Is Tom Brady #1 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2002 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #1 sells for $200 against $19.89 raw: a $180 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.55) 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)
- $19.89
- PSA 10
- $200
- PSA 9
- $51.55
- Gem premium
- 10×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $200 | +$155 | +$130 | +$30.10 |
| PSA 9 | $51.55 | +$6.66 | −$18.34 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $24.50 | −$20.39 | −$45.39 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $19.89 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% | $88.66 | +$18.77 |
| 50% | $126 | +$55.88 |
| 75% | $163 | +$92.99 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. 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 | $203 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $200 | −$2.51 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $99.99 | −$103 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $71.14 | −$131 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $200 | $99.99 | $203 | $71.14 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $101 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $51.55 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $24.50 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $20.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2002 SP Authentic cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
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Grading Tom Brady #1 — FAQ
Is Tom Brady #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #1 sells for $200 against $19.89 raw: a $180 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.55) 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 Tom Brady #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #1 (Football Cards 2002 SP Authentic) sells for about $200 versus $19.89 for a raw near-mint copy — a 10× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tom Brady #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $203, ahead of PSA 10 at $200. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tom Brady #1 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 Tom Brady #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Tom Brady #1 breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.55).
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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