Is George Foster #170 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1985 Topps Mini · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of George Foster #170 sell for $102, only $0.00 above the $249 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($92.56) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $249
- Grade 9.5
- $102
- PSA 9
- $92.56
- Gem premium
- 0.4×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $102 | −$172 | −$197 | −$297 |
| PSA 9 | $92.56 | −$181 | −$206 | −$306 |
Net = sale price − $249 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% | $94.92 | −$204 |
| 50% | $97.28 | −$202 |
| 75% | $99.64 | −$199 |
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 →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1985 Topps Mini cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading George Foster #170 — FAQ
Is George Foster #170 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of George Foster #170 sell for $102, only $0.00 above the $249 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($92.56) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
