In the bustling mosaic of the collectible card universe, there has emerged a clear and dynamic demarcation. The year 2025 will be remembered not just as another chapter in trading card history, but as the pinnacle year when Pokémon, the adorable creatures of our childhood dreams, have successfully outmaneuvered legendary sports figures in the card grading race. It seems the allure of Pikachu’s innocent gaze and grand adventures has eclipsed even the most iconic of sports legacies.
According to fresh data unveiled from GemRate, an astute observer of the grading terrain, Pokémon cards no longer just share billing with their athletic counterparts—they undeniably lead the charge. An impressive 97 out of the top 100 cards funneled to PSA’s scrutinizing eye now bear the Pokémon insignia. A remarkable turn of events, indeed, speaking volumes about the shifting focuses within this intimate community of collectors and fans.
As we sift through this evolving trend, the numbers narrate their own tale of dominance. From January to June of this year, 7.2 million non-sports and TCG cards embarked on the meticulous journey of grading, marking an astonishing 70% increase over the prior year. Sports cards, once the robust leaders, have seen a solemn decline, mustering a relatively meager 9% downturn with 5.1 million submissions.
Undoubtedly, one of the most graded cards of this rising tide is the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232. This particular card has seen over 45,600 submissions, but it is Pikachu who retains the crown jewel status within Pokémon’s treasure trove. No image within this catalogue radiates quite as brightly as the “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” card, the product of an inspired collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum. It’s a card that has bravely endured the grading gauntlet nearly 84,000 times, its PSA 10 grade fetching nearly $900—a price tag for both nostalgia and art.
In contrast, sports cards, the longstanding stalwarts, have struggled to maintain pace. Only the likes of the 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels rookie card, the Panini Instant Caitlin Clark WNBA ROY card, alongside a secondary Jayden Daniels piece from Donruss have crossed the threshold into PSA’s austere top 100. These are instances of sports excellence now dwarfed by the unyielding charm of TCG creatures.
As June’s data unfurls like a secret parchment, it further accentuates the dominance. TCG and non-sports cards commanded a staggering 63% of all submissions. PSA alone took on 911,000 of these assignments, eclipsing the combined sports card endeavors across four major grading bodies that totaled 743,000. The numbers are not only staggering but they bare the potent cultural impact of TCG phenomenons.
Within this golden age of Pokémon, companies like CGC Cards find themselves riding the tidal wave to new heights. Almost 2.18 million cards have journeyed through CGC’s precise channels of grading. Not to be outshone, over 1.8 million of these were TCG or non-sports, vividly illustrating the trend’s pervasive influence.
Meanwhile, the landscape is not as forgiving for all players. Beckett, once a grading powerhouse, now finds its might diminished. Ranking as just fourth among the majors, only 366,000 cards have ventured through its processes. Of these, approximately 214,000 were inspired by Pokémon or parallel TCG universes.
Yet, credit where credit is due—PSA’s ascendance echoes the kind of strategic insights that fuel such revolutions. Their collaboration with GameStop, a decision forged last October, has been a windfall. More than a million submissions have burgeoned into their fold, further consolidating the Pokémon tidal wave.
Reflecting this fervor, Pokémon’s retail presence is nothing short of spectacular. Shelves are being stripped bare by fervent fans, while limits are imposed to manage a swelling tide of consumers eager to capture just a piece of this magic. It’s an exhilarating era, one that sees the intersection of childhood wonder and strategic business acumen.
This Pokémon-driven upheaval is more than just a numerical shift in grading submissions; it’s a cultural shift, a deeply rooted embrace of trading card nostalgia melded with contemporary passion. As collectors and traders alike bask in this vibrant period, it’s apparent that entering 2025, the gryphon of sports cards finds itself trading podium places with its whimsical TCG companion—a determined peekachu on the prowl, casting an electrifying shadow over the playing field. Which cardboard icon will steal next year’s spotlight? That, dear readers, will be a collector’s chronicle we’ll eagerly await.
