Is Mark Malone #284 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mark Malone #284 sells for $122 against $1.55 raw: a $120 spread, 78× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.72) 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)
- $1.55
- PSA 10
- $122
- PSA 9
- $49.72
- Gem premium
- 78×
- 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 | $122 | +$95.02 | +$70.02 | −$29.98 |
| PSA 9 | $49.72 | +$23.17 | −$1.83 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $10.80 | −$15.75 | −$40.75 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $1.55 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% | $67.68 | +$16.13 |
| 50% | $85.64 | +$34.09 |
| 75% | $104 | +$52.06 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $158 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $122 | −$36.43 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $73.00 | −$85.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $73.00 | −$85.00 | 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 Mark Malone #284 — FAQ
Is Mark Malone #284 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Malone #284 sells for $122 against $1.55 raw: a $120 spread, 78× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.72) 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 Mark Malone #284 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Malone #284 (Football Cards 1987 Topps) sells for about $122 versus $1.55 for a raw near-mint copy — a 78× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Malone #284?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $158, ahead of PSA 10 at $122. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Malone #284 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 Mark Malone #284 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mark Malone #284 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.72).
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