Is Bob Waterfield #137 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1952 Bowman Large · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Bob Waterfield #137 sells for $8,217 against $33.79 raw: a $8,184 spread, 243× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,234) 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)
- $33.79
- PSA 10
- $8,217
- PSA 9
- $1,234
- Gem premium
- 243×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $8,217 | +$8,159 | +$8,134 | +$8,034 |
| PSA 9 | $1,234 | +$1,176 | +$1,151 | +$1,051 |
| PSA 8 | $880 | +$821 | +$796 | +$696 |
Net = sale price − $33.79 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% | $2,980 | +$2,896 |
| 50% | $4,726 | +$4,642 |
| 75% | $6,472 | +$6,388 |
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 | $10,683 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $8,217 | −$2,466 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $4,930 | −$5,753 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $4,930 | −$5,753 | 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 Bob Waterfield #137 — FAQ
Is Bob Waterfield #137 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Bob Waterfield #137 sells for $8,217 against $33.79 raw: a $8,184 spread, 243× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,234) 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 Bob Waterfield #137 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Bob Waterfield #137 (Football Cards 1952 Bowman Large) sells for about $8,217 versus $33.79 for a raw near-mint copy — a 243× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Bob Waterfield #137?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $10,683, ahead of PSA 10 at $8,217. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Bob Waterfield #137 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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