Is 1969 American League Strikeout Leaders: Sam McDowell / Mickey Lolich / Andy Messersmith #72 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 1969 American League Strikeout Leaders: Sam McDowell / Mickey Lolich / Andy Messersmith #72 sells for $103 against $1.74 raw: a $101 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($93.59) 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)
- $1.74
- Grade 9.5
- $103
- PSA 9
- $93.59
- Gem premium
- 59×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $103 | +$76.26 | +$51.26 | −$48.74 |
| PSA 9 | $93.59 | +$66.85 | +$41.85 | −$58.15 |
| PSA 8 | $20.45 | −$6.29 | −$31.29 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.74 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% | $95.94 | +$44.20 |
| 50% | $98.30 | +$46.56 |
| 75% | $101 | +$48.91 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading 1969 American League Strikeout Leaders: Sam McDowell / Mickey Lolich / Andy Messersmith #72 — FAQ
Is 1969 American League Strikeout Leaders: Sam McDowell / Mickey Lolich / Andy Messersmith #72 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 1969 American League Strikeout Leaders: Sam McDowell / Mickey Lolich / Andy Messersmith #72 sells for $103 against $1.74 raw: a $101 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($93.59) 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.
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