![Zach Thomas [Refractor] #135 (Football Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~b0AAeSwunVqPDXY/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Zach Thomas [Refractor] #135 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Zach Thomas [Refractor] #135 sells for $51.00 against $16.99 raw: a $34.01 spread, 3.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.28) 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)
- $16.99
- Grade 9.5
- $51.00
- PSA 9
- $46.28
- Gem premium
- 3.0×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $51.00 | +$9.01 | −$15.99 | −$116 |
| PSA 9 | $46.28 | +$4.29 | −$20.71 | −$121 |
Net = sale price − $16.99 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% | $47.46 | −$19.53 |
| 50% | $48.64 | −$18.35 |
| 75% | $49.82 | −$17.17 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $51.00 |
| 9 | $46.28 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Drew Bledsoe [Refractor] #32 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IFQAAeSw4h1pu~8-/s-l500.jpg)
![Steve Young [Refractor] #45 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fvkAAOSwTwtmiLzJ/s-l500.jpg)
![Brett Favre [Refractor] #1 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tJIAAeSwmvtqA-rg/s-l500.jpg)
![Orlando Pace [Refractor] #153 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IS8AAeSw24tp11vW/s-l500.jpg)
![Warrick Dunn [Refractor] #68 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-dgAAeSwtqBqRr1C/s-l500.jpg)
![Dan Marino [Refractor] #129 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UT8AAeSwtplpn8FB/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Zach Thomas [Refractor] #135 — FAQ
Is Zach Thomas [Refractor] #135 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Zach Thomas [Refractor] #135 sells for $51.00 against $16.99 raw: a $34.01 spread, 3.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.28) 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.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free