Is Ernie Banks #525 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1971 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ernie Banks #525 sells for $2,759 against $27.69 raw: a $2,731 spread, 100× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,364) 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)
- $27.69
- PSA 10
- $2,759
- PSA 9
- $1,364
- Gem premium
- 100×
- 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 | $2,759 | +$2,706 | +$2,681 | +$2,581 |
| PSA 9 | $1,364 | +$1,311 | +$1,286 | +$1,186 |
| PSA 8 | $1,240 | +$1,187 | +$1,162 | +$1,062 |
Net = sale price − $27.69 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% | $1,713 | +$1,635 |
| 50% | $2,061 | +$1,984 |
| 75% | $2,410 | +$2,333 |
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 | $3,587 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,759 | −$828 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,655 | −$1,932 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,655 | −$1,932 | 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 1971 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Ernie Banks #525 — FAQ
Is Ernie Banks #525 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ernie Banks #525 sells for $2,759 against $27.69 raw: a $2,731 spread, 100× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,364) 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 #525 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ernie Banks #525 (Baseball Cards 1971 Topps) sells for about $2,759 versus $27.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 100× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ernie Banks #525?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $3,587, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,759. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ernie Banks #525 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.
