Is 1971 A.L. Playoffs: Orioles Champs! #222 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 1971 A.L. Playoffs: Orioles Champs! #222 sells for $95.28 against $2.92 raw: a $92.36 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($89.75) 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)
- $2.92
- Grade 9.5
- $95.28
- PSA 9
- $89.75
- Gem premium
- 33×
- 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 | $95.28 | +$67.36 | +$42.36 | −$57.64 |
| PSA 9 | $89.75 | +$61.83 | +$36.83 | −$63.17 |
| PSA 8 | $38.82 | +$10.90 | −$14.10 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $2.92 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% | $91.13 | +$38.21 |
| 50% | $92.52 | +$39.59 |
| 75% | $93.90 | +$40.98 |
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 1971 A.L. Playoffs: Orioles Champs! #222 — FAQ
Is 1971 A.L. Playoffs: Orioles Champs! #222 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 1971 A.L. Playoffs: Orioles Champs! #222 sells for $95.28 against $2.92 raw: a $92.36 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($89.75) 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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