Is Otis Sistrunk #189 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Otis Sistrunk #189 sells for $116 against $1.63 raw: a $114 spread, 71× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.05) 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
- $116
- PSA 9
- $28.05
- Gem premium
- 71×
- 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 | $116 | +$89.00 | +$64.00 | −$36.00 |
| PSA 9 | $28.05 | +$1.42 | −$23.58 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $23.62 | −$3.01 | −$28.01 | −$128 |
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% | $49.95 | −$1.69 |
| 50% | $71.84 | +$20.21 |
| 75% | $93.73 | +$42.11 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 27%. 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 | $150 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $116 | −$34.37 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $69.00 | −$81.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $69.00 | −$81.00 | 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 #189 — FAQ
Is Otis Sistrunk #189 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Otis Sistrunk #189 sells for $116 against $1.63 raw: a $114 spread, 71× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.05) 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 #189 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Otis Sistrunk #189 (Football Cards 1978 Topps) sells for about $116 versus $1.63 for a raw near-mint copy — a 71× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Otis Sistrunk #189?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $150, ahead of PSA 10 at $116. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Otis Sistrunk #189 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 #189 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Otis Sistrunk #189 breaks even when it gems about 27% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $28.05).
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