Is Joe Theismann #190 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1985 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Joe Theismann #190 sells for $220 against $1.92 raw: a $218 spread, 115× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.99) 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)
- $1.92
- PSA 10
- $220
- PSA 9
- $34.99
- Gem premium
- 115×
- 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 | $220 | +$193 | +$168 | +$68.08 |
| PSA 9 | $34.99 | +$8.07 | −$16.93 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $11.46 | −$15.46 | −$40.46 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.92 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% | $81.24 | +$29.32 |
| 50% | $127 | +$75.58 |
| 75% | $174 | +$122 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 9%. 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 | $286 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $220 | −$66.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $132 | −$154 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $132 | −$154 | 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 | $220 | $132 | $286 | $132 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $49.99 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $34.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $11.46 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $4.39 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Joe Theismann #190 — FAQ
Is Joe Theismann #190 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Joe Theismann #190 sells for $220 against $1.92 raw: a $218 spread, 115× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.99) 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 Joe Theismann #190 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Joe Theismann #190 (Football Cards 1985 Topps) sells for about $220 versus $1.92 for a raw near-mint copy — a 115× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Joe Theismann #190?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $286, ahead of PSA 10 at $220. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Joe Theismann #190 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 Joe Theismann #190 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Joe Theismann #190 breaks even when it gems about 9% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $34.99).
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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