Is John Karras #51 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1953 Bowman · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9 John Karras #51 sells for $10,065 against $6.84 raw: a $10,058 spread, 1471× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($10,065) 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)
- $6.84
- Grade 9
- $10,065
- PSA 9
- $10,065
- Gem premium
- 1471×
- 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 — Grade 9 | $10,065 | +$10,033 | +$10,008 | +$9,908 |
| PSA 9 | $10,065 | +$10,033 | +$10,008 | +$9,908 |
| PSA 8 | $94.44 | +$62.60 | +$37.60 | −$62.40 |
Net = sale price − $6.84 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% | $10,065 | +$10,008 |
| 50% | $10,065 | +$10,008 |
| 75% | $10,065 | +$10,008 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $7,247 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $7,247 | best | 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 John Karras #51 — FAQ
Is John Karras #51 worth grading?
A Grade 9 John Karras #51 sells for $10,065 against $6.84 raw: a $10,058 spread, 1471× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($10,065) 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.
Which grading company is best for John Karras #51?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $7,247, ahead of SGC 10 at $7,247. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Karras #51 need for a CGC 10?
CGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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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