Is Sparky Lyle #116 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Archives Autographs · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Sparky Lyle #116 sells for $63.00 against $14.50 raw: a $48.50 spread, 4.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.57) 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)
- $14.50
- Grade 9.5
- $63.00
- PSA 9
- $57.57
- Gem premium
- 4.3×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $63.00 | +$23.50 | −$1.50 | −$102 |
| PSA 9 | $57.57 | +$18.07 | −$6.93 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $14.50 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% | $58.93 | −$5.57 |
| 50% | $60.28 | −$4.22 |
| 75% | $61.64 | −$2.86 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Full set checklist →Grading Sparky Lyle #116 — FAQ
Is Sparky Lyle #116 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Sparky Lyle #116 sells for $63.00 against $14.50 raw: a $48.50 spread, 4.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.57) 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.
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