Is Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1986 Topps Tiffany · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 brings $26.75 versus $1.75 raw — a $25.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($13.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.75
- PSA 10
- $26.75
- PSA 9
- $13.00
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $26.75 | +$0.00 | −$25.00 | −$125 |
| PSA 9 | $13.00 | −$13.75 | −$38.75 | −$139 |
| PSA 8 | $12.00 | −$14.75 | −$39.75 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.75 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% | $16.44 | −$35.31 |
| 50% | $19.88 | −$31.88 |
| 75% | $23.31 | −$28.44 |
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 | $35.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $26.75 | −$8.25 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $16.00 | −$19.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $16.00 | −$19.00 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 — FAQ
Is Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 brings $26.75 versus $1.75 raw — a $25.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($13.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 (Baseball Cards 1986 Topps Tiffany) sells for about $26.75 versus $1.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $35.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $26.75. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Cubs Leaders [Lee Smith] #636 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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