Is Mel Hein #42 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1977 Touchdown Club · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Mel Hein #42 sell for $22.00, only $20.53 above the $1.47 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.47
- Grade 9.5
- $22.00
- PSA 9
- $19.99
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $22.00 | −$4.47 | −$29.47 | −$129 |
| PSA 9 | $19.99 | −$6.48 | −$31.48 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.47 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% | $20.49 | −$30.98 |
| 50% | $20.99 | −$30.48 |
| 75% | $21.50 | −$29.97 |
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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Other 1977 Touchdown Club cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Mel Hein #42 — FAQ
Is Mel Hein #42 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Mel Hein #42 sell for $22.00, only $20.53 above the $1.47 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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