Terms
Essential terminology for card collecting and breaks
Card Break
A group purchase of a box or case of cards, with spots sold to collectors.
Case Hit
A rare card guaranteed to be found once per case of cards.
Print Run
The total number of copies produced for a specific card.
Parallel
A version of a base card with a different design or color scheme.
Refractor
A type of parallel card with a shiny, rainbow-like finish.
Box Break
An event where a sealed box of cards is opened live, with participants assigned teams or spots.
Case Break
Similar to a box break, but involves opening an entire case of boxes.
Pyt (Pick Your Team)
A break format where participants choose their favorite team.
Random Team Break
Teams are randomly assigned to participants via randomizer.
Division Break
Participants are assigned entire NFL divisions instead of individual teams.
Hit
A valuable card such as an autograph, memorabilia card, or low-numbered parallel.
Box Topper
A special card included on top of the packs inside a box.
Chase Card
A highly desirable card that collectors actively seek.
Sp (Short Print)
A card that is printed in lower quantities than other cards in the set.
Ssp (Super Short Print)
An even rarer version of a short print card.
Numbered Card
A card with a serial number indicating its place in the print run.
1/1 (One Of One)
A unique card with only one copy in existence.
Acetate Card
A card printed on clear or semi-transparent plastic.
Patch Card
A memorabilia card featuring a piece of a player's jersey patch.
On-card Autograph
An autograph signed directly on the card rather than on a sticker.
Sticker Autograph
An autograph signed on a sticker that's then affixed to the card.
Dual Autograph
A card featuring autographs from two players.
Triple Autograph
A card with signatures from three players.
Booklet Card
A multi-panel card that folds like a book, often with multiple autographs or relics.
Logoman Card
A patch card featuring the Nike or team logo from a player's jersey.
Rpa (Rookie Patch Autograph)
A rookie card that includes both an autograph and a jersey patch.
Encased Card
A card sealed in a protective case, often with unique features.
Grading
The process of having a card's condition professionally evaluated.
Raw Card
An ungraded card not encapsulated by a grading company.
Slab
The protective plastic case that a graded card is sealed in.
Gem Mint
The highest grade a card can receive, typically a PSA 10 or BGS 9.5-10.
Psa 10
The highest grade from PSA, indicating a gem mint condition card.
Bgs 9.5/10
High grades from Beckett indicating gem mint to pristine condition.
Population Report
A database showing how many cards have been graded at each grade level.
Comps
Recent comparable sales used to determine a card's current market value.
Ft (For Trade)
Indicates a card or item is available for trading.
Fs (For Sale)
Indicates a card or item is available for purchase.
Bmwt (Bubble Mailer With Tracking)
A shipping method using a padded envelope and tracking service.
Pwe (Plain White Envelope)
A basic shipping method for low-value cards without tracking.
