Is John Castino #29 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1981 Drake's · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of John Castino #29 sell for $20.21, only $20.20 above the $0.01 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.12) 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)
- $0.01
- Grade 9.5
- $20.21
- PSA 9
- $10.12
- Gem premium
- 2021×
- 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 | $20.21 | −$4.80 | −$29.80 | −$130 |
| PSA 9 | $10.12 | −$14.89 | −$39.89 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $5.05 | −$19.96 | −$44.96 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $0.01 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% | $12.64 | −$37.37 |
| 50% | $15.16 | −$34.84 |
| 75% | $17.69 | −$32.32 |
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 →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1981 Drake's cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading John Castino #29 — FAQ
Is John Castino #29 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of John Castino #29 sell for $20.21, only $20.20 above the $0.01 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.12) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
