CGC Trading Cards and CSG Attending Spring Training Sports Collectors Show in Palmetto, Florida

CGC Trading Cards and Certified Sports Guaranty™ (CSG™) are attending the 6th annual Spring Training Sports Collectors Show being held February 26-28, 2021, at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto, Florida. Representatives from both companies will be on hand to answer questions, explain their services and benefits and accept submissions. CGC Trading Cards and CSG will also conduct a card grading contest! See below for information on how to participate.

CGC Trading Cards launched in July 2020 to provide certification services for Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards. Already, CGC Trading Cards has certified many impressive collections and numerous rarities, with collectors praising its expert grading, use of advanced technology and best-in-class holder.

CSG recently began accepting submissions for sports card grading, and collectors are eager to learn more and see CSG-certified cards in person. This show is the perfect opportunity to check out the state-of-the-art CSG holder, learn all about CSG's services and submit cards for certification.

Preparing Submissions for the Show

To streamline submissions at the show and increase safety, please take the following steps before arriving at the show:

1. Become a CGC or CSG Collectors Society member. To join CGC, click here. To join CSG, click here. 
2. Complete the CGC Trading Cards Online Submission Form or CSG Online Submission Form and print the packing slip. Make sure your account number, shipping address, return shipping method and requested services are included on the paperwork.
3. Carefully insert each of your cards in a CGC Trading Cards or CSG Card Sleeve or similar product and then within a CGC Trading Cards or CSG Semi-Rigid Card Holder or similar product. Find out more about CGC Trading Cards Card Sleeves and Semi-Rigid Holders here. Find out more about CSG Card Sleeves and Semi-Rigid Holders here.
4. Place your cards in the exact order that they are listed on the packing slip.
5. Protect your cards with bubble wrap, and pack them in a sturdy cardboard box.

If there are 10 or fewer cards in your submission, CGC Trading Cards / CSG representatives will check them in front of you at the show. If the submission has more than 10 cards, it will be placed in a tamper-proof container and then opened later under security cameras.

CGC Trading Cards and CSG will provide tablets at the booth for submitters to use for sign-up and submission purposes.

All submissions will be transported to CGC Trading Cards / CSG headquarters in nearby Sarasota, Florida for authentication, grading and encapsulation. To learn more about CGC Trading Cards services and fees, click here. To learn more about CSG services and fees, click here.

Questions should be directed to CGC Trading Cards and CSG Customer Service at [email protected] or [email protected] or 1-877-662-6642 or 1-888-274-4723.

Interested in applying for a job at CGC Trading Cards and CSG’s Sarasota, Florida, headquarters? There are openings for all skill levels. Learn more at collectiblesgroup.com/careers.

Card Grading Contest

CGC Trading Cards and CSG are excited to hold a card grading contest at the Spring Training Sports Collectors Show. Each participant will be given 30 minutes to grade either 10 holdered trading cards or 10 holdered sports cards at the CGC Trading Cards / CSG booth without any outside assistance. The cards will be a mix of types and grades, and contestants can choose whether they would like to grade trading cards or sports cards. Each contestant will be given an instruction sheet and a test sheet to enter their grades, including sub-grades.

Contestants will be scored based on how close their grades are to the CGC Trading Cards or CSG grades. Prizes will be given for first, second and third place for the top sports card contestants and the top trading card contestants:

• First place – $500 grading credit
• Second place – Free Premium membership (a $149 value), or if already a member, a $150 grading credit
• Third place – Free Associate membership (a $25 value), or if already a member, a $25 grading credit

Plus, CGC Trading Cards and CSG are actively recruiting new talent, which means participation in the card grading contest could lead to the opportunity for an interview and a card grader position!

The grading contest will run Friday, February 26, through noon on Sunday, February 28, on a first-come-first-served basis. Simply visit the CGC Trading Cards / CSG booth, provide your name and contact information and grade the cards! Gloves and hand sanitizer will be provided, and all holdered cards will be wiped with sanitizer between contestants. Sanitizer does not damage the crystal-clear CGC Trading Cards and CSG holders.

CGC Trading Cards and CSG will announce the winners at 3pm on Sunday, February 28. Winners do not need to be present at this time. CGC Trading Cards and CSG will contact each winner. In the event of a tie, the prize amounts will be split evenly between the winners. (For example, if two contestants tie for first place, each will receive a $250 grading credit, and no second place prize will be awarded.)

Certified Collectibles Group® employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. CGC Trading Cards and CSG reserve the right of final interpretation of this promotion, including the right to disqualify any contestant.

To learn more about the CGC Trading Cards Grading Scale, click here. To learn more about the CSG Grading Scale, click here.

About CGC Trading Cards and CSG

CGC Trading Cards is the division of Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) that provides expert and impartial authentication, grading and encapsulation services for virtually all Pokémon TCG and Magic: The Gathering cards. Its graders use a highly accurate, industry-standard 10-point grading scale and evaluate cards using advanced equipment, including devices that perform ultra-microscopic inspections and precisely calculate centering. After cards have been authenticated and graded, they are encapsulated in the CGC Trading Cards holder, which combines crystal-clear optics and advanced archival materials for the best in display and protection.

CSG is an expert and impartial authentication, grading and encapsulation service for sports cards. It is the latest company formed by the Certified Collectibles Group® (CCG®), the world’s leading provider of services that add value and liquidity to collectibles. More than any other third-party sports card grading service, CSG uses advanced authentication and grading technology to make the certification process more precise and efficient. After a card has been certified by CSG, it is encapsulated in a display-worthy holder that provides superior long-term protection. CSG also offers the industry’s strongest guarantee, which adds significant confidence, liquidity and value to the hobby.