Is Willie Mays #261 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1952 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Willie Mays #261 sells for $979,149 against $3,644 raw: a $975,505 spread, 269× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($346,550) 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)
- $3,644
- PSA 10
- $979,149
- PSA 9
- $346,550
- Gem premium
- 269×
- 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 | $979,149 | +$975,480 | +$975,455 | +$975,355 |
| PSA 9 | $346,550 | +$342,881 | +$342,856 | +$342,756 |
| PSA 8 | $135,725 | +$132,056 | +$132,031 | +$131,931 |
Net = sale price − $3,644 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% | $504,700 | +$501,006 |
| 50% | $662,850 | +$659,156 |
| 75% | $820,999 | +$817,306 |
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 | $1,272,894 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $979,149 | −$293,745 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $587,489 | −$685,405 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $587,489 | −$685,405 | 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 Willie Mays #261 — FAQ
Is Willie Mays #261 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Willie Mays #261 sells for $979,149 against $3,644 raw: a $975,505 spread, 269× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($346,550) 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 Willie Mays #261 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Willie Mays #261 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) sells for about $979,149 versus $3,644 for a raw near-mint copy — a 269× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Willie Mays #261?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,272,894, ahead of PSA 10 at $979,149. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Willie Mays #261 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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