Is Derrick Thomas worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1993 Pro Line Live Autographs · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Derrick Thomas sells for $275 against $211 raw: a $64.26 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($250) 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)
- $211
- Grade 9.5
- $275
- PSA 9
- $250
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $275 | +$39.26 | +$14.26 | −$85.74 |
| PSA 9 | $250 | +$14.26 | −$10.74 | −$111 |
Net = sale price − $211 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% | $256 | −$4.49 |
| 50% | $263 | +$1.76 |
| 75% | $269 | +$8.01 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 43%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Grading Derrick Thomas — FAQ
Is Derrick Thomas worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Derrick Thomas sells for $275 against $211 raw: a $64.26 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($250) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Derrick Thomas break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Derrick Thomas breaks even when it gems about 43% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $250).
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