Is John Hadl #117 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1961 NU Card · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 John Hadl #117 sells for $55.00 against $16.86 raw: a $38.14 spread, 3.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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)
- $16.86
- Grade 9.5
- $55.00
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 3.3×
- 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 | $55.00 | +$13.14 | −$11.86 | −$112 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | +$8.13 | −$16.87 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $37.99 | −$3.87 | −$28.87 | −$129 |
Net = sale price − $16.86 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% | $51.24 | −$15.62 |
| 50% | $52.50 | −$14.36 |
| 75% | $53.75 | −$13.11 |
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 John Hadl #117 — FAQ
Is John Hadl #117 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 John Hadl #117 sells for $55.00 against $16.86 raw: a $38.14 spread, 3.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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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