Is Jim Zorn #383 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jim Zorn #383 sells for $309 against $1.29 raw: a $308 spread, 240× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.00) 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)
- $1.29
- PSA 10
- $309
- PSA 9
- $51.00
- Gem premium
- 240×
- As of
- Jul 11, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $309 | +$283 | +$258 | +$158 |
| PSA 9 | $51.00 | +$24.71 | −$0.29 | −$100 |
| PSA 8 | $46.76 | +$20.47 | −$4.53 | −$105 |
Net = sale price − $1.29 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% | $116 | +$64.31 |
| 50% | $180 | +$129 |
| 75% | $245 | +$194 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $402 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $309 | −$92.60 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $186 | −$216 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $186 | −$216 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $309 | $186 | $402 | $186 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $52.94 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $51.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $46.76 |
Run your own numbers
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Other 1978 Topps cards worth checking
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Grading Jim Zorn #383 — FAQ
Is Jim Zorn #383 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Zorn #383 sells for $309 against $1.29 raw: a $308 spread, 240× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Jim Zorn #383 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Zorn #383 (Football Cards 1978 Topps) sells for about $309 versus $1.29 for a raw near-mint copy — a 240× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Zorn #383?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $402, ahead of PSA 10 at $309. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Zorn #383 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Jim Zorn #383 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jim Zorn #383 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.00).
Is your football 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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