Is John McNamara #651 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1984 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 John McNamara #651 sells for $110 against $1.04 raw: a $109 spread, 106× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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)
- $1.04
- Grade 9.5
- $110
- PSA 9
- $100
- Gem premium
- 106×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $110 | +$83.96 | +$58.96 | −$41.04 |
| PSA 9 | $100 | +$73.96 | +$48.96 | −$51.04 |
| PSA 8 | $1.99 | −$24.05 | −$49.05 | −$149 |
Net = sale price − $1.04 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% | $103 | +$51.46 |
| 50% | $105 | +$53.96 |
| 75% | $108 | +$56.46 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1984 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading John McNamara #651 — FAQ
Is John McNamara #651 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 John McNamara #651 sells for $110 against $1.04 raw: a $109 spread, 106× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
