Is Marion Motley #109 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1951 Bowman · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Marion Motley #109 sells for $18,733 against $64.24 raw: a $18,668 spread, 292× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,806) 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)
- $64.24
- PSA 10
- $18,733
- PSA 9
- $2,806
- Gem premium
- 292×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $18,733 | +$18,643 | +$18,618 | +$18,518 |
| PSA 9 | $2,806 | +$2,717 | +$2,692 | +$2,592 |
| PSA 8 | $504 | +$415 | +$390 | +$290 |
Net = sale price − $64.24 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% | $6,788 | +$6,673 |
| 50% | $10,769 | +$10,655 |
| 75% | $14,751 | +$14,637 |
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 | $24,352 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $18,733 | −$5,619 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $11,240 | −$13,112 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $11,240 | −$13,112 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $18,733 | $11,240 | $24,352 | $11,240 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $5,140 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $2,806 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $504 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $361 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1951 Bowman cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Marion Motley #109 — FAQ
Is Marion Motley #109 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Marion Motley #109 sells for $18,733 against $64.24 raw: a $18,668 spread, 292× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,806) 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 Marion Motley #109 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Marion Motley #109 (Football Cards 1951 Bowman) sells for about $18,733 versus $64.24 for a raw near-mint copy — a 292× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Marion Motley #109?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $24,352, ahead of PSA 10 at $18,733. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Marion Motley #109 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.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free