Is Mike LaCoss #242 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1991 Topps Desert Shield · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mike LaCoss #242 sells for $87.12 against $3.80 raw: a $83.32 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.10) 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)
- $3.80
- PSA 10
- $87.12
- PSA 9
- $39.10
- Gem premium
- 23×
- 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 | $87.12 | +$58.32 | +$33.32 | −$66.68 |
| PSA 9 | $39.10 | +$10.30 | −$14.70 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $29.00 | +$0.20 | −$24.80 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $3.80 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% | $51.11 | −$2.69 |
| 50% | $63.11 | +$9.31 |
| 75% | $75.12 | +$21.32 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 31%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $113 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $87.12 | −$25.88 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $52.00 | −$61.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $52.00 | −$61.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1991 Topps Desert Shield cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Mike LaCoss #242 — FAQ
Is Mike LaCoss #242 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mike LaCoss #242 sells for $87.12 against $3.80 raw: a $83.32 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.10) 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 Mike LaCoss #242 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mike LaCoss #242 (Baseball Cards 1991 Topps Desert Shield) sells for about $87.12 versus $3.80 for a raw near-mint copy — a 23× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mike LaCoss #242?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $113, ahead of PSA 10 at $87.12. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mike LaCoss #242 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.
What gem rate makes grading Mike LaCoss #242 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mike LaCoss #242 breaks even when it gems about 31% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.10).
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.
