![Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9x0AAeSw8TRqdOgS/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1952 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 sells for $14,382 against $57.31 raw: a $14,324 spread, 251× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,156) 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)
- $57.31
- PSA 10
- $14,382
- PSA 9
- $2,156
- Gem premium
- 251×
- 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 | $14,382 | +$14,299 | +$14,274 | +$14,174 |
| PSA 9 | $2,156 | +$2,074 | +$2,049 | +$1,949 |
| PSA 8 | $2,144 | +$2,062 | +$2,037 | +$1,937 |
Net = sale price − $57.31 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% | $5,213 | +$5,105 |
| 50% | $8,269 | +$8,162 |
| 75% | $11,325 | +$11,218 |
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 | $18,696 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $14,382 | −$4,314 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $8,629 | −$10,067 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $8,629 | −$10,067 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1952 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 — FAQ
Is Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 sells for $14,382 against $57.31 raw: a $14,324 spread, 251× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,156) 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 Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) sells for about $14,382 versus $57.31 for a raw near-mint copy — a 251× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $18,696, ahead of PSA 10 at $14,382. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Monty Irvin [Black Back] #26 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.
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.
