Is Fred Smerlas #27 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1989 Pro Set · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Fred Smerlas #27 sell for $12.00, only $10.56 above the $1.44 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.98) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.44
- Grade 9.5
- $12.00
- PSA 9
- $10.98
- Gem premium
- 8.3×
- 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 | $12.00 | −$14.44 | −$39.44 | −$139 |
| PSA 9 | $10.98 | −$15.46 | −$40.46 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $10.88 | −$15.56 | −$40.56 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $1.44 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% | $11.23 | −$40.20 |
| 50% | $11.49 | −$39.95 |
| 75% | $11.75 | −$39.70 |
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?
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Other 1989 Pro Set cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Stacey Toran [Banner] #193 1989 Pro Set card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4UkAAeSwkxNqFH7q/s-l500.jpg)
![John Elway [Error] #100 1989 Pro Set card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0VAAAeSwPL5qCnp8/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Fred Smerlas #27 — FAQ
Is Fred Smerlas #27 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Fred Smerlas #27 sell for $12.00, only $10.56 above the $1.44 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.98) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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