![Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 (Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/X~0AAOSwuVFnfYYa/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 sells for $200 against $135 raw: a $65.50 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($166) 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)
- $135
- PSA 10
- $200
- PSA 9
- $166
- Gem premium
- 1.5×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $200 | +$40.50 | +$15.50 | −$84.50 |
| PSA 9 | $166 | +$6.94 | −$18.06 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $100 | −$59.50 | −$84.50 | −$185 |
Net = sale price − $135 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% | $175 | −$9.67 |
| 50% | $183 | −$1.28 |
| 75% | $192 | +$7.11 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 54%. 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 | $260 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $200 | −$60.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $120 | −$140 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $120 | −$140 | 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
Full set checklist →![Mike Webster [Autograph] #AL-176 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OcQAAOSwUGRnwNu4/s-l500.jpg)
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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 Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 — FAQ
Is Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 sells for $200 against $135 raw: a $65.50 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($166) 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 Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 (Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends) sells for about $200 versus $135 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.5× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $260, ahead of PSA 10 at $200. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 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 Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Bubba Smith [Autograph] #AL-165 breaks even when it gems about 54% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $166).
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