![Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #30 (Football Cards 1994 Topps Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hnsAAeSwk8ZqVauk/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #30 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1994 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #30 sells for $432 against $166 raw: a $266 spread, 2.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($393) 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)
- $166
- Grade 9.5
- $432
- PSA 9
- $393
- Gem premium
- 2.6×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $432 | +$241 | +$216 | +$116 |
| PSA 9 | $393 | +$202 | +$177 | +$77.47 |
| PSA 8 | $183 | −$8.02 | −$33.02 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $166 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 | +$187 |
| 50% | $413 | +$197 |
| 75% | $422 | +$207 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $432 |
| 9 | $393 |
| 8 | $183 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #30 — FAQ
Is Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #30 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #30 sells for $432 against $166 raw: a $266 spread, 2.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($393) 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.
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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