Is John Stallworth #288 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1987 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 John Stallworth #288 brings $36.79 versus $1.22 raw — a $35.57 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.06) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.22
- PSA 10
- $36.79
- PSA 9
- $22.06
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 | $36.79 | +$10.57 | −$14.43 | −$114 |
| PSA 9 | $22.06 | −$4.16 | −$29.16 | −$129 |
| PSA 8 | $12.49 | −$13.73 | −$38.73 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $1.22 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% | $25.74 | −$25.48 |
| 50% | $29.42 | −$21.80 |
| 75% | $33.11 | −$18.11 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $48.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $36.79 | −$11.21 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $22.00 | −$26.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $22.00 | −$26.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $36.79 | $22.00 | $48.00 | $22.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $34.52 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $22.06 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $12.49 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $9.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1987 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading John Stallworth #288 — FAQ
Is John Stallworth #288 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Stallworth #288 brings $36.79 versus $1.22 raw — a $35.57 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.06) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 John Stallworth #288 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Stallworth #288 (Football Cards 1987 Topps) sells for about $36.79 versus $1.22 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Stallworth #288?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $48.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $36.79. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Stallworth #288 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