Is Albert Pujols #596 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Albert Pujols #596 sells for $2,281 against $112 raw: a $2,170 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($408) 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)
- $112
- PSA 10
- $2,281
- PSA 9
- $408
- Gem premium
- 20×
- As of
- Sep 6, 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 | $2,281 | +$2,145 | +$2,120 | +$2,020 |
| PSA 9 | $408 | +$271 | +$246 | +$146 |
| PSA 8 | $139 | +$2.00 | −$23.00 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $112 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% | $876 | +$714 |
| 50% | $1,344 | +$1,183 |
| 75% | $1,813 | +$1,651 |
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 | $2,966 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,281 | −$685 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,369 | −$1,597 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $760 | −$2,206 | 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 2001 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Cal Ripken Jr. [Retrofractor] #1 2001 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/skoAAeSwjT9pa-w8/s-l500.jpg)
![Derek Jeter [Retrofractor] #77 2001 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8poAAeSwGgJqCQKX/s-l500.jpg)
![Mark McGwire [Retrofractor] #38 2001 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/g9MAAeSwSIRpMKjd/s-l500.jpg)
![Albert Pujols [Retrofractor] #596 2001 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2acAAOSwQ6ligqkt/s-l500.jpg)
![Tony Gwynn [Retrofractor] #168 2001 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iiAAAeSw6JZpv9xR/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Albert Pujols #596 — FAQ
Is Albert Pujols #596 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Albert Pujols #596 sells for $2,281 against $112 raw: a $2,170 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($408) 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 Albert Pujols #596 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Albert Pujols #596 (Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome) sells for about $2,281 versus $112 for a raw near-mint copy — a 20× premium as of Sep 6, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Albert Pujols #596?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,966, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,281. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Albert Pujols #596 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.
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.
