Is Walter Payton #480 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1979 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #480 sells for $3,786 against $4.99 raw: a $3,781 spread, 759× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($589) 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)
- $4.99
- PSA 10
- $3,786
- PSA 9
- $589
- Gem premium
- 759×
- 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 | $3,786 | +$3,756 | +$3,731 | +$3,631 |
| PSA 9 | $589 | +$559 | +$534 | +$434 |
| PSA 8 | $142 | +$112 | +$86.76 | −$13.24 |
Net = sale price − $4.99 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% | $1,388 | +$1,333 |
| 50% | $2,187 | +$2,132 |
| 75% | $2,987 | +$2,932 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $4,922 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,786 | −$1,136 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,272 | −$2,650 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,272 | −$2,650 | 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 | $3,786 | $2,272 | $4,922 | $2,272 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $700 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $589 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $142 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $53.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1979 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Walter Payton [All Pro] #480 1979 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CFUAAeSwDF1qU7gC/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Walter Payton #480 — FAQ
Is Walter Payton #480 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #480 sells for $3,786 against $4.99 raw: a $3,781 spread, 759× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($589) 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 Walter Payton #480 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #480 (Football Cards 1979 Topps) sells for about $3,786 versus $4.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 759× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Walter Payton #480?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,922, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,786. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Walter Payton #480 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.
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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