Is Jim Kaat #250 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jim Kaat #250 sells for $141 against $1.34 raw: a $140 spread, 105× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.39) 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)
- $1.34
- PSA 10
- $141
- PSA 9
- $38.39
- Gem premium
- 105×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $141 | +$115 | +$89.67 | −$10.33 |
| PSA 9 | $38.39 | +$12.05 | −$12.95 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $15.00 | −$11.34 | −$36.34 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $1.34 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% | $64.05 | +$12.70 |
| 50% | $89.70 | +$38.36 |
| 75% | $115 | +$64.01 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $183 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $141 | −$41.99 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $85.00 | −$98.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $85.00 | −$98.00 | 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.
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Grading Jim Kaat #250 — FAQ
Is Jim Kaat #250 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Kaat #250 sells for $141 against $1.34 raw: a $140 spread, 105× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.39) 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 Jim Kaat #250 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Kaat #250 (Baseball Cards 1980 Topps) sells for about $141 versus $1.34 for a raw near-mint copy — a 105× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Kaat #250?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $183, ahead of PSA 10 at $141. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Kaat #250 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.
What gem rate makes grading Jim Kaat #250 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jim Kaat #250 breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.39).
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