Is John Elway #88 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 John Elway #88 sells for $98.86 against $2.35 raw: a $96.51 spread, 42× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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)
- $2.35
- PSA 10
- $98.86
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 42×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $98.86 | +$71.51 | +$46.51 | −$53.49 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | +$22.64 | −$2.36 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $9.04 | −$18.31 | −$43.31 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $2.35 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% | $62.21 | +$9.86 |
| 50% | $74.42 | +$22.08 |
| 75% | $86.64 | +$34.29 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $129 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $98.86 | −$30.14 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $59.00 | −$70.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $59.00 | −$70.00 | 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.
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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading John Elway #88 — FAQ
Is John Elway #88 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Elway #88 sells for $98.86 against $2.35 raw: a $96.51 spread, 42× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 John Elway #88 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Elway #88 (Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe) sells for about $98.86 versus $2.35 for a raw near-mint copy — a 42× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Elway #88?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $129, ahead of PSA 10 at $98.86. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Elway #88 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.
What gem rate makes grading John Elway #88 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting John Elway #88 breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.99).
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