Is Derrick Thomas #498 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1989 Pro Set · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 43× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Derrick Thomas #498 sells for $49.99 against $1.15 raw: a $48.84 spread, 43× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($20.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.15
- PSA 10
- $49.99
- PSA 9
- $20.00
- Gem premium
- 43×
- 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 | $49.99 | +$23.84 | −$1.16 | −$101 |
| PSA 9 | $20.00 | −$6.15 | −$31.15 | −$131 |
| PSA 8 | $18.00 | −$8.15 | −$33.15 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $1.15 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% | $27.50 | −$23.65 |
| 50% | $35.00 | −$16.15 |
| 75% | $42.49 | −$8.66 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGC 10 | $69.98 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $65.00 | −$4.98 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $49.99 | −$19.99 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $22.51 | −$47.47 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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 Derrick Thomas #498 — FAQ
Is Derrick Thomas #498 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Derrick Thomas #498 sells for $49.99 against $1.15 raw: a $48.84 spread, 43× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($20.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Derrick Thomas #498 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Derrick Thomas #498 (Football Cards 1989 Pro Set) sells for about $49.99 versus $1.15 for a raw near-mint copy — a 43× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Derrick Thomas #498?
By resale value, SGC 10 leads at $69.98, ahead of BGS 10 at $65.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Derrick Thomas #498 need for a SGC 10?
SGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
