Think That Card Is Rare? Think Again: Why Population Reports Matter in the Grading Game

Collectors often chase cards thinking they’re grabbing something scarce, only to later discover the market is flooded with similar graded examples. That’s where population reports come into play—one of the most valuable (and often overlooked) tools in today’s card-collecting world. 

Population reports, or “pop reports,” are publicly available databases released by grading companies that list how many times a card has been submitted and what grades it received. They offer vital insight into the true supply of a card in the graded market—but there’s a big asterisk that we’ll get to in a moment. 

PSA: The Gold Standard… But Not the Whole Picture 

When most people talk about graded card populations, they usually reference PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator). PSA has long been considered the industry leader in card grading, and with good reason—their consistency and resale value make them the go-to choice for many collectors and investors. 

But here’s the issue: only looking at PSA’s population report gives you an incomplete view. While PSA has graded more cards than any other service, ignoring SGC (Sportscard Guaranty) and Beckett (BGS/BAS) means missing out on thousands of other graded copies that exist in the market. 

1975 Topps George Brett rookie card graded PSA 7 — one of over 4,000 graded at this level alone.

Case Study: 1975 Topps George Brett Rookie Card - One of Kansas City’s most iconic cards. 

Let’s take a Kansas City favorite—George Brett’s 1975 Topps rookie card. If you look at PSA’s population report, you’ll see 16,710 total graded copies. That might sound like a lot as is… but it’s actually only about two-thirds of the total market of graded cards. 

Here’s the full breakdown: 

● PSA: 16,710 

● SGC: 5,324 

● BAS (Beckett): 2,599 

● TOTAL: 24,633 graded examples 

PSA has graded over 16,000 copies of the 1975 Topps George Brett card, including more than 4,000 PSA 7s and 3,000 PSA 8s.

So while a collector might think they’re buying into a relatively rare item by seeing the PSA pop alone, the full market reality paints a different picture. This card is not rare by any stretch—it's a beloved card, but readily available in slabbed form across three grading companies. 

SGC has graded 5,324 copies of the 1975 Topps George Brett rookie card—an important piece of the full population puzzle.

Low Pop ≠ High Value: A Word of Caution 

On the flip side, don’t assume that a low population number means a card is valuable. There are plenty of examples of cards that barely show up in pop reports—not because they’re rare, but because they’re not worth grading in the first place. 

Let’s look at another George Brett card: the 1992 Studio George Brett. Here's the full grading breakdown: 

● PSA: 62 

● SGC: 1 

● BGS: 7 

● TOTAL POPULATION: 70 

A 1992 Studio George Brett card graded PSA 10. Despite its high grade, this low-pop card holds minimal market value.

That’s a tiny number. But that doesn’t make this card rare or expensive—it’s actually worth less than $1 raw and a PSA 10 sells for around $20. The reason so few are graded is simple: there’s little demand for grading modern base cards with minimal value. 

Why This Matters for Collectors & Sellers 

Understanding population reports helps in several key areas: 

● Valuation: Knowing how many exist affects what a card should be worth. A card with 500 total graded copies might be valuable—or not—depending on collector demand and raw value. 

● Buying Smart: Pop reports can help you avoid overpaying for cards marketed as rare, when they’re really just common cards in a slab. 

● Selling Confidently: If you're submitting cards or listing them for sale, pop reports give you a clearer idea of what stands out in the market—and what doesn’t. 

How to Access Population Reports 

All three major grading companies offer free population reports online: 

● PSA: https://www.psacard.com/pop 

● SGC: https://www.gosgc.com/population-report 

● Beckett (BGS/BAS): https://www.beckett.com/grading/pop-report 

Use them together to get the full picture—not just a sliver of it. 

From the Heart of KC 

At Sports Cleanout, we’re proud to be based in Kansas City. We work with collectors throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Oklahoma to help them evaluate, sell, and preserve their memorabilia. 

🏆 Want to Sell or Appraise Your Sports Memorabilia? 

Sports Cleanout is here to help. We buy sports memorabilia collections of all sizes—including vintage trading cards, sealed boxes and packs, ticket stubs, autographed items, game used equipment, and more. We are actively buying baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, and wrestling cards and memorabilia. 

📞 Call or text us at (816) 810-3639 

🌐 Visit SportsCleanout.com 

📍 Based in Kansas City, Missouri—traveling throughout the Midwest