Is Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 sells for $147 against $1.52 raw: a $146 spread, 97× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($72.98) 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)
- $1.52
- PSA 10
- $147
- PSA 9
- $72.98
- Gem premium
- 97×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $147 | +$121 | +$95.72 | −$4.28 |
| PSA 9 | $72.98 | +$46.46 | +$21.46 | −$78.54 |
| PSA 8 | $10.51 | −$16.01 | −$41.01 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $1.52 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% | $91.55 | +$40.03 |
| 50% | $110 | +$58.59 |
| 75% | $129 | +$77.16 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $191 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $147 | −$43.76 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $88.00 | −$103 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $88.00 | −$103 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 — FAQ
Is Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 sells for $147 against $1.52 raw: a $146 spread, 97× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($72.98) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 (Baseball Cards 1981 Topps) sells for about $147 versus $1.52 for a raw near-mint copy — a 97× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $191, ahead of PSA 10 at $147. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pirates Future Stars: Vance Law / Tony Pena / Pascual Perez #551 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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