Is Rueben Mayes worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1988 Kenner Starting Lineup · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Rueben Mayes sells for $103 against $7.26 raw: a $95.81 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.95) 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)
- $7.26
- PSA 10
- $103
- PSA 9
- $59.95
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 | $103 | +$70.81 | +$45.81 | −$54.19 |
| PSA 9 | $59.95 | +$27.69 | +$2.69 | −$97.31 |
Net = sale price − $7.26 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% | $70.73 | +$13.47 |
| 50% | $81.51 | +$24.25 |
| 75% | $92.29 | +$35.03 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $134 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $103 | −$30.93 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $62.00 | −$72.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $62.00 | −$72.00 | 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 Rueben Mayes — FAQ
Is Rueben Mayes worth grading?
A PSA 10 Rueben Mayes sells for $103 against $7.26 raw: a $95.81 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.95) 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 Rueben Mayes worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Rueben Mayes (Football Cards 1988 Kenner Starting Lineup) sells for about $103 versus $7.26 for a raw near-mint copy — a 14× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Rueben Mayes?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $134, ahead of PSA 10 at $103. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Rueben Mayes 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.
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