Is Jim Kelly #12 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Topps · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 48× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Jim Kelly #12 sells for $87.49 against $1.84 raw: a $85.65 spread, 48× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($14.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.84
- PSA 10
- $87.49
- PSA 9
- $14.95
- Gem premium
- 48×
- 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 | $87.49 | +$60.65 | +$35.65 | −$64.35 |
| PSA 9 | $14.95 | −$11.89 | −$36.89 | −$137 |
| PSA 8 | $9.06 | −$17.78 | −$42.78 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $1.84 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% | $33.08 | −$18.76 |
| 50% | $51.22 | −$0.62 |
| 75% | $69.35 | +$17.51 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 51%. 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 | $114 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $87.49 | −$26.51 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $52.00 | −$62.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $52.00 | −$62.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Brett Favre [Minted in Canton] #1 1997 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/g1gAAeSwerBoxCn2/s-l500.jpg)
![Barry Sanders [Minted in Canton] #290 1997 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KG0AAeSwrWBqGJn7/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Jim Kelly #12 — FAQ
Is Jim Kelly #12 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Kelly #12 sells for $87.49 against $1.84 raw: a $85.65 spread, 48× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($14.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Jim Kelly #12 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Kelly #12 (Football Cards 1997 Topps) sells for about $87.49 versus $1.84 for a raw near-mint copy — a 48× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Kelly #12?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $114, ahead of PSA 10 at $87.49. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Kelly #12 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 Jim Kelly #12 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jim Kelly #12 breaks even when it gems about 51% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $14.95).
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.
