Is Lester Hayes #218 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lester Hayes #218 sells for $131 against $1.30 raw: a $130 spread, 101× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.51) 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)
- $1.30
- PSA 10
- $131
- PSA 9
- $31.51
- Gem premium
- 101×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $131 | +$105 | +$79.74 | −$20.26 |
| PSA 9 | $31.51 | +$5.21 | −$19.79 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $17.06 | −$9.24 | −$34.24 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $1.30 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% | $56.39 | +$5.09 |
| 50% | $81.27 | +$29.97 |
| 75% | $106 | +$54.86 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 20%. 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 | $170 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $131 | −$38.96 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $79.00 | −$91.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $79.00 | −$91.00 | 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.
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Grading Lester Hayes #218 — FAQ
Is Lester Hayes #218 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lester Hayes #218 sells for $131 against $1.30 raw: a $130 spread, 101× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.51) 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 Lester Hayes #218 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lester Hayes #218 (Football Cards 1981 Topps) sells for about $131 versus $1.30 for a raw near-mint copy — a 101× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lester Hayes #218?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $170, ahead of PSA 10 at $131. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lester Hayes #218 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 Lester Hayes #218 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lester Hayes #218 breaks even when it gems about 20% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.51).
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