![Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 (Baseball Cards 2016 Topps Archives) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qE0AAeSwqrFqYtWC/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2016 Topps Archives · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 sells for $187 against $125 raw: a $62.01 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($170) 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)
- $125
- Grade 9.5
- $187
- PSA 9
- $170
- Gem premium
- 1.5×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $187 | +$37.01 | +$12.01 | −$87.99 |
| PSA 9 | $170 | +$20.01 | −$4.99 | −$105 |
Net = sale price − $125 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% | $174 | −$0.74 |
| 50% | $179 | +$3.51 |
| 75% | $183 | +$7.76 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 29%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $187 |
| 9 | $170 |
Run your own numbers
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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2016 Topps Archives cards worth checking
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Grading Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 — FAQ
Is Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 sells for $187 against $125 raw: a $62.01 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($170) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Warren Spahn [Operation Desert Shield] #265 breaks even when it gems about 29% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $170).
Is your baseball 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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