Is Carnell Lake [Refractor] #75 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Carnell Lake [Refractor] #75 sell for $24.00, only $13.95 above the $10.05 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.86) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $10.05
- Grade 9.5
- $24.00
- PSA 9
- $21.86
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $24.00 | −$11.05 | −$36.05 | −$136 |
| PSA 9 | $21.86 | −$13.19 | −$38.19 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $10.05 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% | $22.39 | −$37.66 |
| 50% | $22.93 | −$37.12 |
| 75% | $23.46 | −$36.59 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Topps Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #265 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SFwAAeSwT-tplJaW/s-l500.jpg)
![Brian Dawkins [Refractor w/Coating] #344 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hd8AAeSwO8ZpdjdM/s-l500.jpg)
![Brian Dawkins [Refractor] #344 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OgUAAeSwzEZqL~zM/s-l500.jpg)
![Mike Alstott [Refractor] #335 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/o6sAAeSw8s9pclhu/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Carnell Lake [Refractor] #75 — FAQ
Is Carnell Lake [Refractor] #75 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Carnell Lake [Refractor] #75 sell for $24.00, only $13.95 above the $10.05 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.86) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
