Glossary of Hockey Cards and Sports Cards

Card made of a transparent, plastic-like material rather than traditional cardstock. Highly valued for its premium appearance.

Card signed by the athlete. The signature may be directly on the card (on-card auto or hard-signed) or on a sticker (sticker auto).

Standard card that is part of a product's main series. Base cards are generally the most common and have no market value.

Box sold in large retailers (Walmart, Canadian Tire, etc.), usually containing fewer exclusive cards than a Hobby Box.

Card that opens like a book and can hold multiple players, autographs, or jersey pieces.

Card box containing several packs.

Sealed carton containing several boxes.

Official list of all cards in a set. This allows for better identification of the available cards in a set. Personally, I recommend and use the website Beckett.com

Physical condition of a card. The more a card is in perfect condition, the higher its value. See my page on card conditions.

Card that has never been graded.

Autograph signed on a sticker then affixed to the card.

Card cut into a specific shape rather than the traditional rectangular format.

For sale. This abbreviation indicates that a card is offered for sale, without specifying its condition or price.

For trade. The collector is looking for a trade; they can specify the players, teams, or cards they are looking for.

Box intended for specialized stores. It generally contains better odds of obtaining rare, autographed, or relic cards.

A special card added to a main series. Inserts often have a different design and are rarer than Base cards.

Card containing an authentic piece of a game-worn or player-prepared jersey. A "jersey" card is different from a "patch" card.

Term denoting a very high state of preservation. The criteria and the associated grade vary depending on the grading organization; this word alone does not replace a precise description or photos.

Professional assessment of a card's condition by a specialized company such as PSA, TAG, BGS, or SGC.

The most recognized company, and the one that holds more "value" in the eyes of collectors, is PSA. A PSA 10 graded card versus an SGC 10; the PSA card will have more value.

English abbreviation for "almost new". It may correspond to slight imperfections depending on the criteria used. An NM mention is not a grading certification.

A card with a serial number, for example 25/99, indicating that only 99 copies exist. We see numbered cards /999, /799, /599, /399, /299, /99, /50, /25, /10, /5, and 1/1.

Some collectors place more value on the 1/XX card, commonly called the "first print," or the last card in the 99/99 series, called the "last print."

Also, if the card is the player's number (e.g., Suzuki wears number 14) and you have a card with that player's number 14/299, it may have a little more value.

Means “or best offer.” The seller agrees to consider price offers; they are not obligated to accept every offer. On Cat Collector, use the Make an offer option when available.

Signature made directly on the card.

Unique card produced in a single copy. It is not always the most expensive card, but it is the rarest.

Small pack containing several cards.

An alternative version of a card with a different color, finish, or rarity.

Examples:

• Gold
• Rainbow
• Black
• Red
• Emerald
• Ice

Card containing a piece of fabric from a logo, an emblem, or a distinctive part of a uniform.

Personal collection. The term refers to cards that a person keeps for themselves, for example, those of a favorite player or team.

Flexible plastic sleeve used to protect a card. Cards should always be protected as soon as they are removed from the pack.

Number of copies graded by a grading company for a card and, according to the report, for a given grade. The population changes over time and does not correspond to the total print run of the card.

A special plate used during the printing process of trading cards. These "cards" are unique (1/1) and exist in the four printing colors used in printing: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. They are highly sought after by collectors due to their unique nature.

Card containing a piece of jersey, equipment, or other player-associated item

First official card of a player in a professional league. Rookie Cards are often the most sought-after.

A complete set of numbered cards from a single product. A set may consist of Base cards, Inserts, or Hits (such as autographs or relic cards), depending on the collection.

For example, Upper Deck's series include: Artifacts, Ice, Credentials, MVP, Stature, O-Pee-Chee, SPx, SP Authentic, The Cup, etc.

A card produced in limited quantities compared to other cards in a set.

Extremely rare card produced in very limited quantities.

Rigid case used to protect a card. Different top loaders are available depending on the card's thickness (regular, 100 pt, 130 pt, 180 pt, etc.)

Iconic rookie card series produced by Upper Deck. For many hockey collectors, these are the most popular Rookie Cards.

A "Young Guns®" card also has parallels (outbust, clear cut, numbered).