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 $302 against $1.38 raw: a $300 spread, 219× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.76) 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)
- $1.38
- PSA 10
- $302
- PSA 9
- $50.76
- Gem premium
- 219×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $302 | +$275 | +$250 | +$150 |
| PSA 9 | $50.76 | +$24.38 | −$0.62 | −$101 |
| PSA 8 | $25.69 | −$0.69 | −$25.69 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $1.38 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% | $113 | +$62.07 |
| 50% | $176 | +$125 |
| 75% | $239 | +$187 |
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 | $392 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $302 | −$90.47 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $181 | −$211 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $181 | −$211 | 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 $302 against $1.38 raw: a $300 spread, 219× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.76) 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 $302 versus $1.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 219× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jack McClairen #157?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $392, ahead of PSA 10 at $302. 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 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $50.76).
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