New to sports card investing?

There's a lot to take in when you first get into things.

Especially, the terminology.

So, in this thread we'll be defining a bunch of words you'll come across.

(RT this if you found it helpful!)

** Sports Card Glossary Thread **

These terms will be in no particular order.

We'll continue to add to this thread, so if you have any request let us know.

1. Autograph/Auto: A signature of an athlete

2. Beckett: 1 of the main publishers for sports card price guides, along with PSA/SGC.

3. Base Card: a term used to describe a card that is not a rookie, semi-star, superstar, insert, die cut, autographed, numbered, or memorabilia card.

These are the least expensive cards in a set, easiest to obtain, and least desirable.

4. Bowman: Card manufacturer most known for baseball prospects.

5. Break: The process of opening a box of trading cards.

6. Cello Pack: Packs that contain more cards than standard wax packs. It gets its name from the transparent packaging that is similar to “cellophane.”

7. Centering:

One of the main determinants with regards to card grading. The centering is measured top to bottom and left to right.

Even without being touched, if the card is not centered properly a PSA 10 is out of the question.

8. Comps: a comparison of recent sales prices for a card(s).

9. Case: Typically used in reference to a packaging of a specific trading card product. Cases contain multiple boxes depending on the product and can range between 2-20 boxes

10. Checklist: A listing of all of the cards contained in a product’s base, insert and subsets

11. COMC: An acronym for the website Check Out My Cards, which is an online marketplace where collectors can buy and sell cards.

12. Die-cut: A card that has been purposefully cut by the manufacturer. Normally printed in limited quantities, these cards can hold strong value.

13. Ding: A term used to describe the damage on the corner of a card

14. FS: abbreviation that means For Sale.

15. FT: abbreviation that means For Trade.

16. Factory Set: A complete set of trading cards packaged by the manufacturer.

17. FF: Friends & Family, which is a way of making PayPal payments.

18. Graded card: A trading card that has been examined by a third-party grading service for condition and assigned a specific numerical grade, that corresponds with the card’s physical condition.

19. Group Break: An opportunity for a “group” of collectors...Continued

to come together online and split the cost of a box or case of cards and then divide the pulled cards amongst themselves in a manner which was previously agreed upon before the break begins.

20. Hits: anything pulled of value from a pack of cards, box, break, auction, etc.

21. Hobby Box: A box of trading cards, exclusively packaged for distribution through approved online retailers and traditional card shops.

22. Insert: a type of card in a set that is non-base and a non-parallel. Usually will have its own theme, design, name or numbering sequence

23. Jersey Card: A card that has a piece, patch, or swatch of a game used jersey embedded into the card.

24. Junk Wax: A term used in reference to the majority of trading cards manufactured between the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Continued

24. This was an era of over-production in the trading card industry, the likes of which the hobby had not seen up until that time or since. The cards from this era have little, if any, monetary value.

25. Lot: usually refers to multiple cards that are generally up for sale

26. Numbered: this refers to a card company putting a serial number on the card. Often they do this on inserts, game used cards, autographed cards, or other high end cards.

They will stamp a fraction on the card usually in gold or silver foiling. Continued

26. The top number is the one in the print you have, while the bottom is how many exist in the world and were printed.

For example, a card numbered 67/99 means you have card 67 out of the possible 99 that were produced.

27. On-card: an autographed card whose signature is directly on the card and not on a sticker label affixed to the card.

28. Panini: one of the largest card manufactures in the world

29. Penny Sleeve: A thin plastic pocket used as the first level of card protection.

30. Prizm: A term used by Panini to describe their own type of specific parallel cards.

31. Parallel: A card that is similar in design to its counterpart from a base set but offers a distinguishing quality. This can be in the former of border color, texture, card material, etc.

32. PC: Personal collection.

33. PSA: Professional Sports Authenticator. What many feel is the “standard for the graded card market.”

34. Pull: slang term/synonym for a hit.

35. Raw: any card that is not graded.

36. Redemption Card: A program/ card that allows the collector to redeem a code online in return for a hit or high end card.

37. Refractor: A card that has a chrome reflective surface. Refractors are rarer than commons and come in a variety of colors.

38. RC - Rookie card

39. RPA: Rookie Premier Autograph

40. Short Print: A base-set card that is printed in lesser quantity than other cards in the set.

41. Slabbed: slang to describe a “professionally graded card”.

42. Sticker Auto: An autograph signature applied to a sticker or label which is then applied to a trading card.

43. SGC: Short for Sportscard Guaranty Corporation, a professional sports card grading company part of the big four

44. Top Loader: the most common case/ card protector.

45. Topps: sports card manufacturer.

46. Upper Deck: sports card manufacturer.

47. Variation: a card that is different from the same cards in a set. Usually will vary in color, background or lettering.

48. Vintage: A term usually intended to indicate an item was issued or produced quite some time ago.

49. W: used as a way to ‘tag’ yourself to receive updates and reminders for a certain post for a card. Most commonly used in FB groups.