Is Lionel James #310 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1989 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Lionel James #310 sell for $20.00, only $18.67 above the $1.33 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.95) 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)
- $1.33
- Grade 9.5
- $20.00
- PSA 9
- $17.95
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $20.00 | −$6.33 | −$31.33 | −$131 |
| PSA 9 | $17.95 | −$8.38 | −$33.38 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $1.33 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% | $18.46 | −$32.87 |
| 50% | $18.98 | −$32.35 |
| 75% | $19.49 | −$31.84 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Lionel James #310 — FAQ
Is Lionel James #310 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Lionel James #310 sell for $20.00, only $18.67 above the $1.33 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.95) 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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