codes that the owner must submit to the manufacturer before receiving the card.
Redemptions have become controversial over the years as many are unable to be fulfilled by the manufacturer in a timely manner. This happens for a variety of reasons, though one of the most common is that the autographed card is never returned to the manufacturer by the intended signer.
In these cases the redemptions must be substituted for a different card or other bonus.
Refactors feature different effects when exposed to light. Common features include rainbow-like colors or other designs and patterns. Topps first introduced the term refractor with the debut of 1993 Topps Finest. Panini uses the term “prizm” to describe its refractors (in all of its sets, not just Prizm).
A reproduction of a card that was previously printed. New collectors should pay special attention to sale listings marked “RP” as these are not original copies of the presented card.
A product strictly meant to be sold at major retailers like Target and Walmart. Similar in cards per box to Hobby Boxes, Retail Boxes generally don’t offer as many hits or low-numbered cards.
Refers to cards that appear only in retail formats. Examples could be inserts that only appear in Blaster Boxes or parallels that only appear in Hanger Boxes.
Refers to a player’s first year of cards, though not always their rookie season. Players can have dozens of rookie cards that vary in value. Some, but not all, rookie cards are stamped with some type of rookie designator that varies by manufacturer.
Abbreviation for Rookie Patch Autograph. These types of cards are often the most desirable and expensive in the hobby.
Refers to a card’s supply not meeting the demand. Not to be confused with Rare, which indicates a card with a more limited print run.
A former sports card manufacturer that is now a brand of football cards printed and distributed by Panini.
A protective card case that is held together by a screw. These have become less common with modern collectors who often prefer One-Touch cases held together via a magnet. Screw Down cases have also been known to damage cards when closed too tightly.
Refers to cards being sold through online marketplaces like eBay and COMC or auction houses like Goldin Auctions and Heritage Auctions.
Indicates that a card has been stamped with a serial number. Example: 12/25. Synonymous with Numbered.
The entire print run of cards from a specific year’s product. Can also refer to a product’s Base Set.
A third-party grading service that has a history of expertise in vintage cards and sets. Its phrase “Tuxedo Time” refers to its distinct black slab and primarily white label.
The process of bidding up the price of an item in an unnatural way to benefit the seller. Shill bidding is most common through online marketplaces where sellers can create additional accounts to place bids. Typically these items are ultimately left unpaid to create the illusion of a higher value.
Abbreviated “SP”, refers to cards with a lower print run than most other cards in a set. Numbered cards are also considered short-printed though not every SP card is numbered.
Describes cards sold individually rather than in a pack. Buying singles is typically recommended over opening packs when purchasing for investment purposes.
Describes the plastic case that encapsulates a card through a third-party service.
A series of protective sleeves for graded trading cards that come in a variety of colors.
A sports card media brand and company founded by entrepreneur Geoff Wilson.
A company that sells custom display stands for your trading card collection.
An online marketplace that has pivoted to breaks and NFTs after originally focusing on selling only Raw and Graded rookie cards from premier sets.
A Pittsburgh-based online retailer that sells sports and trading cards.
Stickers are similar to their sports card counterparts but are often meant to be peeled and placed in an album. Historically more popular in Europe and Asia than North America, some stickers like Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer rookie can hold significant value on the secondary market.
Describes an autograph signed on a sticker that is then placed on a trading card. Sticker autographs are typically considered less desirable and valuable than on-card autographs.
Abbreviated SSP, these cards are even more rare than short-prints. While there are no stated print runs for an SSP, the pack odds are definitively more rare than SP. Typically a print run under 50 is considered SSP.
A term used to describe resealable plastic bags, historically used to hold groups of cards or team sets.
Describes a card that features an entire team.
Refers to every player from a single team within a specific set.
Cards that were distributed with packs of cigarettes as a bonus. Most common in the early 1900s, these cards were considered a marketing tool to sell more packs while also providing additional structural support to the packs.
The T-206 set is widely considered the most iconic tobacco card set while the set’s Honus Wagner rookie is considered one of the most important and valuable cards in existence.
A common protective plastic case for cards. Top loaders are typically placed over a card with a penny sleeve for additional protection. These cases provide more protection than penny sleeves but are more flexible than hard plastic cases like one-touches or screw downs.
An iconic sports card manufacturer best known for producing licensed baseball cards for decades. Popular sets include Topps Chrome, Topps Finest, and the Bowman sets. Topps was purchased in 2022 by Fanatics for approximately $500M.
A hobby supply company that produces penny sleeves, top loaders and other trading card-related products.
A sheet of cards that hasn’t been cut into individual cards by the manufacturer yet. Uncut sheets from important sets can sell extremely well on the secondary market.
A sports and trading card manufacturer that has produced cards for multiple sports since 1989. Best known during the ultra-modern era for producing important hockey sets and the iconic Young Guns rookies.
Describes a card that is different from the Base card. Variations can feature different photos or subtle changes to coloring or shading. Parallels and Refractors are also types of variations.
A subjective term that describes older cards. A widely accepted cutoff is 1980, with cards produced before then considered vintage by modern standards.
Describes unopened packs of cards, including single packs as well as sealed boxes.
An online marketplace where users can buy and sell cards.
Abbreviation for “Extended Rookie Card.” A price guide term that describes a card released during a player’s rookie season but not as part of a standard release. A modern example is the XRC Mystery Redemption from Select Football – these cards are released prior to the NFL Draft and award redemptions based on future picks. An example would be a redemption for QB1, which awards the owner a card of the first QB taken in the draft.
A popular set of hockey rookie cards produced by Upper Deck. Young Guns can often hold considerably more value over other rookies.
An extremely rare parallel that features a zebra-print pattern offered in Select products.
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