Is Lee Roy Selmon #27 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1981 Topps Red Border Stickers · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Lee Roy Selmon #27 sell for $8.00, only $4.94 above the $3.06 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($7.50) 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)
- $3.06
- Grade 9.5
- $8.00
- PSA 9
- $7.50
- Gem premium
- 2.6×
- 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 | $8.00 | −$20.06 | −$45.06 | −$145 |
| PSA 9 | $7.50 | −$20.56 | −$45.56 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $3.06 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% | $7.63 | −$45.44 |
| 50% | $7.75 | −$45.31 |
| 75% | $7.88 | −$45.19 |
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 Lee Roy Selmon #27 — FAQ
Is Lee Roy Selmon #27 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Lee Roy Selmon #27 sell for $8.00, only $4.94 above the $3.06 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($7.50) 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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