Is Erasmus James [Refractor] #228 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2005 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Erasmus James [Refractor] #228 sell for $2.00, only $0.51 above the $1.49 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($1.80) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.49
- Grade 9.5
- $2.00
- PSA 9
- $1.80
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- 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 | $2.00 | −$24.49 | −$49.49 | −$149 |
| PSA 9 | $1.80 | −$24.69 | −$49.69 | −$150 |
Net = sale price − $1.49 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% | $1.85 | −$49.64 |
| 50% | $1.90 | −$49.59 |
| 75% | $1.95 | −$49.54 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Should I pay this?
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Grading Erasmus James [Refractor] #228 — FAQ
Is Erasmus James [Refractor] #228 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Erasmus James [Refractor] #228 sell for $2.00, only $0.51 above the $1.49 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($1.80) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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