Is Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 sells for $122,688 against $966 raw: a $121,721 spread, 127× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($102,731) 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)
- $966
- PSA 10
- $122,688
- PSA 9
- $102,731
- Gem premium
- 127×
- As of
- Aug 9, 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 | $122,688 | +$121,696 | +$121,671 | +$121,571 |
| PSA 9 | $102,731 | +$101,740 | +$101,715 | +$101,615 |
| PSA 8 | $12,313 | +$11,321 | +$11,296 | +$11,196 |
Net = sale price − $966 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% | $107,720 | +$106,704 |
| 50% | $112,709 | +$111,693 |
| 75% | $117,699 | +$116,682 |
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 | $159,494 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| SGC 10 | $144,000 | −$15,494 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $122,688 | −$36,806 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $73,613 | −$85,881 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $122,688 | $73,613 | $159,494 | $144,000 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $120,234 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $102,731 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $12,313 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $5,286 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 — FAQ
Is Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 sells for $122,688 against $966 raw: a $121,721 spread, 127× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($102,731) 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 Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 (Baseball Cards 1968 Topps) sells for about $122,688 versus $966 for a raw near-mint copy — a 127× premium as of Aug 9, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $159,494, ahead of SGC 10 at $144,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mets Rookie Stars: Nolan Ryan #177 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.
Is your baseball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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