![Alex Rodriguez [Retrofractor] #153 (Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qewAAeSwe8hn~GDk/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Alex Rodriguez [Retrofractor] #153 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Alex Rodriguez [Retrofractor] #153 sells for $136 against $36.84 raw: a $99.16 spread, 3.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($123) 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)
- $36.84
- Grade 9.5
- $136
- PSA 9
- $123
- Gem premium
- 3.7×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $136 | +$74.16 | +$49.16 | −$50.84 |
| PSA 9 | $123 | +$61.62 | +$36.62 | −$63.38 |
| PSA 8 | $95.35 | +$33.51 | +$8.51 | −$91.49 |
Net = sale price − $36.84 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% | $127 | +$39.75 |
| 50% | $130 | +$42.89 |
| 75% | $133 | +$46.03 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $136 |
| 9 | $123 |
| 8 | $95.35 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Alex Rodriguez [Retrofractor] #153 — FAQ
Is Alex Rodriguez [Retrofractor] #153 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Alex Rodriguez [Retrofractor] #153 sells for $136 against $36.84 raw: a $99.16 spread, 3.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($123) 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.
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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