[thethirdone]

I would think bucket sort (into the suits) would be the most common. Whenever I am sorting named papers I always do it with 26 piles.

[Retric]

A-K in 13 piles then suits in 4 piles is a little faster. Or if your space limited you can group A-7 then 8-K.

[vanderZwan]

That's more or less radix sort, no?

[Retric]

Yep, though radix and bucket sorts are closely related.