Is Jack McClairen #157 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jack McClairen #157 sells for $289 against $1.63 raw: a $287 spread, 177× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.90) 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)
- $1.63
- PSA 10
- $289
- PSA 9
- $48.90
- Gem premium
- 177×
- As of
- Oct 13, 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 | $289 | +$262 | +$237 | +$137 |
| PSA 9 | $48.90 | +$22.27 | −$2.73 | −$103 |
| PSA 8 | $25.75 | −$0.88 | −$25.88 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $1.63 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% | $109 | +$57.33 |
| 50% | $169 | +$117 |
| 75% | $229 | +$177 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $376 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $289 | −$86.88 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $173 | −$203 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $173 | −$203 | 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 Jack McClairen #157 — FAQ
Is Jack McClairen #157 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jack McClairen #157 sells for $289 against $1.63 raw: a $287 spread, 177× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.90) 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 Jack McClairen #157 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jack McClairen #157 (Football Cards 1959 Topps) sells for about $289 versus $1.63 for a raw near-mint copy — a 177× premium as of Oct 13, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jack McClairen #157?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $376, ahead of PSA 10 at $289. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jack McClairen #157 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 Jack McClairen #157 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jack McClairen #157 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $48.90).
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