Is Bill Madlock #253 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1984 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Bill Madlock #253 brings $31.21 versus $1.45 raw — a $29.76 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.73) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.45
- PSA 10
- $31.21
- PSA 9
- $24.73
- Gem premium
- 22×
- 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 | $31.21 | +$4.76 | −$20.24 | −$120 |
| PSA 9 | $24.73 | −$1.72 | −$26.72 | −$127 |
| PSA 8 | $11.23 | −$15.22 | −$40.22 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.45 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% | $26.35 | −$25.10 |
| 50% | $27.97 | −$23.48 |
| 75% | $29.59 | −$21.86 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $41.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $31.21 | −$9.79 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $19.00 | −$22.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $19.00 | −$22.00 | 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 Bill Madlock #253 — FAQ
Is Bill Madlock #253 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Bill Madlock #253 brings $31.21 versus $1.45 raw — a $29.76 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.73) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Bill Madlock #253 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Bill Madlock #253 (Baseball Cards 1984 Fleer) sells for about $31.21 versus $1.45 for a raw near-mint copy — a 22× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Bill Madlock #253?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $41.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $31.21. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Bill Madlock #253 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.
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