![Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 (Baseball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ansAAeSwb6JqG7B1/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 sells for $685 against $25.19 raw: a $660 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($139) 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)
- $25.19
- PSA 10
- $685
- PSA 9
- $139
- 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 — PSA 10 | $685 | +$635 | +$610 | +$510 |
| PSA 9 | $139 | +$89.07 | +$64.07 | −$35.93 |
| PSA 8 | $35.00 | −$15.19 | −$40.19 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $25.19 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% | $276 | +$201 |
| 50% | $412 | +$337 |
| 75% | $549 | +$474 |
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 | $891 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $685 | −$206 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $411 | −$480 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $411 | −$480 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Cal Ripken Jr. [Refractor] #140 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bPsAAOSwo5NnYI5I/s-l500.jpg)
![Manny Ramirez [Refractor] #106 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/RTEAAeSwAFFqD82w/s-l500.jpg)
![Greg Maddux [Refractor] #49 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FekAAeSwroZqRq64/s-l500.jpg)
![Chipper Jones [Refractor] #97 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/F-MAAeSwM75o4~Ty/s-l500.jpg)
![Frank Thomas [Refractor] #41 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0kwAAeSwhPFqBigW/s-l500.jpg)
![Derek Jeter [Refractor] #7 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QRAAAeSwCkVqUtGs/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 — FAQ
Is Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 sells for $685 against $25.19 raw: a $660 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($139) 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 Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 (Baseball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) sells for about $685 versus $25.19 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $891, ahead of PSA 10 at $685. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mike Piazza [Refractor] #9 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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