![Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5lsAAeSwaONqkWiN/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1952 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 sells for $25,903 against $109 raw: a $25,795 spread, 238× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,879) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $109
- PSA 10
- $25,903
- PSA 9
- $3,879
- Gem premium
- 238×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $25,903 | +$25,770 | +$25,745 | +$25,645 |
| PSA 9 | $3,879 | +$3,745 | +$3,720 | +$3,620 |
| PSA 8 | $1,478 | +$1,345 | +$1,320 | +$1,220 |
Net = sale price − $109 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $9,385 | +$9,226 |
| 50% | $14,891 | +$14,733 |
| 75% | $20,397 | +$20,239 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $33,674 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $25,903 | −$7,771 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $15,542 | −$18,132 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $15,542 | −$18,132 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 — FAQ
Is Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 sells for $25,903 against $109 raw: a $25,795 spread, 238× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,879) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) sells for about $25,903 versus $109 for a raw near-mint copy — a 238× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $33,674, ahead of PSA 10 at $25,903. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Andy Pafko [Red Back] #1 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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