Is Pedro Martinez [Artist's Proof] #29 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1996 Pinnacle Starburst · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Pedro Martinez [Artist's Proof] #29 sells for $138 against $11.16 raw: a $127 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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)
- $11.16
- Grade 9.5
- $138
- PSA 9
- $125
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $138 | +$102 | +$76.84 | −$23.16 |
| PSA 9 | $125 | +$88.84 | +$63.84 | −$36.16 |
| PSA 8 | $15.50 | −$20.66 | −$45.66 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $11.16 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% | $128 | +$67.09 |
| 50% | $132 | +$70.34 |
| 75% | $135 | +$73.59 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Pedro Martinez [Artist's Proof] #29 — FAQ
Is Pedro Martinez [Artist's Proof] #29 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Pedro Martinez [Artist's Proof] #29 sells for $138 against $11.16 raw: a $127 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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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