A Letter from Andy Broome as CSG Begins Its Third Year of Sports Card Grading

Dear Fellow Sports Card Collectors:

I am so pleased to report that CSG has become one of the most trusted names in third-party sports card grading. In our first two years, we have graded more than 1.3 million cards. That number includes many interesting and rare cards in countless collectors' sets, which makes it difficult to select just a few. But we'd like to share some of the highlights with you below.

In just the past few months, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle became the first CSG-graded card to sell for over $1 million at auction. In addition, we've graded some of the rarest sports cards on the market, including a unique miscut and a 1910 baseball card that was unknown until 2018. CSG also had the pleasure of certifying the six Air Jordan sneakers from each of Michael Jordan's championship-clinching games, which collectively are known as the Dynasty Collection™. This group of the most historically important game-worn sneakers ever assembled is currently being offered by Sotheby's .

Further, CSG is proud to provide valuable resources to collectors, including the CSG Population Report and CSG Registry. And we are focused on giving submitters the best experience possible. This includes creating the best-looking holder and labels in the industry and a special Perfect 10 label for cards that earn our highest grade. We are also currently wrapping up a major upgrade to our systems that will help our expert team stay at the forefront of innovation in the industry.

There's been a lot to celebrate at CSG, and we have you, the collectors, to thank.

Andy Broome
Vice President of CSG

BASEBALL

Highlight: A 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Type 1 became the first CSG-certified card to realize over $1 million ($1,253,185).

1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Type 1 card graded CSG 8 Click images to enlarge.

Total Cards in CSG Population Report: 443,419

Most Popular Set in CSG Population Report: 2021 Topps Set (16,456 cards)

Perfect 10 card: 2018 Topps Complete Sets #700 Shohei Ohtani

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CSG Registry Top Player Sets: Ken Griffey, Jr. (160), Derek Jeter (112) and Shohei Ohtani (106)

CSG Registry Set Highlighted Set: Dexman40’s complete 1970 Kellogg’s Set (which won Best in Set Type and Best Set of the Year)

BASKETBALL

Highlight: CSG has certified multiple high-grade 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie cards.

1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan graded CSG 9.

Total Cards in CSG Population Report: 390,863

Most Popular Set in CSG Population Report: 2019-20 Panini Hoops Premium Stock Set (12,956 cards)

Perfect 10 card: 1989-90 Hoops #310 David Robinson

Click images to enlarge.

CSG Registry Top Player Sets: Michael Jordan (264), Kobe Bryant (168) and Shaquille O'Neal (112)

CSG Registry Set Highlighted Set: Alejandro Rodriguez’s Stephen Curry Player Set

FOOTBALL

Highlight: CSG certified a high-grade example of the most expensive football card ever sold at auction, a 2000 Playoff Contenders Autographs #144 Tom Brady rookie card.

2000 Playoff Contenders Autographs #144 Tom Brady graded CSG 8.5 Click images to enlarge.

Total Cards in CSG Population Report: 302,693

Most Popular Set in CSG Population Report: 2020 Panini Select Set (16,083 cards)

Perfect 10 card: 2005 Topps #431 Aaron Rodgers

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CSG Registry Top Player Sets: Joe Burrow (124), Justin Herbert (117) and Tom Brady (113)

CSG Registry Set Highlighted Set: Todd Carte’s Patrick Mahomes II Player Set

Related Links:

• CSG Population Report
• CSG Registry
• CSG Services and Fees