Is Steve Atwater [Refractor] #98 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Steve Atwater [Refractor] #98 sells for $55.00 against $15.00 raw: a $40.00 spread, 3.7× 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)
- $15.00
- Grade 9.5
- $55.00
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 3.7×
- 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 | $55.00 | +$15.00 | −$10.00 | −$110 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | +$9.99 | −$15.01 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $15.00 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% | $51.24 | −$13.76 |
| 50% | $52.50 | −$12.50 |
| 75% | $53.75 | −$11.25 |
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 Steve Atwater [Refractor] #98 — FAQ
Is Steve Atwater [Refractor] #98 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Steve Atwater [Refractor] #98 sells for $55.00 against $15.00 raw: a $40.00 spread, 3.7× 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.
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