Is Mike Merriweather #173 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1988 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Merriweather #173 sell for $12.00, only $11.01 above the $0.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.04) 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)
- $0.99
- Grade 9.5
- $12.00
- PSA 9
- $11.04
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $12.00 | −$13.99 | −$38.99 | −$139 |
| PSA 9 | $11.04 | −$14.95 | −$39.95 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $11.28 | −$39.71 |
| 50% | $11.52 | −$39.47 |
| 75% | $11.76 | −$39.23 |
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 Mike Merriweather #173 — FAQ
Is Mike Merriweather #173 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Merriweather #173 sell for $12.00, only $11.01 above the $0.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.04) 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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