Is Jim Ninowski #29 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1961 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jim Ninowski #29 sells for $304 against $1.51 raw: a $302 spread, 201× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.15) 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)
- $1.51
- PSA 10
- $304
- PSA 9
- $51.15
- Gem premium
- 201×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $304 | +$277 | +$252 | +$152 |
| PSA 9 | $51.15 | +$24.64 | −$0.36 | −$100 |
| PSA 8 | $45.00 | +$18.49 | −$6.51 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $1.51 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% | $114 | +$62.79 |
| 50% | $177 | +$126 |
| 75% | $241 | +$189 |
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 | $395 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $304 | −$91.26 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $182 | −$213 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $182 | −$213 | 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 Jim Ninowski #29 — FAQ
Is Jim Ninowski #29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Ninowski #29 sells for $304 against $1.51 raw: a $302 spread, 201× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.15) 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 Jim Ninowski #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Ninowski #29 (Football Cards 1961 Topps) sells for about $304 versus $1.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 201× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Ninowski #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $395, ahead of PSA 10 at $304. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Ninowski #29 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 Jim Ninowski #29 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jim Ninowski #29 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.15).
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