Is Nolan Ryan #NR worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2019 Topps 1984 Baseball Relics · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan #NR sells for $66.00 against $18.87 raw: a $47.13 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($60.00) 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)
- $18.87
- Grade 9.5
- $66.00
- PSA 9
- $60.00
- Gem premium
- 3.5×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $66.00 | +$22.13 | −$2.87 | −$103 |
| PSA 9 | $60.00 | +$16.13 | −$8.87 | −$109 |
Net = sale price − $18.87 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% | $61.50 | −$7.37 |
| 50% | $63.00 | −$5.87 |
| 75% | $64.50 | −$4.37 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Other 2019 Topps 1984 Baseball Relics cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Nolan Ryan #NR — FAQ
Is Nolan Ryan #NR worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan #NR sells for $66.00 against $18.87 raw: a $47.13 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($60.00) 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.
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