Is Hugh McElhenny #29 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1952 Bowman Large · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Hugh McElhenny #29 sells for $17,000 against $69.99 raw: a $16,930 spread, 243× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,548) 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)
- $69.99
- PSA 10
- $17,000
- PSA 9
- $2,548
- Gem premium
- 243×
- 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 | $17,000 | +$16,905 | +$16,880 | +$16,780 |
| PSA 9 | $2,548 | +$2,453 | +$2,428 | +$2,328 |
| PSA 8 | $1,811 | +$1,716 | +$1,691 | +$1,591 |
Net = sale price − $69.99 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% | $6,161 | +$6,041 |
| 50% | $9,774 | +$9,654 |
| 75% | $13,387 | +$13,267 |
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 | $22,100 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $17,000 | −$5,100 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $10,200 | −$11,900 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $10,200 | −$11,900 | 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 Hugh McElhenny #29 — FAQ
Is Hugh McElhenny #29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Hugh McElhenny #29 sells for $17,000 against $69.99 raw: a $16,930 spread, 243× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,548) 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 Hugh McElhenny #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Hugh McElhenny #29 (Football Cards 1952 Bowman Large) sells for about $17,000 versus $69.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 243× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Hugh McElhenny #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $22,100, ahead of PSA 10 at $17,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Hugh McElhenny #29 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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