Is Walter Payton #303 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1982 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #303 sells for $1,540 against $3.18 raw: a $1,537 spread, 484× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($93.86) 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)
- $3.18
- PSA 10
- $1,540
- PSA 9
- $93.86
- Gem premium
- 484×
- 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 | $1,540 | +$1,512 | +$1,487 | +$1,387 |
| PSA 9 | $93.86 | +$65.68 | +$40.68 | −$59.32 |
| PSA 8 | $41.24 | +$13.06 | −$11.94 | −$112 |
Net = sale price − $3.18 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% | $455 | +$402 |
| 50% | $817 | +$764 |
| 75% | $1,178 | +$1,125 |
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 | $2,002 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,540 | −$462 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $924 | −$1,078 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $924 | −$1,078 | 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 | $1,540 | $924 | $2,002 | $924 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $250 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $93.86 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $41.24 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $23.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1982 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Anthony Munoz [All Pro] #51 1982 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mOwAAeSwRQtqQuez/s-l500.jpg)
![Chicago Bears [Team Leaders] #292 1982 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Bo4AAeSwXZFpesJC/s-l500.jpg)
![Lawrence Taylor [All Pro] #434 1982 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~JYAAeSwVplqSjWw/s-l500.jpg)
![Ronnie Lott [All Pro] #486 1982 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2qIAAeSwpfRqVpOC/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Walter Payton #303 — FAQ
Is Walter Payton #303 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #303 sells for $1,540 against $3.18 raw: a $1,537 spread, 484× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($93.86) 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 #303 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #303 (Football Cards 1982 Topps) sells for about $1,540 versus $3.18 for a raw near-mint copy — a 484× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Walter Payton #303?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,002, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,540. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Walter Payton #303 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.
Check my card free