Is Fernando Valenzuela #140 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1981 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Fernando Valenzuela #140 sells for $655 against $4.06 raw: a $651 spread, 161× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($74.99) 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)
- $4.06
- PSA 10
- $655
- PSA 9
- $74.99
- Gem premium
- 161×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $655 | +$626 | +$601 | +$501 |
| PSA 9 | $74.99 | +$45.93 | +$20.93 | −$79.07 |
| PSA 8 | $30.91 | +$1.85 | −$23.15 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $4.06 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% | $220 | +$166 |
| 50% | $365 | +$311 |
| 75% | $510 | +$456 |
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 | $852 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $655 | −$197 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $393 | −$459 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $393 | −$459 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $655 | $393 | $852 | $393 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $140 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $74.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $30.91 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $19.07 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1981 Fleer cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Reggie Jackson [Batting] #79 1981 Fleer card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fLsAAeSwvCNqS-U8/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Fernando Valenzuela #140 — FAQ
Is Fernando Valenzuela #140 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Fernando Valenzuela #140 sells for $655 against $4.06 raw: a $651 spread, 161× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($74.99) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Fernando Valenzuela #140 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Fernando Valenzuela #140 (Baseball Cards 1981 Fleer) sells for about $655 versus $4.06 for a raw near-mint copy — a 161× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Fernando Valenzuela #140?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $852, ahead of PSA 10 at $655. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Fernando Valenzuela #140 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.
Is your baseball 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