Sports Card Terminology
Getting into card collecting can be overwhelming at times. With the increase in different products, cards, and services over the years, it may be difficult knowing what more experienced collectors are talking about. This page will highlight some terms and definitions that may be new to people getting into the hobby!
What is a parallel/variation?
A parallel or variation is an alternate version of a base card, often represented by a different color. Different parallels have different rarities, ranging from some in every pack to only one of each in the world! Many parallels will have a serial number on the card representing how many of that card exist. Some products can have over 60 different parallels in it (ex. Panini Prizm)!
What is a SP/SSP?
A SP/SSP stands for "short print" or "super short print", sometimes referred to as a "case hit". A SSP is a parallel or other special insert that only comes in a small portion of packs. While these are rare like many parallels, a SSP is usually considered a rare card that does NOT have a serial number.
What is the difference between a "hobby box" and a "retail box"?
A hobby box is a box of cards that guarantee better hits, such as autographs, memorabilia cards, and serial numbered cards. These boxes are more expensive, sometimes costing upwards of hundreds or thousands of dollars, and can mainly be found at specialty hobby shops, online dealers, or direct from the manufacturer.
A retail box is a cheaper box that is great for completing sets on a budget, and still often has a chance for good hits! There are a few formats for retail products, such as hanger boxes, blasters, and mega boxes, which can range from around $8 to $60 MSRP. Along with sometimes finding them at hobby stores, these boxes will be found at big box stores like Walmart and Target.
Many products will have both hobby and retail products (ex. Donruss, Prizm, Score), but some will be exclusive to hobby stores (ex. National Treasures, Certified, Luminance).
What is the difference between "player worn" and "game worn"?
If a memorabilia card states that it is player worn, it often means that the player represented wore that jersey for a few moments at a special event (ex. NFLPA Rookie Premiere). If it states that it is game worn, then that piece of memorabilia was used by the player represented during an actual game.
What is a "break"?
A break is a method of buying and selling cards where the owner of one or many boxes will split up the cards into several spots, usually one for every team represented. People who buy into the break will be able to pay for individual teams, and will receive whatever cards of those teams are found in the break. Breaks can be a good option for people who want the chance to get hobby box hits for their favorite teams without paying high prices for full boxes. However, there is risk involved, due to the possibility of the cards received being valued lower than the entry price.
What is a "comp"?
A comp is short for comparison, and is used to describe sold prices of a specific card or one similar to it. eBay is the most commonly used website to find comps, as it is easy to find specific data on previous sales. Websites like 130 Point can also give data that eBay often hides from users, such as accepted offers.
What is a "grading service"?
A grading service (ex. PSA, SGC, Beckett) is a company that will rate the condition of your card on a scale from 1-10 based on four main criteria (corners, edges, surface, and centering) and put it in a protective case with a label, also called a slab. Grading a card can help prove the authenticity of a card and set it apart from cards of different conditions. Cards with high grades, especially vintage cards, often command much higher prices than raw (ungraded) versions.