Is Joe Montana #88 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1994 SP · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #88 brings $29.44 versus $1.79 raw — a $27.65 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($8.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.79
- PSA 10
- $29.44
- PSA 9
- $8.00
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 | $29.44 | +$2.65 | −$22.35 | −$122 |
| PSA 9 | $8.00 | −$18.79 | −$43.79 | −$144 |
| PSA 8 | $6.96 | −$19.83 | −$44.83 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $1.79 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% | $13.36 | −$38.43 |
| 50% | $18.72 | −$33.07 |
| 75% | $24.08 | −$27.71 |
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 | $38.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $29.44 | −$8.56 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $18.00 | −$20.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18.00 | −$20.00 | 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 | $29.44 | $18.00 | $38.00 | $18.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $29.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $8.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $6.96 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1994 SP cards worth checking
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Grading Joe Montana #88 — FAQ
Is Joe Montana #88 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #88 brings $29.44 versus $1.79 raw — a $27.65 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($8.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Joe Montana #88 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #88 (Football Cards 1994 SP) sells for about $29.44 versus $1.79 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Joe Montana #88?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $38.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $29.44. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Joe Montana #88 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.
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