![Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 (Football Cards 1959 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NQAAAeSwJm1qh2RK/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1959 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 sells for $1,920 against $3.95 raw: a $1,916 spread, 486× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.00) 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)
- $3.95
- PSA 10
- $1,920
- PSA 9
- $53.00
- Gem premium
- 486×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $1,920 | +$1,891 | +$1,866 | +$1,766 |
| PSA 9 | $53.00 | +$24.05 | −$0.95 | −$101 |
| PSA 8 | $29.00 | +$0.05 | −$24.95 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $3.95 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% | $520 | +$466 |
| 50% | $987 | +$933 |
| 75% | $1,453 | +$1,399 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $2,496 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,920 | −$576 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,152 | −$1,344 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,152 | −$1,344 | 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 Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 — FAQ
Is Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 sells for $1,920 against $3.95 raw: a $1,916 spread, 486× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.00) 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 Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 (Football Cards 1959 Topps) sells for about $1,920 versus $3.95 for a raw near-mint copy — a 486× premium as of Sep 2, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,496, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,920. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 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.
What gem rate makes grading Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Chicago Cardinals [Checklist Back] #118 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $53.00).
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