Is Al Kaline #21 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1985 Circle K · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Al Kaline #21 brings $39.99 versus $1.35 raw — a $38.64 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.35
- PSA 10
- $39.99
- PSA 9
- $22.00
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $39.99 | +$13.64 | −$11.36 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $22.00 | −$4.35 | −$29.35 | −$129 |
| PSA 8 | $19.99 | −$6.36 | −$31.36 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.35 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% | $26.50 | −$24.85 |
| 50% | $31.00 | −$20.36 |
| 75% | $35.49 | −$15.86 |
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 | $52.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $39.99 | −$12.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $24.00 | −$28.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $24.00 | −$28.00 | 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 Al Kaline #21 — FAQ
Is Al Kaline #21 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Al Kaline #21 brings $39.99 versus $1.35 raw — a $38.64 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Al Kaline #21 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Al Kaline #21 (Baseball Cards 1985 Circle K) sells for about $39.99 versus $1.35 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Al Kaline #21?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $52.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $39.99. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Al Kaline #21 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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