Is Jim Palmer #169 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1981 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Jim Palmer #169 brings $39.98 versus $1.66 raw — a $38.32 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.49) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.66
- PSA 10
- $39.98
- PSA 9
- $16.49
- Gem premium
- 24×
- 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 | $39.98 | +$13.32 | −$11.68 | −$112 |
| PSA 9 | $16.49 | −$10.17 | −$35.17 | −$135 |
| PSA 8 | $7.76 | −$18.90 | −$43.90 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $1.66 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% | $22.36 | −$29.30 |
| 50% | $28.23 | −$23.43 |
| 75% | $34.11 | −$17.55 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $52.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $39.98 | −$12.02 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $24.00 | −$28.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $24.00 | −$28.00 | 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 | $39.98 | $24.00 | $52.00 | $24.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $39.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $16.49 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $7.76 |
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 Jim Palmer #169 — FAQ
Is Jim Palmer #169 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Palmer #169 brings $39.98 versus $1.66 raw — a $38.32 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.49) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Jim Palmer #169 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Palmer #169 (Baseball Cards 1981 Fleer) sells for about $39.98 versus $1.66 for a raw near-mint copy — a 24× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Palmer #169?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $52.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $39.98. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Palmer #169 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