Collector notes
What's Trending: September 2026
What collectors scanned in September: a wave of vintage Batman cards that pulled grades down, the most-scanned card of the month, and how the four condition scores moved.
From the Collector's Desk
CrackorKeep Guides & Collector Notes
Practical card grading guides, real submission results, collecting experiments, and firsthand buying decisions from the workbench behind CrackorKeep.
Written by Mark MarinoCollector and owner of Hub City CollectiblesFeatured story
From My Collection
CrackorKeep Was Too Conservative on My First CGC Submission — Here's What Came Back
I sent three Young Guns rookies to CGC and recorded CrackorKeep's prediction before I knew the results. Two came back Gem Mint 10s. Here's the real, unedited comparison — and what it taught me about the tool.
Read the full submission story →
Firsthand
Collector Notes
Real cards, real submissions, and the players and patterns Mark is watching.
Collector notes
What's Trending: August 2026
Our first full-month report: what collectors ran through CrackorKeep in August, the estimates they got, and which cards stood out across sports, hockey, and Pokémon.
Collector notes
Three Skaters I'm Buying Before the 2026-27 NHL Season
I usually concentrate on one or two players before each season. This year, three made the cut. Here's who I'm targeting, why, and what I learned from buying Macklin Celebrini early.
Collector notes
What's Trending: Our First Two Months on CrackorKeep
A look at CrackorKeep's earliest card analyses—what collectors are checking, the estimates they received, and how people are finding us.
At the workbench
Grading Guides
Practical inspection, company, cost, and submission guidance before you pay for a slab.
Grading guide
Can You Judge a Raw Card From eBay Photos? What I Look For as a Seller
What eBay listing photos can and can't tell you about a raw card's condition, from a seller who shoots his own listings, plus the photos worth asking for.
Grading guide
Which Hockey Cards Are Actually Worth Grading? (2026 Guide)
Wondering if your hockey cards are worth grading? Here's when Young Guns, OPC Platinum, Future Watch Autos, The Cup, and vintage stars justify PSA, CGC, BGS, or SGC grading — as of August 2026.
Grading guide
PSA Submission Kit or DIY? The Card Grading Supplies You Actually Need
The PSA submission kit costs $19.99. Here's exactly what's in it, what you actually need to submit a card, and when buying supplies separately makes more sense.
Grading guide
Is Football Card Grading Worth It Before the 2026 NFL Season?
Is football card grading worth it before the 2026 NFL season? See which cards justify PSA's current fee, turnaround, and grade risk before you submit.
Grading guide
How Does Card Grading Work? What a Professional Grader Actually Checks
How card grading works: a practical at-home inspection heuristic for centering, corners, edges, and surface before you submit.
Grading guide
Which Card Grading Company Is Best for Sports Cards in 2026?
PSA vs BGS vs SGC vs CGC for sports cards in 2026: current prices, turnaround, resale value, and the ownership shake-up that changes which grader to pick.
Grading guide
PSA 10 Requirements: What It Actually Takes (and Why Most Cards Miss)
The exact PSA 10 Gem Mint requirements for centering, corners, edges, and surface — and why most cards come back a 9.
Grading guide
Is It Worth Grading Sports Cards in 2026?
PSA's Value tiers remain paused while Standard becomes its new entry service. Here's how to calculate whether your card still makes money after grading.
Pokémon & TCG
Pokémon Card Grading
Straightforward guidance on grading costs, company choice, and deciding which Pokémon cards are worth submitting.
Pokémon & TCG
Pokémon Card Grading: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about grading Pokémon cards in 2026 — cost, process, which companies to use, and how to tell if your card is even worth submitting.
Pokémon & TCG
How to Get Pokémon Cards Graded: A Step-by-Step Guide
From choosing a grading company to packing your submission, here's exactly how to get a Pokémon card graded in 2026 — plus a free tool to check your odds first.
Pokémon & TCG
How Much Does It Cost to Grade a Pokémon Card in 2026?
PSA, CGC, BGS, and SGC all price Pokémon grading differently. Here's the real all-in cost per card — plus a free tool to check if your card is worth it before you pay.