Midpoint - Card Centering Tool
Mike Trout [Black] #U-243 (Baseball Cards 2020 Topps Update) — is it worth grading?

Is Mike Trout [Black] #U-243 worth grading?

Baseball · Baseball Cards 2020 Topps Update · full price guide →

Grading rarely pays for this card

Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Trout [Black] #U-243 sell for $39.00, only $18.55 above the $20.45 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($35.75) 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)
$20.45
Grade 9.5
$39.00
PSA 9
$35.75
Gem premium
1.9×
As of
Jul 11, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Mike Trout [Black] #U-243: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…Sells forEconomy / bulk (~$25.00)Standard (~$50.00)Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5$39.00−$6.45−$31.45−$131
PSA 9$35.75−$9.70−$34.70−$135
PSA 8$17.50−$27.95−$52.95−$153

Net = sale price − $20.45 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?

Mike Trout [Black] #U-243: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gemsExpected saleExpected net (standard fee)
25%$36.56−$33.89
50%$37.38−$33.08
75%$38.19−$32.26

At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.

Full grade ladder

Raw conditions & history →
Mike Trout [Black] #U-243 graded prices by company and grade
GradeGraded
9.5$39.00
9$35.75
8$17.50

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.

Other 2020 Topps Update cards worth checking

Full set checklist →
Aaron Judge [Gold] #U-264 2020 Topps Update card
Aaron Judge [Gold] #U-264
Raw $4.91PSA 10 $128
Mike Trout [Gold] #U-243 2020 Topps Update card
Mike Trout [Gold] #U-243
Raw $4.60PSA 10 $60.00
Aaron Judge [SSP] #U-15 2020 Topps Update card
Aaron Judge [SSP] #U-15
Raw $363PSA 10 $1,870
Bo Bichette [SSP] #U-1 2020 Topps Update card
Bo Bichette [SSP] #U-1
Raw $74.99PSA 10 $225
Mike Trout [SSP] #U-4 2020 Topps Update card
Mike Trout [SSP] #U-4
Raw $110PSA 10 $280
Mike Trout [Black] #U-4 2020 Topps Update card
Mike Trout [Black] #U-4
Raw $13.50Graded $99.00

Grading Mike Trout [Black] #U-243 — FAQ

Is Mike Trout [Black] #U-243 worth grading?

Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Trout [Black] #U-243 sell for $39.00, only $18.55 above the $20.45 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($35.75) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.

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.

Check my card free