Is Mark Malone worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1988 Kenner Starting Lineup · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mark Malone sells for $106 against $25.59 raw: a $80.09 spread, 4.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.00) 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)
- $25.59
- PSA 10
- $106
- PSA 9
- $66.00
- Gem premium
- 4.1×
- 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 | $106 | +$55.09 | +$30.09 | −$69.91 |
| PSA 9 | $66.00 | +$15.41 | −$9.59 | −$110 |
| PSA 8 | $59.95 | +$9.36 | −$15.64 | −$116 |
Net = sale price − $25.59 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% | $75.92 | +$0.33 |
| 50% | $85.84 | +$10.25 |
| 75% | $95.76 | +$20.17 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 24%. 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 | $137 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $106 | −$31.32 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $63.00 | −$74.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $63.00 | −$74.00 | 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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Other 1988 Kenner Starting Lineup cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Mark Malone — FAQ
Is Mark Malone worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Malone sells for $106 against $25.59 raw: a $80.09 spread, 4.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.00) 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 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Malone (Football Cards 1988 Kenner Starting Lineup) sells for about $106 versus $25.59 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.1× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Malone?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $137, ahead of PSA 10 at $106. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Malone 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 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mark Malone breaks even when it gems about 24% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $66.00).
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