What are Pop 1 Cards and Why Should You Care About Them as a Collector?

Hey friend! If you‘re at all into collecting trading cards, especially for sports, you‘ve probably heard fellow hobbyists throw around terms like "pop report" and "pop 1" before. As a passionate card collector myself, I definitely had questions when I first started hearing these phrases being tossed around on forums and YouTube channels.

What do they mean? And why do collectors care so much about "pop" and "pop 1s"?

Well after doing some digging and research into the world of card grading, I finally understood what the pop report hype was all about. And today, I want to share with you an in-depth look at pop reports and why those coveted pop 1 cards are so valuable.

I‘m betting that like me originally, you might be feeling a bit lost when it comes to understanding pop reports and how to take advantage of them as a collector. But have no fear! By the end of this guide, you‘ll be a pop report expert ready to hunt down your own pop 1 gems!

Pop Reports 101 – Your Grading Census for Trading Cards

Let‘s start at the beginning – what is a pop report exactly?

A pop report is basically a census compiled by the major third-party professional grading companies like PSA and BGS. It lists out all of the trading cards that they have graded and provides population totals for each card at every numeric grade level.

For example, let‘s say PSA has graded 500 copies of a 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card. The pop report would show data like:

• PSA 10 – 50
• PSA 9 – 150
• PSA 8 – 300

This gives you transparency into how many copies of a certain card have been awarded each grade by that grading service. It provides collectors with valuable insight into the rarity and availability of different grades.

Cards with lower populations in higher grades are considered more scarce and desirable generally. Whereas large populations in say PSA 10 signify a more abundant card at that grade level.

When a Card is "Pop 1" – The Pinnacle of Rarity

Now this brings us to the magical pop 1 designation that collectors covet.

When you see a graded card that is labeled "Pop 1" for a specific grade, this means it is the one and only copy of that card that the grading company has awarded that grade.

For example, out of all the 1989 Griffey rookies submitted to PSA, there is only one solitary example that PSA deemed worthy of a flawless Gem Mint PSA 10 grade. That lone PSA 10 Griffey is designated as "Pop 1" in the PSA pop report.

It‘s as rare as it gets!

And that extreme scarcity and exclusivity is a big reason why pop 1 cards can be so highly sought after.

Let‘s explore why pop 1 cards can be so valuable to collectors:

There Can Be Only One!

The fact that pop 1 cards represent the one and only example of that card graded at that level naturally makes them special. There‘s something exciting about owning the sole specimen of a card at a particular grade.

Whether it‘s a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 or a 1st Edition Charizard PSA 10, when there‘s just one, it bestows a unique status.

Standout for Set Builders

For collectors attempting to build out full graded sets, having that one elusive pop 1 card can be like catching a golden ticket.

Set builders compete heavily for the top examples of key cards needed to complete sets. If you own the one and only Michael Jordan 1986-87 Fleer PSA 10 for instance, you essentially own THE set card in a category.

Grading Company Bragging Rights

There‘s also bragging rights that come with having a pop 1 card from a particular grading company.

If you own the one and only BGS 10 for a classic card, you can boast that BGS has deemed your copy superior to all others it has assessed.

Even over their competitor PSA who may have multiple 10‘s.

Pop 1‘s Can Command Explosive Prices

And of course, the prospect of hitting it big financially drives much of the pop 1 intrigue.

With no direct "comps" to compare to, pop 1 cards can sometimes sell for exponentially higher prices than the next closest thing – say a PSA 10 card of the same type that has a population of 50 instead of 1.

Let‘s look at some real-world examples:

• A Pop 1 BGS 10 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle sold for $12.6 million in 2022
• A Pop 2 PSA 10 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle sold for $7.25 million in 2021
• A Pop 1 PSA 10 Mike Trout 1st Bowman sold for $3.84 million in 2022
• A Pop 7 PSA 10 Mike Trout 1st Bowman sold for $1 million in 2021

For investment-minded collectors, the prospect of uncovering the next pop 1 gem keeps the treasure hunt exciting!

Reviewing Pop Reports From PSA, BGS, and SGC

Now that you know why pop 1 cards are so special, let‘s look at how you can review pop reports yourself and start hunting.

The three major third-party card grading companies each have their own pop report systems:

PSA Population Reports

PSA‘s pop reports can be searched by card name, year, grading number, and various grade criteria. You can view [PSA‘s pop report archives here](https://www.psacard.com/pop/.

It‘s important to note that PSA will sometimes combine populations across different grade categories. For example, they may list the total PSA 10 pop but bundle subgrades like PSA Authentic, Qualified, and Mint together.

This can obscure the true pop of the best quality PSA 10 examples. You need to drill down to confirm if a PSA 10 Pop 100 is really 100 true GEM MT 10‘s specifically.

BGS Population Reports

BGS offers very detailed, sortable pop reports. You can view pops by the 1/2 point grade increments BGS uses, from 9.5 to Pristine 10.

Their reports also allow sorting by subgrades like centering, corners, etc. Plus denote special designations like 9.5+, BGS 10 Gold Label, and Perfect 10.

I like using BGS pop reports because you can analyze the populations down to the finest detail. Check them out here.

SGC Population Totals

While not as widely used for modern cards as PSA or BGS, SGC‘s populations can better reflect scarcity for some vintage cards.

SGC‘s pop reports denote cards as "Registry Quality" if graded Excellent 5 or higher. This signals cards approved for set building.

SGC‘s public population data is accessible here.

How to Verify Your Cards are Pop 1s

Once you get familiar with reading pop reports, you can start checking whether you already have any prized pop 1 cards yourself!

Here‘s what to look for in your graded card slabs:

• Serial Number – Pop 1‘s may have a #1 serial specifically. But can‘t fully rely on serials as companies sometimes skip numbering.

• Total Graded – Match the name, year, and grade to the pop report. If it shows just 1 total graded, you‘ve got a pop 1.

• Variations – A 1986 Jordan PSA 10 Pop 100 may still be a pop 1 "variant" if the sticker or error card you have is the lone PSA10.

• Grading Date – Older slabbed cards are more likely pop 1s if grading has increased over time. A Jordan PSA 10 graded in 2005 likely was a pop 1 then.

Once you identify possible pop 1‘s, scour eBay and 130point.com for comps to estimate value based on recent sales. Pop 1‘s frequently fetch above book value.

Though lesser players or sets may only add a modest premium for being pop 1. Do your research before getting too excited!

The Thrill of the Pop 1 Chase Endures

Well friend, hopefully this guide has helped demystify pop reports and why those coveted pop 1 cards drive so much intrigue in the hobby. When the legends like Mickey Mantle come along once in a lifetime, having their rarest items fuels passions like few other things can!

Let me know if you have any other pop questions. And happy hunting for your own pop 1 gems! The thrill of that chase never gets old.

Yours in collecting,

Terry