Is Ed Bailey #5 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1957 Swift Meats · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Ed Bailey #5 brings $135 versus $99.99 raw — a $35.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($123) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $99.99
- Grade 9.5
- $135
- PSA 9
- $123
- Gem premium
- 1.4×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $135 | +$10.01 | −$14.99 | −$115 |
| PSA 9 | $123 | −$1.99 | −$26.99 | −$127 |
| PSA 8 | $112 | −$13.01 | −$38.01 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $99.99 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% | $126 | −$23.99 |
| 50% | $129 | −$20.99 |
| 75% | $132 | −$17.99 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1957 Swift Meats cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Ed Bailey #5 — FAQ
Is Ed Bailey #5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Ed Bailey #5 brings $135 versus $99.99 raw — a $35.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($123) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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.
