Is Cortez Kennedy #53 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1995 Playoff Absolute · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Cortez Kennedy #53 brings $31.81 versus $0.09 raw — a $31.72 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.31) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.09
- PSA 10
- $31.81
- PSA 9
- $10.31
- Gem premium
- 353×
- 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 | $31.81 | +$6.72 | −$18.28 | −$118 |
| PSA 9 | $10.31 | −$14.78 | −$39.78 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $5.15 | −$19.94 | −$44.94 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $0.09 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% | $15.68 | −$34.41 |
| 50% | $21.06 | −$29.03 |
| 75% | $26.43 | −$23.66 |
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 | $41.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $31.81 | −$9.19 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $19.00 | −$22.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $19.00 | −$22.00 | 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 | $31.81 | $19.00 | $41.00 | $19.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $20.49 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $10.31 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $5.15 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Cortez Kennedy #53 — FAQ
Is Cortez Kennedy #53 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Cortez Kennedy #53 brings $31.81 versus $0.09 raw — a $31.72 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.31) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Cortez Kennedy #53 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Cortez Kennedy #53 (Football Cards 1995 Playoff Absolute) sells for about $31.81 versus $0.09 for a raw near-mint copy — a 353× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Cortez Kennedy #53?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $41.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $31.81. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Cortez Kennedy #53 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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