Is Mariano Rivera #89 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Mariano Rivera #89 brings $36.00 versus $1.99 raw — a $34.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.20) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.99
- PSA 10
- $36.00
- PSA 9
- $26.20
- Gem premium
- 18×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $36.00 | +$9.01 | −$15.99 | −$116 |
| PSA 9 | $26.20 | −$0.79 | −$25.79 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $6.60 | −$20.39 | −$45.39 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $1.99 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% | $28.65 | −$23.34 |
| 50% | $31.10 | −$20.89 |
| 75% | $33.55 | −$18.44 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $47.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $36.00 | −$11.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $22.00 | −$25.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $22.00 | −$25.00 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $36.00 | $22.00 | $47.00 | $22.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $33.84 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $26.20 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $6.60 |
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 →![Mariano Rivera [Refractor] #89 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iJMAAeSwOvlod5q4/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Mariano Rivera #89 — FAQ
Is Mariano Rivera #89 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mariano Rivera #89 brings $36.00 versus $1.99 raw — a $34.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.20) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Mariano Rivera #89 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mariano Rivera #89 (Baseball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) sells for about $36.00 versus $1.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 18× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mariano Rivera #89?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $47.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $36.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mariano Rivera #89 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.
Is your baseball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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