Is Walter Jones #185 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Walter Jones #185 sells for $88.87 against $2.02 raw: a $86.85 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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)
- $2.02
- PSA 10
- $88.87
- PSA 9
- $45.00
- Gem premium
- 44×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $88.87 | +$61.85 | +$36.85 | −$63.15 |
| PSA 9 | $45.00 | +$17.98 | −$7.02 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $9.98 | −$17.04 | −$42.04 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $2.02 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% | $55.97 | +$3.95 |
| 50% | $66.94 | +$14.92 |
| 75% | $77.90 | +$25.88 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 16%. 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 | $116 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $88.87 | −$27.13 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $53.00 | −$63.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $53.00 | −$63.00 | 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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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Walter Jones #185 — FAQ
Is Walter Jones #185 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Walter Jones #185 sells for $88.87 against $2.02 raw: a $86.85 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Walter Jones #185 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Walter Jones #185 (Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe) sells for about $88.87 versus $2.02 for a raw near-mint copy — a 44× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Walter Jones #185?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $116, ahead of PSA 10 at $88.87. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Walter Jones #185 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 Walter Jones #185 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Walter Jones #185 breaks even when it gems about 16% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.00).
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