Key Terms & Definitions

Written By Ross Henke

Last updated About 1 month ago

Manufacturers

  • Donruss - A company that originally produced confectionery but later pivoted to trading cards, specifically entertainment cards. Eventually acquired by Panini.

  • Fleer - Was the first company to successfully compete against Topps after the monopoly ended in the 1980s but has since been defunct. Their rights and assets were acquired by Upper Deck.

  • Panini - An Italian company that originally was in the sticker business before pivoting to trading cards. They have since acquired several other brands including Donruss. Currently one of the three major trading card companies.

  • Topps - One of the three major trading card companies and the oldest of the three. They have an exclusive deal for MLB, WWE, UEFA Champions League, and Star Wars licensed cards. They became publicly traded when they merged with Fanatics in 2022.

  • Upper Deck - One of the three major trading card companies. Upper Deck primarily works with the NHL, NBA, and NFL, though they have had baseball deals in the past. Upper Deck holds the Fleer trademark.

Sports

  • MLB - Major League Baseball is the top professional baseball league in the US and Canada. Currently partnered with Topps.

  • NBA - National Basketball Association is the top professional basketball league in the US and Canada. Currently partnered with Panini.

  • NFL - National Football League is the top professional American football league in the US. Currently partnered with Panini.

  • NHL - National Hockey League is the top professional hockey league in the US and Canada. Currently partnered with Upper Deck.

  • MLS - Major League Soccer is the top professional soccer league in the US and Canada. Currently partnered with Topps.

Trading Cards

  • Auto/Autograph - An autograph card is one that has been signed by the featured athlete or personality. Autos can either be on-card (where the subject signed directly on the card) or sticker autos (where the subject signed a sticker that was applied to the card). On-card autos are generally considered more desirable.

  • Base Card - This term can refer to all of the regular, non-parallel cards in a set. It can also refer to a specific card (i.e., "base" or "base card") if there are multiple parallels of that card.

  • Checklist - A complete list of all the cards in a specific set, including parallels and short prints.

  • Grade/Graded Card - A professionally evaluated card that has been given a numerical rating by a grading company such as PSA, BGS, or SGC. Grades typically range from 1 to 10.

  • Insert - A card that is not part of the base set and is inserted at a lower rate. Inserts are typically more valuable than base cards.

  • Parallel - A parallel is a version of a base card that differs in some way, typically in color, finish, or print run. Common parallels include Prizm, Refractor, and Chrome.

  • Patch - A swatch of game-used or player-worn material embedded in the card. Patches can include jersey swatches, bat shavings, etc.

  • Population (Pop) - The total number of copies of a specific card in a specific grade that have been submitted to a grading company. A low pop number generally indicates a rarer card in that condition.

  • Print Run - The total number of copies of a card that were produced. Cards with lower print runs are generally more valuable.

  • RC/Rookie Card - A rookie card is the first officially licensed card of a player produced during their rookie season. Rookie cards are typically the most valuable cards for a given player.

  • Relic/Memorabilia Card - A card that contains a piece of game-used or player-worn material. Relics can include jersey swatches, bat shavings, etc.

  • Serial Number/Numbered Card - A card that has been stamped with a serial number indicating the total print run and the individual copy number. For example, a card numbered 5/25 is the 5th of 25 copies produced.

  • Short Print (SP) - A card that is printed in smaller quantities than the base cards in a set, making it harder to find and typically more valuable.

  • Variation - A card that differs from the base version in some way, such as a different photo, color scheme, or text.

Grading Companies

  • BGS (Beckett Grading Services) - One of the top grading companies. BGS uses a 10-point scale and provides sub-grades for centering, corners, edges, and surface.

  • PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) - The most widely used grading company. PSA uses a 10-point scale and is known for its consistency and wide acceptance in the hobby.

  • SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation) - One of the older grading companies, SGC uses a 10-point scale and is known for its vintage card grading.

Card Packages

  • Blaster Box - A retail box that typically contains fewer packs than a hobby box. Blaster boxes are sold at mass-market retailers like Target and Walmart.

  • Hobby Box - A box of packs sold exclusively through hobby shops and online hobby retailers. Hobby boxes typically contain more packs and better odds for rare cards than retail boxes.

  • Pack - A sealed package of trading cards. Packs typically contain a set number of cards and are the most common way cards are sold.

  • Rack Pack - A retail package that is typically hung on a rack in stores. Rack packs are usually larger than standard packs and are made from packages that are made from plastic or foil.