Is Ken Stabler #487 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1973 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Ken Stabler #487 sells for $1,540 against $12.87 raw: a $1,527 spread, 120× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,400) 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)
- $12.87
- Grade 9.5
- $1,540
- PSA 9
- $1,400
- Gem premium
- 120×
- 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 | $1,540 | +$1,502 | +$1,477 | +$1,377 |
| PSA 9 | $1,400 | +$1,362 | +$1,337 | +$1,237 |
| PSA 8 | $334 | +$296 | +$271 | +$171 |
Net = sale price − $12.87 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% | $1,435 | +$1,372 |
| 50% | $1,470 | +$1,407 |
| 75% | $1,505 | +$1,442 |
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 →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1973 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Ken Stabler #487 — FAQ
Is Ken Stabler #487 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Ken Stabler #487 sells for $1,540 against $12.87 raw: a $1,527 spread, 120× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,400) 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 football 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.
