The Short Answer
- A single Ken Griffey Jr. card received grades ranging from Authentic to 9.5 across five companies.
- PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC, and TAG can disagree on the same card.
- Grading consistency is still a major problem in the hobby.
- Resale premiums vary widely even for the same numerical grade.
- Collectors should use the grader that best fits their card, budget, and timeline.
Featured Video: Same Card, Five Grading Companies
Sports Card Investor and Market Movers ran one of the most talked-about grading experiments of 2026. They sent the same Ken Griffey Jr. and Mewtwo cards to PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC, and TAG. The results exposed just how inconsistent card grading can be across major companies.
Key points from the video:
- A Griffey card that started as BGS 9.5 ended as BGS Authentic Altered after traveling through multiple companies.
- A Mewtwo card graded PSA 8, then TAG 8, then Arena Club 7, then SGC 8, then PSA 7 on resubmission.
- Grading companies sometimes disagree on trimming, size, and authenticity.
- Market prices do not treat all 9.5s or 10s as equal.
The Grading Experiment
The experiment used two cards with known grades. A Ken Griffey Jr. rookie-era card started as BGS 9.5. A Mewtwo Pokémon card started as PSA 8. Both cards were sent to multiple graders in sequence to see how each company would assess the same physical card.
The goal was not to prove any company is better or worse. It was to show that grading is partly subjective, partly technological, and partly brand-driven. The results confirmed what many experienced collectors already knew: a grade is not an absolute truth.
The Shocking Results
The Griffey card produced the most dramatic outcome. It started as BGS 9.5 and moved through the following grades:
- BGS 9.5 → original grade.
- CGC 9 — slightly lower but still strong.
- SGC Authentic — evidence of trimming.
- PSA 6 — much lower.
- TAG — could not holder, oversized.
- Arena Club 8.5.
- SGC 9 — second submission, different result.
- PSA 8 — second submission, different result.
- BGS Authentic Altered — final BGS submission.
The Mewtwo card was more stable but still inconsistent. It graded PSA 8, TAG 8, Arena Club 7, SGC 8, and PSA 7. The same card lost a full grade simply by being resubmitted to PSA.
What It Means for Collectors
The experiment reveals two uncomfortable truths. First, grading is not perfectly consistent. Second, the market still pays a premium for certain brands regardless of consistency. A PSA 10 often sells for more than a CGC 10 or SGC 10 even if the card is identical.
This creates a strategic problem for collectors. Do you chase the grade that is technically fairest, or the grade that commands the highest resale price? Most experienced collectors choose the latter. That is why PSA remains dominant despite long turnaround times and higher fees.
Which Grader Should You Use
Choosing a grader depends on your goal:
- PSA — best for resale value and market recognition, especially for modern cards.
- BGS — best for subgrades and black-label 10 slabs.
- SGC — best for vintage, speed, and lower cost.
- CGC — best for Pokémon and TCG, and a strong PSA alternative for modern cards.
- TAG — best for transparency, digital reports, and fast turnaround.
If you are unsure, use AI pre-screening to estimate your card’s likely grade before paying for any of these services. A bad submission is expensive. A good pre-screen is cheap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same card get different grades at different companies?
Why did the same card get different grades at the same company?
Which grading company is the most consistent?
Should I crack a slab and resubmit to another company?
Sources & Further Reading
- Sports Card Investor — Same Card, Five Graders
- Orb Sports Cards — PSA vs BGS vs SGC vs CGC 2026
- Giant Sports Cards — Best Grading Company Guide
With submission floors rising, pre-screening is no longer optional. Use our AI Pre-Grade Calculator to score a card's PSA 10 odds before you pay, and the Submission Planner to pick the right tier.