Is Fred Smerlas #390 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1986 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Fred Smerlas #390 sells for $298 against $0.99 raw: a $297 spread, 301× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.51) 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)
- $0.99
- PSA 10
- $298
- PSA 9
- $48.51
- Gem premium
- 301×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $298 | +$272 | +$247 | +$147 |
| PSA 9 | $48.51 | +$22.52 | −$2.48 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $5.77 | −$20.22 | −$45.22 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $111 | +$59.86 |
| 50% | $173 | +$122 |
| 75% | $236 | +$185 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $387 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $298 | −$89.15 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $179 | −$208 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $179 | −$208 | 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 Fred Smerlas #390 — FAQ
Is Fred Smerlas #390 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Fred Smerlas #390 sells for $298 against $0.99 raw: a $297 spread, 301× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.51) 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 Fred Smerlas #390 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Fred Smerlas #390 (Football Cards 1986 Topps) sells for about $298 versus $0.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 301× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Fred Smerlas #390?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $387, ahead of PSA 10 at $298. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Fred Smerlas #390 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 Fred Smerlas #390 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Fred Smerlas #390 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $48.51).
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