Is Lester Hayes #20 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1981 Topps Red Border Stickers · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Lester Hayes #20 sell for $27.00, only $22.99 above the $4.01 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.99) 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)
- $4.01
- Grade 9.5
- $27.00
- PSA 9
- $24.99
- Gem premium
- 6.7×
- 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 | $27.00 | −$2.01 | −$27.01 | −$127 |
| PSA 9 | $24.99 | −$4.02 | −$29.02 | −$129 |
| PSA 8 | $16.99 | −$12.02 | −$37.02 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $4.01 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% | $25.49 | −$28.52 |
| 50% | $25.99 | −$28.02 |
| 75% | $26.50 | −$27.51 |
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 1981 Topps Red Border Stickers cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Lester Hayes #20 — FAQ
Is Lester Hayes #20 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Lester Hayes #20 sell for $27.00, only $22.99 above the $4.01 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.99) 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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