Is Christy Mathewson #88 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1915 Cracker Jack · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Christy Mathewson #88 sells for $112,530 against $2,522 raw: a $110,008 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($102,300) 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)
- $2,522
- Grade 9.5
- $112,530
- PSA 9
- $102,300
- Gem premium
- 45×
- As of
- Nov 1, 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 | $112,530 | +$109,983 | +$109,958 | +$109,858 |
| PSA 9 | $102,300 | +$99,753 | +$99,728 | +$99,628 |
| PSA 8 | $93,000 | +$90,453 | +$90,428 | +$90,328 |
Net = sale price − $2,522 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% | $104,858 | +$102,286 |
| 50% | $107,415 | +$104,843 |
| 75% | $109,973 | +$107,401 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1915 Cracker Jack cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Christy Mathewson #88 — FAQ
Is Christy Mathewson #88 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Christy Mathewson #88 sells for $112,530 against $2,522 raw: a $110,008 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($102,300) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
