Is Freddie Gilbert #81 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1985 Topps USFL · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Freddie Gilbert #81 sells for $91.02 against $0.85 raw: a $90.17 spread, 107× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.00) 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)
- $0.85
- PSA 10
- $91.02
- PSA 9
- $26.00
- Gem premium
- 107×
- 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 | $91.02 | +$65.17 | +$40.17 | −$59.83 |
| PSA 9 | $26.00 | +$0.15 | −$24.85 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $24.00 | −$1.85 | −$26.85 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $0.85 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% | $42.25 | −$8.60 |
| 50% | $58.51 | +$7.66 |
| 75% | $74.77 | +$23.92 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 38%. 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 | $118 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $91.02 | −$26.98 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $55.00 | −$63.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $55.00 | −$63.00 | 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 Freddie Gilbert #81 — FAQ
Is Freddie Gilbert #81 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Freddie Gilbert #81 sells for $91.02 against $0.85 raw: a $90.17 spread, 107× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.00) 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 Freddie Gilbert #81 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Freddie Gilbert #81 (Football Cards 1985 Topps USFL) sells for about $91.02 versus $0.85 for a raw near-mint copy — a 107× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Freddie Gilbert #81?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $118, ahead of PSA 10 at $91.02. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Freddie Gilbert #81 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 Freddie Gilbert #81 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Freddie Gilbert #81 breaks even when it gems about 38% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $26.00).
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