Is Walter Payton #33 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1985 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #33 sells for $1,381 against $4.62 raw: a $1,376 spread, 299× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,151) 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)
- $4.62
- PSA 10
- $1,381
- PSA 9
- $1,151
- Gem premium
- 299×
- 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 | $1,381 | +$1,351 | +$1,326 | +$1,226 |
| PSA 9 | $1,151 | +$1,121 | +$1,096 | +$996 |
| PSA 8 | $114 | +$84.41 | +$59.41 | −$40.59 |
Net = sale price − $4.62 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% | $1,209 | +$1,154 |
| 50% | $1,266 | +$1,211 |
| 75% | $1,324 | +$1,269 |
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 | $1,795 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,381 | −$414 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $829 | −$966 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $829 | −$966 | 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 Walter Payton #33 — FAQ
Is Walter Payton #33 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #33 sells for $1,381 against $4.62 raw: a $1,376 spread, 299× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,151) 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 Walter Payton #33 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Walter Payton #33 (Football Cards 1985 Topps) sells for about $1,381 versus $4.62 for a raw near-mint copy — a 299× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Walter Payton #33?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,795, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,381. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Walter Payton #33 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.
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