Is Barry Sanders #3SS worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1998 Fleer Brilliants Shining Stars · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Barry Sanders #3SS sells for $145 against $4.89 raw: a $140 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.32) 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)
- $4.89
- PSA 10
- $145
- PSA 9
- $30.32
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 | $145 | +$115 | +$90.38 | −$9.62 |
| PSA 9 | $30.32 | +$0.43 | −$24.57 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $15.09 | −$14.80 | −$39.80 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $4.89 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% | $59.06 | +$4.17 |
| 50% | $87.80 | +$32.91 |
| 75% | $117 | +$61.64 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 21%. 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 | $189 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $145 | −$43.73 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $87.00 | −$102 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $87.00 | −$102 | 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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Other 1998 Fleer Brilliants Shining Stars cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Barry Sanders #3SS — FAQ
Is Barry Sanders #3SS worth grading?
A PSA 10 Barry Sanders #3SS sells for $145 against $4.89 raw: a $140 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.32) 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 Barry Sanders #3SS worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Barry Sanders #3SS (Football Cards 1998 Fleer Brilliants Shining Stars) sells for about $145 versus $4.89 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Barry Sanders #3SS?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $189, ahead of PSA 10 at $145. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Barry Sanders #3SS 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 Barry Sanders #3SS break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Barry Sanders #3SS breaks even when it gems about 21% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.32).
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