The 5 Most Controversial Sports Card Gradings in History

Sports card grading promises objectivity in a hobby that is defined by subjectivity. Unfortunately, even the best grading services aren’t infallible, and controversies around popular cards crop up year after year.

#5: 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. (PSA/BGS/SGC)

The 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the most submitted modern rookie cards of all time, according to the NYT. Unfortunately, it’s also notoriously difficult to grade consistently due to centering issues and surface sensitivity, as well as hologram wear on the back.

The same physical card has received dramatically different grades depending on the service:

• PSA: 6 and 7
• BGS: 9.5 
• SGC: 7 and 10

Collectors have frequently pointed out how the grade awarded just doesn’t match the physical appearance of the card, and low-grade copies can command surprising premiums on the secondary market. For example, a Grade 7 version of this card is currently valued at $107.50.

#4: T206 Honus Wagner (PSA)

The T206 Honus Wagner is considered by many to be the ‘undisputed’ king of sports cards, but this iconic vintage piece has plenty of controversy to its name. As a precursor to the legendary bubblegum baseball card era, the PSA NM-MT 8 single is the very first card ever graded by PSA. 

This famous piece was once owned by Wayne Gretzky and Bruce McNall, but that’s not what makes this card so controversial.

The Trimming Scandal

Junior auction executive Bill Mastro entered the halls of sports card infamy in 2013 upon being convicted of mail fraud. His crime? Trimming the T206 Honus Wagner card in the 1980s to get rid of damaged portions before selling it to Wayne Gretzky. 

The grader reportedly knew about the potential issues at the time, but still assigned the premium grade. Interestingly, the card was later bought by Ken Kendrick for $2.8 million. PSA offered to buy the card back after the controversy came to light, but Kendrick refused.

#3: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA)

If you’re into baseball hobby boxes and the history of sports trading cards, you’ve definitely heard of this legendary single. The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is no stranger to controversy. Disappointed by the lack of initial sales, an executive dumped several crates of his inventory into a river. These included the Mickey Mantle cards, launching the prices with the increased scarcity.

Mickey Mantle himself attained a legendary status not too long after joining the Yankees in 1951. Collectors wanted his most famous card, and there just wasn’t enough to go around. 

Post-Submissions and Alterations

The premier post-war baseball rookie card has seen several high-profile examples of card doctoring, including:

• Trimming
• Pressing
• Cleaning
• Edge improvements

Some of these cases include cards moving from lower grades or ‘altered’ designations at one service, to higher numerical grades at another, with visible improvements in corners or edges noted by collectors. 

The ongoing concerns about the detection of subtle alterations on ultra-valuable vintage cards are, unfortunately, valid. It’s incredibly difficult for collectors to track alterations between grades, making these vintage cards more of a gamble than they should be.

#2: 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Kobe Bryant (PSA)

A high-profile 2021 lawsuit (Lance Jackson v. Collectors Universe/PSA) saw a collector alleging that PSA had damaged or possibly even substituted his rare Kobe Bryant rookie while it was in their possession for grading.

Once collectors submit their pieces for PSA grading, there’s virtually no way to track cards through the grading process until they make their way back. The only reason collectors agree is an immense amount of faith in major grading services.

While there hasn’t been a final decision yet, this lawsuit has severely impacted collector trust.

#1: The 2025 PSA Grading Scandal

This controversy might be new, but it’s one of the biggest to ever hit the hobby. A collector submitted roughly 30 identical modern cards to PSA, with most of them being returned as PSA 9. Once the collector accepted PSA’s buyback offers at 9-level prices, the same certification numbers were updated to PSA 10 on multiple cards without notification.

The PSA has described the incident as a technical glitch and reversed some of the grades, but the event has prompted broader discussions about grading integrity.

Find Your Next PSA 10

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What’s driving the buzz about some of today’s most popular pulls, and what are some recurring issues you need to be aware of as a collector? Find out with this sports card guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are sports card gradings so controversial?

Grading is meant to be objective, but it ultimately relies heavily on human judgment. Factors like visual appeal and hints of subtle alterations can be interpreted differently by different graders and companies. 

Which grading company is the most reliable?

PSA tends to be the most dominant and liquid in the market, but each company has its ideal use cases. BGS is valuable for its sub-grades, while SGC is popular for vintage cards.

Can a graded card’s value be changed after it is slabbed?

No, in most cases. Once a card is encapsulated, its grade is considered final. Cards can, however, be submitted for regrading (where a new cert number is issued) or crossed over to another company.