Is Gale Sayers worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1999 Sports Illustrated Autograph Collection · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Gale Sayers sells for $121 against $46.44 raw: a $74.56 spread, 2.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($110) 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)
- $46.44
- Grade 9.5
- $121
- PSA 9
- $110
- Gem premium
- 2.6×
- 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 | $121 | +$49.56 | +$24.56 | −$75.44 |
| PSA 9 | $110 | +$38.56 | +$13.56 | −$86.44 |
| PSA 8 | $99.99 | +$28.55 | +$3.55 | −$96.45 |
Net = sale price − $46.44 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% | $113 | +$16.31 |
| 50% | $116 | +$19.06 |
| 75% | $118 | +$21.81 |
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 1999 Sports Illustrated Autograph Collection cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Gale Sayers — FAQ
Is Gale Sayers worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Gale Sayers sells for $121 against $46.44 raw: a $74.56 spread, 2.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($110) 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.
