Is John Smoltz [Platinum Edition] #136 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1996 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 John Smoltz [Platinum Edition] #136 sells for $38.00 against $1.40 raw: a $36.60 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.99) 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)
- $1.40
- Grade 9.5
- $38.00
- PSA 9
- $34.99
- Gem premium
- 27×
- 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 | $38.00 | +$11.60 | −$13.40 | −$113 |
| PSA 9 | $34.99 | +$8.59 | −$16.41 | −$116 |
Net = sale price − $1.40 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% | $35.74 | −$15.66 |
| 50% | $36.50 | −$14.90 |
| 75% | $37.25 | −$14.15 |
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 John Smoltz [Platinum Edition] #136 — FAQ
Is John Smoltz [Platinum Edition] #136 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 John Smoltz [Platinum Edition] #136 sells for $38.00 against $1.40 raw: a $36.60 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.99) 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.
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