Is John Elway #GJ4 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1998 Upper Deck Game Jersey · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 John Elway #GJ4 sells for $211 against $130 raw: a $81.00 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($192) 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)
- $130
- Grade 9.5
- $211
- PSA 9
- $192
- Gem premium
- 1.6×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $211 | +$56.00 | +$31.00 | −$69.00 |
| PSA 9 | $192 | +$37.00 | +$12.00 | −$88.00 |
| PSA 8 | $175 | +$19.62 | −$5.38 | −$105 |
Net = sale price − $130 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% | $197 | +$16.75 |
| 50% | $202 | +$21.50 |
| 75% | $206 | +$26.25 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Upper Deck Game Jersey cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading John Elway #GJ4 — FAQ
Is John Elway #GJ4 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 John Elway #GJ4 sells for $211 against $130 raw: a $81.00 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($192) 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.
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.
