![James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9yAAAeSwA-tqnLhQ/s-l1600.jpg)
Is James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1952 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 sells for $10,626 against $16.73 raw: a $10,609 spread, 635× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,855) 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)
- $16.73
- PSA 10
- $10,626
- PSA 9
- $8,855
- Gem premium
- 635×
- 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 | $10,626 | +$10,584 | +$10,559 | +$10,459 |
| PSA 9 | $8,855 | +$8,813 | +$8,788 | +$8,688 |
| PSA 8 | $8,050 | +$8,008 | +$7,983 | +$7,883 |
Net = sale price − $16.73 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% | $9,298 | +$9,231 |
| 50% | $9,741 | +$9,674 |
| 75% | $10,183 | +$10,117 |
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 | $13,814 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $10,626 | −$3,188 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $6,376 | −$7,438 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $6,376 | −$7,438 | 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 James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 — FAQ
Is James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 worth grading?
A PSA 10 James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 sells for $10,626 against $16.73 raw: a $10,609 spread, 635× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,855) 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 James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) sells for about $10,626 versus $16.73 for a raw near-mint copy — a 635× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $13,814, ahead of PSA 10 at $10,626. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does James E. Runnels [Black Back] #2 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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