![Cubs Field Leaders [Solid Background] #81 (Baseball Cards 1973 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Yv0AAOSwtQNhKT6W/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Cubs Field Leaders [Solid Background] #81 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1973 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Cubs Field Leaders [Solid Background] #81 sells for $319 against $2.79 raw: a $316 spread, 114× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($290) 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)
- $2.79
- Grade 9.5
- $319
- PSA 9
- $290
- Gem premium
- 114×
- 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 | $319 | +$291 | +$266 | +$166 |
| PSA 9 | $290 | +$262 | +$237 | +$137 |
| PSA 8 | $7.50 | −$20.29 | −$45.29 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $2.79 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% | $297 | +$245 |
| 50% | $305 | +$252 |
| 75% | $312 | +$259 |
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 Cubs Field Leaders [Solid Background] #81 — FAQ
Is Cubs Field Leaders [Solid Background] #81 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Cubs Field Leaders [Solid Background] #81 sells for $319 against $2.79 raw: a $316 spread, 114× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($290) 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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