Is Mike Trout #1 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2018 Topps on Demand Inspired By 1978 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Mike Trout #1 brings $32.00 versus $5.00 raw — a $27.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($29.37) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $5.00
- Grade 9.5
- $32.00
- PSA 9
- $29.37
- Gem premium
- 6.4×
- 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 | $32.00 | +$2.00 | −$23.00 | −$123 |
| PSA 9 | $29.37 | −$0.63 | −$25.63 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $5.00 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% | $30.03 | −$24.97 |
| 50% | $30.69 | −$24.31 |
| 75% | $31.34 | −$23.66 |
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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Grading Mike Trout #1 — FAQ
Is Mike Trout #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mike Trout #1 brings $32.00 versus $5.00 raw — a $27.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($29.37) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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