Is Ernie Banks #242 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1955 Bowman · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ernie Banks #242 sells for $33,913 against $153 raw: a $33,760 spread, 221× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,085) 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)
- $153
- PSA 10
- $33,913
- PSA 9
- $5,085
- Gem premium
- 221×
- 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 | $33,913 | +$33,735 | +$33,710 | +$33,610 |
| PSA 9 | $5,085 | +$4,906 | +$4,881 | +$4,781 |
| PSA 8 | $4,124 | +$3,946 | +$3,921 | +$3,821 |
Net = sale price − $153 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% | $12,292 | +$12,089 |
| 50% | $19,499 | +$19,296 |
| 75% | $26,706 | +$26,503 |
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 | $44,087 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $33,913 | −$10,174 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $20,348 | −$23,739 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $20,348 | −$23,739 | 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 1955 Bowman cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Ernie Banks #242 — FAQ
Is Ernie Banks #242 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ernie Banks #242 sells for $33,913 against $153 raw: a $33,760 spread, 221× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,085) 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 Ernie Banks #242 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ernie Banks #242 (Baseball Cards 1955 Bowman) sells for about $33,913 versus $153 for a raw near-mint copy — a 221× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ernie Banks #242?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $44,087, ahead of PSA 10 at $33,913. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ernie Banks #242 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.
