Is Emmitt Smith #34 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1990 Action Packed Rookie Update · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith #34 sells for $1,479 against $5.99 raw: a $1,473 spread, 247× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($43.95) 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)
- $5.99
- PSA 10
- $1,479
- PSA 9
- $43.95
- Gem premium
- 247×
- 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 | $1,479 | +$1,448 | +$1,423 | +$1,323 |
| PSA 9 | $43.95 | +$12.96 | −$12.04 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $17.95 | −$13.04 | −$38.04 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $5.99 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% | $403 | +$347 |
| 50% | $761 | +$705 |
| 75% | $1,120 | +$1,064 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $1,922 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,479 | −$444 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $887 | −$1,035 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $250 | −$1,672 | 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 Emmitt Smith #34 — FAQ
Is Emmitt Smith #34 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith #34 sells for $1,479 against $5.99 raw: a $1,473 spread, 247× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($43.95) 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 Emmitt Smith #34 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith #34 (Football Cards 1990 Action Packed Rookie Update) sells for about $1,479 versus $5.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 247× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Emmitt Smith #34?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,922, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,479. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Emmitt Smith #34 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 Emmitt Smith #34 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Emmitt Smith #34 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $43.95).
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