Is Otis Sistrunk #494 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Otis Sistrunk #494 sells for $149 against $1.69 raw: a $147 spread, 88× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.79) 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)
- $1.69
- PSA 10
- $149
- PSA 9
- $34.79
- Gem premium
- 88×
- 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 | $149 | +$122 | +$96.89 | −$3.11 |
| PSA 9 | $34.79 | +$8.10 | −$16.90 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $16.73 | −$9.96 | −$34.96 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $1.69 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% | $63.24 | +$11.55 |
| 50% | $91.69 | +$40.00 |
| 75% | $120 | +$68.44 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 15%. 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 | $193 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $149 | −$44.42 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $89.00 | −$104 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $89.00 | −$104 | 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 Otis Sistrunk #494 — FAQ
Is Otis Sistrunk #494 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Otis Sistrunk #494 sells for $149 against $1.69 raw: a $147 spread, 88× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.79) 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 Otis Sistrunk #494 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Otis Sistrunk #494 (Football Cards 1977 Topps) sells for about $149 versus $1.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 88× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Otis Sistrunk #494?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $193, ahead of PSA 10 at $149. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Otis Sistrunk #494 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 Otis Sistrunk #494 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Otis Sistrunk #494 breaks even when it gems about 15% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $34.79).
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