Is Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1991 Pro Set · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 sells for $64.00 against $1.49 raw: a $62.51 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.00) 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)
- $1.49
- PSA 10
- $64.00
- PSA 9
- $53.00
- Gem premium
- 43×
- 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 | $64.00 | +$37.51 | +$12.51 | −$87.49 |
| PSA 9 | $53.00 | +$26.51 | +$1.51 | −$98.49 |
| PSA 8 | $48.00 | +$21.51 | −$3.49 | −$103 |
Net = sale price − $1.49 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% | $55.75 | +$4.26 |
| 50% | $58.50 | +$7.01 |
| 75% | $61.25 | +$9.76 |
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 | $83.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $64.00 | −$19.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $38.00 | −$45.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $38.00 | −$45.00 | 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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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Full set checklist →
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Grading Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 — FAQ
Is Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 sells for $64.00 against $1.49 raw: a $62.51 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.00) 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 Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 (Football Cards 1991 Pro Set) sells for about $64.00 versus $1.49 for a raw near-mint copy — a 43× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $83.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $64.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Thorpe [Pioneer of the Game] #3 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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