Is Lester Hayes #218 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lester Hayes #218 sells for $167 against $1.79 raw: a $165 spread, 93× 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)
- $1.79
- PSA 10
- $167
- PSA 9
- $31.51
- Gem premium
- 93×
- 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 | $167 | +$140 | +$115 | +$15.24 |
| PSA 9 | $31.51 | +$4.72 | −$20.28 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $16.98 | −$9.81 | −$34.81 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $1.79 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% | $65.39 | +$13.60 |
| 50% | $99.27 | +$47.48 |
| 75% | $133 | +$81.36 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 15%. 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 | $217 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $167 | −$49.97 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $100 | −$117 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $100 | −$117 | 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 | $167 | $100 | $217 | $100 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $56.86 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $31.51 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $16.98 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $7.67 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Lester Hayes #218 — FAQ
Is Lester Hayes #218 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lester Hayes #218 sells for $167 against $1.79 raw: a $165 spread, 93× 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 $167 versus $1.79 for a raw near-mint copy — a 93× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lester Hayes #218?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $217, ahead of PSA 10 at $167. 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 15% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.51).
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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