Hobby Resources

Card Grading

Third-party authentication and grading services.

• PSA

  Professional Sports Authenticator — widely used grading and authentication.

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• Beckett Grading (BGS)

  Grading with sub-grades for centering, corners, edges, and surface.

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• SGC

  Grading service known for its black tuxedo slab.

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• CGC Cards

  Grading for TCG, sports, and non-sport cards.

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Product Checklists

Where to find official and community checklists.

• HobbyHub Checklists

  Searchable, filterable checklists for current releases.

• HobbyHub Release Calendar

  Upcoming release dates across every category.

• Topps Checklists

  Official checklists published by Topps.

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Manufacturers

Official sites for the companies that make the cards.

• Topps

  Topps, Bowman, and Topps Chrome.

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• Panini America

  Prizm, Donruss, Select, and more.

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• Upper Deck

  Hockey and entertainment trading cards.

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• The Pokémon Company

  Official Pokémon TCG news and expansions.

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Marketplaces

Places to buy and sell singles and sealed product.

• eBay

  Open marketplace for singles and sealed product.

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• TCGplayer

  TCG-focused marketplace.

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• HobbyHub Retailer Directory

  Every retailer and marketplace we track.

Collecting Guides

Practical guides for new and experienced collectors.

• Buying Your First Hobby Box

  Coming soon

  Hobby vs. retail, configurations, and what to expect.

• Understanding Parallels

  Coming soon

  Colors, print runs, and how to identify them.

• When Is a Card Worth Grading?

  Coming soon

  Condition checks before you submit.

• A Collector’s Guide to Breaks

  Coming soon

  Team, random, and PYT break formats explained.

Storage & Protection

Keep your collection in top condition.

• Penny Sleeves & Top Loaders

  Coming soon

  The baseline protection for any card worth keeping.

• Magnetic One-Touch Holders

  Coming soon

  Display-grade protection for thicker cards.

• Binders & Pages

  Coming soon

  Side-loading pages for set building and TCG collections.

• Climate & Light

  Coming soon

  Avoid humidity, heat, and direct sunlight.

Hobby Terminology

Common terms every collector runs into.

RC

Rookie Card — a player’s first officially licensed card in a major release.

Parallel

A variation of a base or insert card, usually differentiated by color or finish.

Serial Numbered

A card stamped with its print run, e.g. 23/99.

1/1

A one-of-one card — only a single copy exists.

Case Hit

An insert seeded roughly once per case of boxes.

Hobby Box

Product sold through hobby shops, typically with guaranteed hits.

Retail

Product sold at big box stores, such as blasters and hangers.

On-Card Auto

An autograph signed directly on the card rather than on a sticker.

SP / SSP

Short Print / Super Short Print — cards printed in smaller quantities.

Break

A group opening of product where participants buy teams or spots.