Is Nolan Ryan #595 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan #595 sells for $87,660 against $116 raw: a $87,544 spread, 757× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($4,777) 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)
- $116
- PSA 10
- $87,660
- PSA 9
- $4,777
- Gem premium
- 757×
- 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 | $87,660 | +$87,519 | +$87,494 | +$87,394 |
| PSA 9 | $4,777 | +$4,636 | +$4,611 | +$4,511 |
| PSA 8 | $1,045 | +$904 | +$879 | +$779 |
Net = sale price − $116 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% | $25,497 | +$25,332 |
| 50% | $46,218 | +$46,052 |
| 75% | $66,939 | +$66,773 |
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 | $113,958 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $87,660 | −$26,298 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $52,596 | −$61,362 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $10,800 | −$103,158 | 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 | $87,660 | $52,596 | $113,958 | $10,800 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $5,967 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $4,777 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $1,045 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $436 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1972 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Nolan Ryan #595 — FAQ
Is Nolan Ryan #595 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan #595 sells for $87,660 against $116 raw: a $87,544 spread, 757× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($4,777) 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 Nolan Ryan #595 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan #595 (Baseball Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $87,660 versus $116 for a raw near-mint copy — a 757× premium as of Aug 9, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Nolan Ryan #595?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $113,958, ahead of PSA 10 at $87,660. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Nolan Ryan #595 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.
Check my card free