Is James Lofton #15 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1986 Topps 1000 Yard Club · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 James Lofton #15 sells for $93.00 against $1.19 raw: a $91.81 spread, 78× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.14) 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)
- $1.19
- PSA 10
- $93.00
- PSA 9
- $27.14
- Gem premium
- 78×
- 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 | $93.00 | +$66.81 | +$41.81 | −$58.19 |
| PSA 9 | $27.14 | +$0.95 | −$24.05 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $19.00 | −$7.19 | −$32.19 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $1.19 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% | $43.61 | −$7.58 |
| 50% | $60.07 | +$8.88 |
| 75% | $76.53 | +$25.34 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 37%. 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 | $121 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $93.00 | −$28.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $56.00 | −$65.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $56.00 | −$65.00 | 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.
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Grading James Lofton #15 — FAQ
Is James Lofton #15 worth grading?
A PSA 10 James Lofton #15 sells for $93.00 against $1.19 raw: a $91.81 spread, 78× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.14) 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 James Lofton #15 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 James Lofton #15 (Football Cards 1986 Topps 1000 Yard Club) sells for about $93.00 versus $1.19 for a raw near-mint copy — a 78× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for James Lofton #15?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $121, ahead of PSA 10 at $93.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does James Lofton #15 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 James Lofton #15 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting James Lofton #15 breaks even when it gems about 37% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $27.14).
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