Is Tom O'Connell #42 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1953 Bowman · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tom O'Connell #42 sells for $2,928 against $8.51 raw: a $2,919 spread, 344× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,440) 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)
- $8.51
- PSA 10
- $2,928
- PSA 9
- $2,440
- Gem premium
- 344×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $2,928 | +$2,894 | +$2,869 | +$2,769 |
| PSA 9 | $2,440 | +$2,406 | +$2,381 | +$2,281 |
| PSA 8 | $134 | +$100 | +$75.29 | −$24.71 |
Net = sale price − $8.51 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% | $2,562 | +$2,503 |
| 50% | $2,684 | +$2,625 |
| 75% | $2,806 | +$2,747 |
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 | $3,806 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,928 | −$878 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,757 | −$2,049 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,757 | −$2,049 | 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 | $2,928 | $1,757 | $3,806 | $1,757 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $2,684 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $2,440 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $134 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $77.45 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1953 Bowman cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Tom O'Connell #42 — FAQ
Is Tom O'Connell #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tom O'Connell #42 sells for $2,928 against $8.51 raw: a $2,919 spread, 344× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,440) 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 Tom O'Connell #42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tom O'Connell #42 (Football Cards 1953 Bowman) sells for about $2,928 versus $8.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 344× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tom O'Connell #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $3,806, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,928. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tom O'Connell #42 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