Is Hugh McElhenny #29 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1952 Bowman Small · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Hugh McElhenny #29 sells for $19,246 against $67.50 raw: a $19,178 spread, 285× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,884) 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)
- $67.50
- PSA 10
- $19,246
- PSA 9
- $2,884
- Gem premium
- 285×
- 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 | $19,246 | +$19,153 | +$19,128 | +$19,028 |
| PSA 9 | $2,884 | +$2,791 | +$2,766 | +$2,666 |
| PSA 8 | $1,152 | +$1,060 | +$1,035 | +$935 |
Net = sale price − $67.50 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% | $6,974 | +$6,857 |
| 50% | $11,065 | +$10,947 |
| 75% | $15,155 | +$15,038 |
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 | $25,020 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $19,246 | −$5,774 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $11,548 | −$13,472 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $11,548 | −$13,472 | 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 $19,246 against $67.50 raw: a $19,178 spread, 285× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,884) 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 Small) sells for about $19,246 versus $67.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 285× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Hugh McElhenny #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $25,020, ahead of PSA 10 at $19,246. 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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