Is Nolan Ryan #20 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1974 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan #20 sells for $71,181 against $21.74 raw: a $71,159 spread, 3274× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,201) 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)
- $21.74
- PSA 10
- $71,181
- PSA 9
- $2,201
- Gem premium
- 3274×
- 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 | $71,181 | +$71,134 | +$71,109 | +$71,009 |
| PSA 9 | $2,201 | +$2,154 | +$2,129 | +$2,029 |
| PSA 8 | $392 | +$345 | +$320 | +$220 |
Net = sale price − $21.74 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% | $19,446 | +$19,374 |
| 50% | $36,691 | +$36,619 |
| 75% | $53,936 | +$53,864 |
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 | $92,535 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $71,181 | −$21,354 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $42,708 | −$49,827 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $42,708 | −$49,827 | 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 | $71,181 | $42,708 | $92,535 | $42,708 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $2,268 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $2,201 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $392 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $165 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Nolan Ryan #20 — FAQ
Is Nolan Ryan #20 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan #20 sells for $71,181 against $21.74 raw: a $71,159 spread, 3274× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,201) 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 #20 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan #20 (Baseball Cards 1974 Topps) sells for about $71,181 versus $21.74 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3274× premium as of Aug 9, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Nolan Ryan #20?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $92,535, ahead of PSA 10 at $71,181. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Nolan Ryan #20 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.
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