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 $14.24 raw: a $58.76 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)
- $14.24
- Grade 9.5
- $73.00
- PSA 9
- $66.00
- Gem premium
- 5.1×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | +$33.76 | +$8.76 | −$91.24 |
| PSA 9 | $66.00 | +$26.76 | +$1.76 | −$98.24 |
| PSA 8 | $59.80 | +$20.56 | −$4.44 | −$104 |
Net = sale price − $14.24 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 | +$3.51 |
| 50% | $69.50 | +$5.26 |
| 75% | $71.25 | +$7.01 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $73.00 |
| 9 | $66.00 |
| 8 | $59.80 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2001 Topps Archives Reserve cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Don Mattingly [1984 Reprint] #49 2001 Topps Archives Reserve card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/i8QAAeSwmGZqRYkH/s-l500.jpg)
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 $14.24 raw: a $58.76 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.
Is your baseball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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