Is Vernon Kennedy #280 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1938 Goudey · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Vernon Kennedy #280 sells for $14,786 against $41.50 raw: a $14,745 spread, 356× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,207) 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)
- $41.50
- PSA 10
- $14,786
- PSA 9
- $2,207
- Gem premium
- 356×
- 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 | $14,786 | +$14,720 | +$14,695 | +$14,595 |
| PSA 9 | $2,207 | +$2,140 | +$2,115 | +$2,015 |
| PSA 8 | $828 | +$762 | +$737 | +$637 |
Net = sale price − $41.50 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% | $5,352 | +$5,260 |
| 50% | $8,497 | +$8,405 |
| 75% | $11,641 | +$11,550 |
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 | $19,222 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $14,786 | −$4,436 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $8,872 | −$10,350 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $8,872 | −$10,350 | 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 Vernon Kennedy #280 — FAQ
Is Vernon Kennedy #280 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Vernon Kennedy #280 sells for $14,786 against $41.50 raw: a $14,745 spread, 356× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,207) 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 Vernon Kennedy #280 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Vernon Kennedy #280 (Baseball Cards 1938 Goudey) sells for about $14,786 versus $41.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 356× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Vernon Kennedy #280?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $19,222, ahead of PSA 10 at $14,786. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Vernon Kennedy #280 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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