Is Lou Gehrig worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Kenner Starting Lineup Baseball Greats · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lou Gehrig sells for $52.01 against $2.03 raw: a $49.98 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.44) 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)
- $2.03
- PSA 10
- $52.01
- PSA 9
- $44.44
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $52.01 | +$24.98 | −$0.02 | −$100 |
| PSA 9 | $44.44 | +$17.41 | −$7.59 | −$108 |
Net = sale price − $2.03 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% | $46.33 | −$5.70 |
| 50% | $48.22 | −$3.81 |
| 75% | $50.12 | −$1.91 |
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 | $68.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $52.01 | −$15.99 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $31.00 | −$37.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $31.00 | −$37.00 | 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 Lou Gehrig — FAQ
Is Lou Gehrig worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lou Gehrig sells for $52.01 against $2.03 raw: a $49.98 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.44) 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 Lou Gehrig worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lou Gehrig (Baseball Cards 1989 Kenner Starting Lineup Baseball Greats) sells for about $52.01 versus $2.03 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lou Gehrig?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $68.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $52.01. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lou Gehrig 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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