![Nolan Ryan [1968 Reprint] #97 (Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Archives Reserve) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lh8AAeSwfZRqdDR1/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Nolan Ryan [1968 Reprint] #97 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Archives Reserve · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan [1968 Reprint] #97 sells for $73.00 against $14.18 raw: a $58.82 spread, 5.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.00) 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)
- $14.18
- Grade 9.5
- $73.00
- PSA 9
- $66.00
- Gem premium
- 5.1×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $73.00 | +$33.82 | +$8.82 | −$91.18 |
| PSA 9 | $66.00 | +$26.82 | +$1.82 | −$98.18 |
| PSA 8 | $59.80 | +$20.62 | −$4.38 | −$104 |
Net = sale price − $14.18 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% | $67.75 | +$3.57 |
| 50% | $69.50 | +$5.32 |
| 75% | $71.25 | +$7.07 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Full set checklist →Grading Nolan Ryan [1968 Reprint] #97 — FAQ
Is Nolan Ryan [1968 Reprint] #97 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan [1968 Reprint] #97 sells for $73.00 against $14.18 raw: a $58.82 spread, 5.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.00) 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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