Is Nolan Ryan #1 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1976 Laughlin Diamond Jubilee · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan #1 brings $378 versus $325 raw — a $53.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($344) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $325
- Grade 9.5
- $378
- PSA 9
- $344
- Gem premium
- 1.2×
- 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 | $378 | +$28.00 | +$3.00 | −$97.00 |
| PSA 9 | $344 | −$6.00 | −$31.00 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $325 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% | $353 | −$22.50 |
| 50% | $361 | −$14.00 |
| 75% | $370 | −$5.50 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 91%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Grading Nolan Ryan #1 — FAQ
Is Nolan Ryan #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan #1 brings $378 versus $325 raw — a $53.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($344) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
What gem rate makes grading Nolan Ryan #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Nolan Ryan #1 breaks even when it gems about 91% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $344).
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