Is 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1990 Topps · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 24× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 sells for $43.32 against $1.77 raw: a $41.55 spread, 24× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.77
- PSA 10
- $43.32
- PSA 9
- $18.99
- Gem premium
- 24×
- 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 | $43.32 | +$16.55 | −$8.45 | −$108 |
| PSA 9 | $18.99 | −$7.78 | −$32.78 | −$133 |
| PSA 8 | $12.00 | −$14.77 | −$39.77 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.77 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% | $25.07 | −$26.70 |
| 50% | $31.16 | −$20.61 |
| 75% | $37.24 | −$14.53 |
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 | $56.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $43.32 | −$12.68 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26.00 | −$30.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $26.00 | −$30.00 | 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 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 — FAQ
Is 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 worth grading?
A PSA 10 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 sells for $43.32 against $1.77 raw: a $41.55 spread, 24× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 (Football Cards 1990 Topps) sells for about $43.32 versus $1.77 for a raw near-mint copy — a 24× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $56.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $43.32. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does 1989 Passing Leaders [Disclaimer Back] #229 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.
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