Is Nolan Ryan #A5 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1993 Upper Deck 5th Anniversary · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan #A5 sells for $50.00 against $2.99 raw: a $47.01 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.60) 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)
- $2.99
- Grade 9.5
- $50.00
- PSA 9
- $45.60
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 | $50.00 | +$22.01 | −$2.99 | −$103 |
| PSA 9 | $45.60 | +$17.61 | −$7.39 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $18.47 | −$9.52 | −$34.52 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $2.99 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% | $46.70 | −$6.29 |
| 50% | $47.80 | −$5.19 |
| 75% | $48.90 | −$4.09 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1993 Upper Deck 5th Anniversary cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Nolan Ryan #A5 — FAQ
Is Nolan Ryan #A5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Nolan Ryan #A5 sells for $50.00 against $2.99 raw: a $47.01 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.60) 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.
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.
