| TERM |
DEFINITION |
A
back to top |
| ABA |
American Basketball Association |
| AFL |
American Football Association |
| AL |
American League |
| ActionPacked |
An American sports card manufacturer |
| airbrushing |
A photographer's technique used to
'touch up' an image. Commonly used to alter a player's uniform
on a sports card when having changed teams. |
| all-star card |
Any sports card that depicts a member
of an 'All-Star- team. |
| assorted |
A group of cards that has been randomly
placed together. |
| authentication |
The process by which a company verifies
the overall quality and authenticity of either a sports card
or any sports related piece of memorabilia. |
| authorized issue |
A set of cards that has previously
been certified by a league, team, player, etc. |
| autograph |
An individual's signature. |
| autographed card |
Any sports card that has a player's
or group of players signatures on it. |
B
back to top |
| baseball card |
Any baseball related card (dimensions
vary) that depicts a person(s) or activity related to the sport
of baseball. The first known card dates back to 1886. |
| basketball card |
Any basketball related card (dimensions
vary) that depicts a person(s) or activity related to the sport
of basketball. The first known card dates back to 1948. |
| Batter Up |
The name of a highly sought after
set of 192 baseball cards that was circulated from 1934-1936.
The complete collection includes two series of die-cut cards
with blank backs. |
| Bazooka |
The name of a bubble gum. The name
of a division of Topps that distributed sports cards from 1959-1971,
and then again from 1988-1991. Each pack of cards included
a strip of Bazooka bubble gum in it. |
| Beckett |
The name of a publisher of well respected
sports related publications and periodicals. Their first issue
was published in 1979. |
| blank back |
A sports card that has no printing
of any kind on its back. |
| blanket |
An early 1900's type of 'card' that
depicted a player on it. The blanket was made primarily from
felt although other types of material were used. The blankets
were used to wrap around packages of cigarettes. The standard
size of a blanket was approx. 5,25" square. They were
called blankets because it was fashionable to sewn the pieces
together and make a blanket. |
| blue back |
A sports card that has a blue back.
Topps published a set in 1951 called the 'Blue Back'. |
| border |
Usually a line or decorative
division that surrounds the photo. |
| Bowman |
An American sports card manufacturer
that began to produce cards in 1948. |
| boxing cards |
Any boxing related card (dimensions
vary) that depicts a person(s) or activity related to the sport
of boxing. The first known card dates back to the late 1800's. |
C
back to top |
| CDV |
Carte de Visite |
| cabinet card |
A vintage version of today's modern
sports cards. They were produced by tobacco manufacturers and
inserted in a pack of tobacco or cigarettes. They either depicted
an individual or small group of athletes. They were dubbed
'cabinet cards' because they were often displayed in people's
cabinets. |
| card stock |
The type of material that a sports
card is printed on. |
| Carte de Visite |
A late 1800's version of a sports
card. Refers to the type of photography used in the late 19th
century. |
| catalog |
A printed listing of a group of cards
for sale whether by an individual or card company. |
| cello box |
A cardboard box that is usually distributed
to card retailers and contains a group (usually 24) of cello
packages of cards for re-sale. |
| cello case |
A master carton that is usually distributed
to card retailers and contains a group (usually 16) of cello
boxes of cards for re-sale. |
| cello pack |
Refers to the type of material used
to envelope a small group of cards. The material is similar
to that of cellophane. |
| centering |
Refers to the position of the image
on a card. The more exact the 'centering' is the more valuable
the card is. A characteristic of a card that help to determine
its overall value. |
| certificate of authenticity |
A written statement referring to the
accuracy and originality of an item. Often refers to autographs
which are easy to forge. |
| checklist |
A printed list of cards that specifies
the details of each card set. |
| chipping |
Refers to the condition of a card's
edges when its color begins to wear off. |
| clubhouse signature |
A signature of an athlete on a card
that is not provided by the said athlete. Usually a member
of the team signs on the athlete's behalf. |
| coach's card |
A sports card that depicts a coach(es)
or manager(s). |
| coin |
A disc that depicts an athlete's image. |
| collation |
The process by which a set of cards
is placed in order. The most common way is by numerical order. |
| collector issue |
A set of cards that is specifically
designed to be sold to the public and not offered as a premium. |
| combination card |
A sport card that features more than
one image on it. |
| common(s) |
Commonly referred to as a 'single'
card. Depicts that image of an average player, not that of
an all-star or rookie. |
| complete set |
Refers t the collection of one of
every card from a specific issue. |
| condition |
Refers t the overall quality of a
card or sport memorabilia item. |
| counterfeit |
A false reproduction of an otherwise
genuine item. |
| Cracker Jack |
Refers to the name of a American snack
food, caramelized popcorn with nuts, sold in small rectangular
boxes. More importantly, it refers to the 1914-15 premium set
of sports cards that was included in Cracker Jack boxes. |
| crease |
Refers to a bend in a sports card. |
| crossover |
Refers to the act of having a sports
card or piece of memorabilia certified by more than one authorized
authenticator. |
D
back to top |
| dealer |
An individual who makes a profit from
buying and selling sports related items. |
| Diamond Star |
Refers to a collection of 108 cards
produced by National Chicle from 1934-36. |
| die-cut |
A sports card that has specifically
produced with perforations with the intention of enabling the
image of the athlete to appear as if he is standing-up. |
| ding |
Refers to any damage on the corner
of a sport card. |
| Donruss |
A sports card manufacturer that produced
its first set of card in 1981. |
| Double Play |
Is a name of a set of 75 black and
white baseball cards that was produced in 1941 by Gum Inc.
Each card depicts the image of two different players on it. |
| double print |
Refers to the act of a specific card
having been printed twice, usually by error. |
E
back to top |
| EX |
Refers to the 'excellent' quality
of a card. |
| EX-MT |
Refers t the 'excellent' or 'mint'
condition of a card. |
| EX 5 |
Is a grading term referring to the
average overall condition of a card. The card, in general,
is in very good condition with slight creases and/or discolorations,
and 'centering' of at least 85/15. |
| EX-MT 6 |
Is a grading term referring to the
average overall condition of a card. The card, in general,
is in excellent condition with signs of minor wear and the
'centering' is at least 80/20. |
| error card |
A printed card that contains some
kind of mistake or 'error' in it. The card manufacturer does
not re-print an errorless version of the card. Overall an 'error
card' has no additional value to it for they are all mass produced. |
| exhibit card |
A vintage version of today's modern
sport card. Theses cards were largely produced from the 1920's-1960's,
and were fairly large in size and easy to 'exhibit.' |
| extended set |
Refers to a trend started by Topps
in 1981 where by new additions of previously printed sets are
made. The cause of this is usually a result of a player's trade
or new activation. |
F
back to top |
| facsimile autograph |
A copy of an original autograph. This
usage is most common with card companies. They merely reproduce
an athlete's original signature as part of their printing process. |
| factory set |
A complete collection of cards pre-packaged
by the manufacturer with the intention to sell as is to the
public. |
| factory set case |
A sealed master carton containing
many factory sets. |
| fake |
Not original. |
| Fleer |
A sports card manufacturer that produced
its first set of card in 1959. |
| foil box |
A box of cards that contains (usually
36) individual packages for foil packs. |
| foil case |
A sealed master carton containing
many factory boxes. |
| foil pack(s) |
A package of cards in foil (metallic)
wrapping intended to be sold at the retail level to the public.
The number of cards in the pack depends on the manufacturer. |
| food set |
Refers to a group of cards, coins
or other small sports related items that are offered either
as premiums or for sale by a food manufacturer. |
| football card |
Any football related card (dimensions
vary) that depicts a person(s) or activity related to the sport
of football. The first known card dates back to 1886. |
| forgery |
A fake of illegal reproduction of
an item. |
G
back to top |
| game used |
An item that has been to be previously
used by an athlete. |
| Gem Mint |
Refers to the 'perfect' condition
of a sports card. |
| Gem MT |
Gem Mint. |
| gloss |
Refers to the shiny surface of a sports
card. The quality of a card's gloss helps in determining its
overall grading and value. |
| glossy set |
Refers to a series of cards that has
been intentionally produced with an above average amount of
gloss. |
| Good |
Refers to the 'good' overall condition
of a card. This class of graded card is understood to be somewhat
worn. |
| Goudey |
The name of a former sports card manufacturer
that produced cards from 1933-1941. Their cards are highly
sought after today. |
| grade |
Refers to the overall condition of
a sports card or piece of sports memorabilia. Different certified
grading companies establish their own criteria and standards
and therefore have their own systems in place. |
| gum stain |
A stain or residue left on a card
from the gum that was inserted in the package along with the
cards. |
H
back to top |
| Hall of Famer |
Refers to an athlete that has been
inducted into his/her sport's Hall of Fame. In general, autographs
and other piece of memorabilia of 'Hall of Famers' are higher
in value than those who have not yet be elected into a Hall
of Fame. |
| high numbers |
Refers to the group of cards that
are towards the end of a series in any given, year. These type
of sets are generally produced in fewer number and are therefore
valuable. |
| high series |
Refers to a group of cards in the
final series of any given year. |
| hockey card |
Any hockey related card (dimensions
vary) that depicts a person(s) or activity related to the sport
of hockey. The first known card dates back to 1879. |
| HOF |
Hall of Fame |
| Hoops |
The name of a basketball card manufacturer. |
I
back to top |
| in action |
The image of an action shot of an
athlete. |
| insert |
Refers to a card specifically designed
and 'inserted' into an already existing set of cards with the
intention of increasing the demand and sale of the cards. |
K
back to top |
| Kellogg's |
The name of a food company that often
includes sports related items in their packaging. |
| key card(s) |
The most sought after and valuable
card in a set. |
L
back to top |
| layering |
Refers to the separation of layers
of card stock. This usually occurs at the corners of a card.
The 'layering' condition is helpful in evaluating a card's
worth. |
| Leaf |
The name of a sports card manufacturer
that began to produce cards in 1948. |
| lot |
Refers to a unidentified number of
sports cards in one group. |
| low series |
Refers to the initial series of cards
manufactured in any given year. They are often more widely
produced and sold. |
M
back to top |
| manager card |
A sports card with the image of a
manger(s) in on it. |
| MC |
Mis-cut. It refers to a card that
has been cut in error effecting either the size, border or
any other possible features. |
| mini |
A reduced versions of the original
size of a card. For example in 1975 Topps printed its mini
set. |
| minor league card |
Refers to a card that features an
athlete at the minor league level. |
| Mint 9 |
Refers to the almost perfect condition
of a card or piece of memorabilia. The card must appear to
be 'perfect' with a minimum of 60/40 'centering.' |
| MK |
Marks. Any visible marks on the surface
of a card that was not intentionally printed on it by the manufacturer. |
| MT |
Mint. |
| MVP |
Most Valuable Player. |
N
back to top |
| NBA |
National Basketball Association. |
| NL |
National League. |
| NM 7 |
Near Mint 7. Refers to a card or piece
of memorabilia that is almost perfect and has no clearly visible
flaws. The centering is a minimum of 72/25; the corners may
be slightly worn. |
| NM-MT 8 |
Near Mint, Mint 8. Refers to a class
of card or sports memorabilia that is almost perfect. There
is no visible wear on the card and the centering is a minimum
of 70/30. |
| NM |
Near Mint. |
| NM-MT |
Near Mint, Mint. |
| notching |
Refers to the indentations on the
side of a card, mot commonly caused by elastic bands. The degree
of notching helps to determine a card's overall value. |
O
back to top |
| OC |
Off-center. The location of an image
on a card. It helps determine the overall value of a card. |
| OF |
Out of focus. Refers to the clarity
of an image. |
| OPC |
Refers to O-Pee-Chee. |
| O-Pee-Chee |
The name of a Canadian sports card
manufacturer. |
| obverse |
Refers to the front of a card that
has the primary image on it. |
| off-center |
The lack of centering of the image
on a card. |
| Old Judge |
The name of a former tobacco company
that prodcued some of the world's most spectacular sports cards
from 1887-1890. The purpose of the cards was to ehlp advertise
and sell their tobacco products. |
| out of focus |
Refers to the lack of clarity of an
image. |
P
back to top |
| PD |
Print defect. Unintentional printing
errors by the manufacturer. Their appearance or lack thereof
helps in the evaluation and grading of sports cards. |
| PSA |
Professional Sports Authenticator.
The name of a sports memorabilia grading and authenticating
company. |
| pack |
A manufacturer sealed group of cards
produced with the intention of selling it at the retail level. |
| Parkhurst |
A Canadian hockey card manufacturer.
It first began to produce cards in 1951. |
| Philadelphia Gum Co. |
An American football card manufacturer. |
| Play Ball |
A baseball card manufacturer that
produced cards from 1939-1941. |
| Police Set |
A small collection of baseball cards
that were handed out by local police departments to children
with images of players on one side and safety tips on the reverse. |
| Post |
A food manufacturer that commonly
issued baseball and football cards with their cereal boxes. |
| post-war |
Refers to the period after WWII. |
| pre-war |
Refers to the period in between WWI
and WWII. |
| premium |
An item issued by a company free of
charge with the intention of helping in their advertising campaigns. |
| price guide |
A list of estimated market values
for a card or any type of collectible. In the world of sports,
the first to be published was in 1979 by Dr. Jim Beckett. |
| private signing |
Refers t the hiring of an athlete
by a specific company to sign for a specific duration of time
with the intention of signing people's memorabilia. |
| Pro Set |
The name of a specific sports card
manufacturer. |
| Professional Sports Authenticator |
An American company established in
1991 for the sole purpose of grading and authenticating sports
related items for the collector. |
| promo |
Promotional card. |
| promotional card |
A sports card specifically designed
by the manufacturer to advertise the forthcoming release of
a series of cards. |
Q
back to top |
| qualifier |
Refers to the type of graded card
that meets all the criteria of a specific grading except in
one area. |
R
back to top |
| RC |
Rookie card. |
| rack box |
A box that holds rack packcs. |
| rack case |
A sealed master carton that holds
several rack boxes. |
| rack pack |
Refers to a package of cards designed
to hang for sale at a retail outlet. Each pack usual contains
three card packs. |
| rarity |
Refers to the commonality or scarcity
of a card or piece of sports memorabilia. |
| recolored |
Refers to the counterfeit act of re-coloring
cards in order to hide imperfections. |
| red back |
Refers to the red colored back of
a sports card. |
| Red Heart |
A series of 33 baseball cards produced
in 1954 by the Red Heart Dog Food Co. The cards were issued
in three 11-card sets. |
| regional set |
A set of sports cards issued within
a specific regioanl area. |
| reprint |
A manufacturer's certified reprint
of an original card or set. |
| restored |
A card or item that has been frauduently
fixed with the intention of hiding any imperfections. |
| reverse |
The opposite of obverse. Refers to
the back side of a card that generally does not feature the
main graphics. |
| rookie, rookie card |
A card depicting the image and stats
of a player in his/her first professional year. |
S
back to top |
| SCD |
Sports Collectors Digest |
| SP |
Refers to a set of cards produced
by Upper Deck. |
| ST |
Stain. Refers to a spot or stain on
a card. |
| Score |
The name of a sports card manufacturer
which began to produce cards in 1988. |
| second-year card |
Refers to a card of a player in his/her
second year of their professional career. |
| secretarial |
A player's signature signed by his/her
secretary. |
| series |
A group of cards that are part of
a manufacturer's larger set. |
| set |
A complete collection of cards from
a specific issue with a specific year. |
| set case |
A manufacturer sealed case containing
small boxes for packaged cards. |
| short print |
A particular card that is not printed
as much as the others from the same set. |
| Skybox |
A sports card manufacturer that began
to produce cards in the 1990's. |
| slabbed |
Graded. To have something slabbed
means to have it graded. |
| snow |
Refers to the white manufacturer's
printing errors on cards. |
| Sportflics |
A baseball card manufacturer known
for their 3-D cards. |
| Sporting Life |
A former sports publication that also
produced several baseball card sets. Perhaps their mot popular
was 'M116, which came out in 1911. |
| sports card |
A trading card that depicts the image
and/or information relating to sports. |
| Sports Kings |
A series of sports cards released
by the Goudey Gum Co. in the early 1930s. |
| stain |
Refers to an unintentional mark or
spot that remains on the surface of a card. |
| stand-ups |
Refers to a die-cut card that is manufactured
with perforations so that the image of the player gives the
appearance of standing up. |
| standard size card |
In 1957, Topps standardized the size
of a sports card to be 2,5"x3,5". |
| star card |
A card that features the image and/or
info of a Hall of Fame member. |
| starter set |
A group of cards purchased with the
intention of being the foundation of a future collector's collection. |
| sticker |
A sport card with a sticky back. |
| stock |
The type of material that a card is
printed on. |
T
back to top |
| T-206 |
Refers to a set of more than 500 premium
baseball cards distributed by tobacco companies from 1909-1912. |
| tab |
Refers to a perforated section of
a card that can easily be removed without causing any harm
to the card. |
| tattoos |
A widely produced transferable image
of a sports related item that is generally promoted as a premium. |
| team card |
A sports card depicting the image
of an entire team. |
| team set |
A collection of cards of individual
athletes from any sports team that is part of a much larger
series. |
| test issue |
A small number of cards produced by
a manufacturer to test the popularity of a potential future
series of cards. |
| tobacco card |
A sports card that was printed by
tobacco companies and sold as a premium along with their tobacco
products. |
| Topps |
A very popular sports card and entertainment
card manufacturer. |
| trade paper |
A publication that caters to the needs
and interests of a specific type of collector. |
| traded set |
A type of card set that began with
Topps in 1981. The cards feature those athletes that either
begin their careers or are traded during the course of the
season. |
| trimmed |
Refers to the act of trimming a card's
corners with the intention of removing any worn or damaged
areas. |
| Triple Folder |
A series of cards produced in 1912. |
U
back to top |
| unauthorized issue |
A collection of cards that has been
produced with consent of the proper sport's authorities. |
| uncut sheet |
A sheet (usually of 132) sports cards
that is waiting to be cut into individual cards. |
| Upper Deck |
A popular sports card manufacturer
that began to produce cards in 1989. |
V
back to top |
| VG 3 |
Very good. A class of graded cards
that shows signs or wear. |
| VG-EX 4 |
Very good , Excellent. A class of
cards that has minor visible imperfections. |
| VG |
Very good. |
| VG-EX |
Very Good to Excellent. |
| variation |
A card that is unintentionally produced
slightly differently than any other cards within the same set. |
| vending box |
A box prepared by a manufacturer,
the contents of which are designated to place in vending machines.There
are usually 500 cards per box. |
| vending case |
A master carton holding 24 vending
boxes. |
| vending set |
A set made up of cards purchased in
vending machines. |
| vintage |
Refers to the old age of an item. |
W
back to top |
| want list |
A list of items that a collector wishes
to buy. |
| wax |
Refers to an unopened package of cards. |
| wax box |
Refers to an unopened box containing
wax packs (usually 36 packs per box). |
| wax case |
Refers to an unopened box containing
wax boxes (usually 20 boxes per case). |
| wax dealer |
A dealer that specializes in buying
and selling wax packs. |
| wax stain |
A permanent stain on a card caused
by the wax of the packaging. |
| wrapper |
Refers to the packaging of the cards.
Commonly made from cellophane, paper or wax. |
