Is Vann McElroy #225 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1987 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Vann McElroy #225 sell for $15.00, only $14.14 above the $0.86 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($13.75) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.86
- Grade 9.5
- $15.00
- PSA 9
- $13.75
- Gem premium
- 17×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $15.00 | −$10.86 | −$35.86 | −$136 |
| PSA 9 | $13.75 | −$12.11 | −$37.11 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $0.86 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% | $14.06 | −$36.80 |
| 50% | $14.38 | −$36.48 |
| 75% | $14.69 | −$36.17 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Vann McElroy #225 — FAQ
Is Vann McElroy #225 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Vann McElroy #225 sell for $15.00, only $14.14 above the $0.86 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($13.75) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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