Is Mariano Rivera #256 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1997 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mariano Rivera #256 sells for $42.49 against $1.46 raw: a $41.03 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.26) 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)
- $1.46
- PSA 10
- $42.49
- PSA 9
- $27.26
- Gem premium
- 29×
- 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 | $42.49 | +$16.03 | −$8.97 | −$109 |
| PSA 9 | $27.26 | +$0.80 | −$24.20 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $4.57 | −$21.89 | −$46.89 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $1.46 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% | $31.07 | −$20.39 |
| 50% | $34.88 | −$16.59 |
| 75% | $38.68 | −$12.78 |
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 | $55.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $42.49 | −$12.51 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $25.00 | −$30.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $25.00 | −$30.00 | 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 Mariano Rivera #256 — FAQ
Is Mariano Rivera #256 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mariano Rivera #256 sells for $42.49 against $1.46 raw: a $41.03 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.26) 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 Mariano Rivera #256 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mariano Rivera #256 (Baseball Cards 1997 Topps) sells for about $42.49 versus $1.46 for a raw near-mint copy — a 29× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mariano Rivera #256?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $55.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $42.49. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mariano Rivera #256 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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