Is Chris Spielman [Embossed Refractor] #154 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Chris Spielman [Embossed Refractor] #154 sells for $69.00 against $19.26 raw: a $49.74 spread, 3.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($63.00) 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)
- $19.26
- Grade 9.5
- $69.00
- PSA 9
- $63.00
- Gem premium
- 3.6×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $69.00 | +$24.74 | −$0.26 | −$100 |
| PSA 9 | $63.00 | +$18.74 | −$6.26 | −$106 |
Net = sale price − $19.26 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% | $64.50 | −$4.76 |
| 50% | $66.00 | −$3.26 |
| 75% | $67.50 | −$1.76 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Chris Spielman [Embossed Refractor] #154 — FAQ
Is Chris Spielman [Embossed Refractor] #154 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Chris Spielman [Embossed Refractor] #154 sells for $69.00 against $19.26 raw: a $49.74 spread, 3.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($63.00) 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.
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