![Ray Lewis [Refractor] #164 (Football Cards 1996 Bowman's Best) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/oU0AAeSwrMVpUe8p/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Ray Lewis [Refractor] #164 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Bowman's Best · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Ray Lewis [Refractor] #164 sells for $1,256 against $450 raw: a $806 spread, 2.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,142) 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)
- $450
- Grade 9.5
- $1,256
- PSA 9
- $1,142
- Gem premium
- 2.8×
- 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 | $1,256 | +$781 | +$756 | +$656 |
| PSA 9 | $1,142 | +$667 | +$642 | +$542 |
| PSA 8 | $750 | +$275 | +$250 | +$150 |
Net = sale price − $450 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% | $1,171 | +$671 |
| 50% | $1,199 | +$699 |
| 75% | $1,228 | +$728 |
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 | $1,256 |
| 9 | $1,142 |
| 8 | $750 |
| 7 | $451 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Bowman's Best cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Eddie George [Refractor] #170 1996 Bowman's Best card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IgcAAeSwg0pouTQ7/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Ray Lewis [Refractor] #164 — FAQ
Is Ray Lewis [Refractor] #164 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Ray Lewis [Refractor] #164 sells for $1,256 against $450 raw: a $806 spread, 2.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,142) 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.
Check my card free