![Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 (Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~VQAAeSwvSpqD0cb/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 sells for $852 against $31.38 raw: a $821 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($153) 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)
- $31.38
- PSA 10
- $852
- PSA 9
- $153
- Gem premium
- 27×
- 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 | $852 | +$796 | +$771 | +$671 |
| PSA 9 | $153 | +$96.27 | +$71.27 | −$28.73 |
| PSA 8 | $74.60 | +$18.22 | −$6.78 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $31.38 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% | $327 | +$246 |
| 50% | $502 | +$421 |
| 75% | $677 | +$596 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $1,107 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $852 | −$255 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $511 | −$596 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $511 | −$596 | 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 Upper Deck Legends cards worth checking
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![Marion Motley [Autograph] #AL-53 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sUgAAeSwmOBqiggN/s-l500.jpg)
![Otto Graham [Autograph] #AL-34 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SP0AAeSwBJhqnsqK/s-l500.jpg)
![Ken Stabler [Autograph] #AL-166 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YsoAAeSwINxqVWD-/s-l500.jpg)
![Johnny Unitas [Autograph] #AL-9 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/q8YAAeSw6I1ogDkD/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 — FAQ
Is Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 sells for $852 against $31.38 raw: a $821 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($153) 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 Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 (Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends) sells for about $852 versus $31.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,107, ahead of PSA 10 at $852. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Deacon Jones [Autograph] #AL-42 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.
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