Is John Elway #30 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1998 Topps Chrome Season's Best · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 John Elway #30 brings $39.17 versus $2.25 raw — a $36.92 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.73) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.25
- PSA 10
- $39.17
- PSA 9
- $15.73
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 | $39.17 | +$11.92 | −$13.08 | −$113 |
| PSA 9 | $15.73 | −$11.52 | −$36.52 | −$137 |
| PSA 8 | $9.99 | −$17.26 | −$42.26 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $21.59 | −$30.66 |
| 50% | $27.45 | −$24.80 |
| 75% | $33.31 | −$18.94 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $51.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $39.17 | −$11.83 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $24.00 | −$27.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $24.00 | −$27.00 | 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.
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 1998 Topps Chrome Season's Best cards worth checking
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![Steve Young [Refractor] #9 1998 Topps Chrome Season's Best card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~wcAAeSwGNdquuHm/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading John Elway #30 — FAQ
Is John Elway #30 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Elway #30 brings $39.17 versus $2.25 raw — a $36.92 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.73) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 John Elway #30 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Elway #30 (Football Cards 1998 Topps Chrome Season's Best) sells for about $39.17 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Elway #30?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $51.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $39.17. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Elway #30 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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