Is Alvin Dark #109 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1953 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Alvin Dark #109 sells for $1,971 against $10.75 raw: a $1,960 spread, 183× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,642) 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)
- $10.75
- PSA 10
- $1,971
- PSA 9
- $1,642
- Gem premium
- 183×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $1,971 | +$1,935 | +$1,910 | +$1,810 |
| PSA 9 | $1,642 | +$1,606 | +$1,581 | +$1,481 |
| PSA 8 | $1,493 | +$1,457 | +$1,432 | +$1,332 |
Net = sale price − $10.75 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% | $1,724 | +$1,664 |
| 50% | $1,807 | +$1,746 |
| 75% | $1,889 | +$1,828 |
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 | $2,562 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,971 | −$591 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,183 | −$1,379 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,183 | −$1,379 | 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 1953 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Alvin Dark #109 — FAQ
Is Alvin Dark #109 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alvin Dark #109 sells for $1,971 against $10.75 raw: a $1,960 spread, 183× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,642) 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 Alvin Dark #109 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alvin Dark #109 (Baseball Cards 1953 Topps) sells for about $1,971 versus $10.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 183× premium as of Sep 2, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alvin Dark #109?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,562, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,971. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alvin Dark #109 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.
