Is Doak Walker #1 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1950 Bowman · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Doak Walker #1 sells for $19,932 against $41.50 raw: a $19,891 spread, 480× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($16,610) 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)
- $41.50
- PSA 10
- $19,932
- PSA 9
- $16,610
- Gem premium
- 480×
- 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 | $19,932 | +$19,866 | +$19,841 | +$19,741 |
| PSA 9 | $16,610 | +$16,544 | +$16,519 | +$16,419 |
| PSA 8 | $15,100 | +$15,034 | +$15,009 | +$14,909 |
Net = sale price − $41.50 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% | $17,441 | +$17,349 |
| 50% | $18,271 | +$18,180 |
| 75% | $19,102 | +$19,010 |
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 | $25,912 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $19,932 | −$5,980 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $11,959 | −$13,953 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $11,959 | −$13,953 | 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 Doak Walker #1 — FAQ
Is Doak Walker #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Doak Walker #1 sells for $19,932 against $41.50 raw: a $19,891 spread, 480× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($16,610) 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 Doak Walker #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Doak Walker #1 (Football Cards 1950 Bowman) sells for about $19,932 versus $41.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 480× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Doak Walker #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $25,912, ahead of PSA 10 at $19,932. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Doak Walker #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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