Is Adrian Beltre [Pattern 16] #18A worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1999 Topps Tek Gold · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Adrian Beltre [Pattern 16] #18A sells for $110 against $26.59 raw: a $83.41 spread, 4.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($99.99) 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)
- $26.59
- Grade 9.5
- $110
- PSA 9
- $99.99
- Gem premium
- 4.1×
- 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 | $110 | +$58.41 | +$33.41 | −$66.59 |
| PSA 9 | $99.99 | +$48.40 | +$23.40 | −$76.60 |
| PSA 8 | $42.00 | −$9.59 | −$34.59 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $26.59 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% | $102 | +$25.90 |
| 50% | $105 | +$28.41 |
| 75% | $107 | +$30.91 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1999 Topps Tek Gold cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Chipper Jones [Pattern 10] #16A 1999 Topps Tek Gold card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iSEAAOSwLwBaVi7X/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Adrian Beltre [Pattern 16] #18A — FAQ
Is Adrian Beltre [Pattern 16] #18A worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Adrian Beltre [Pattern 16] #18A sells for $110 against $26.59 raw: a $83.41 spread, 4.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($99.99) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
