![Albert Pujols [Retrofractor] #596 (Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hh4AAeSwI2NqRadd/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Albert Pujols [Retrofractor] #596 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Albert Pujols [Retrofractor] #596 sells for $44,000 against $3,662 raw: a $40,338 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40,000) 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)
- $3,662
- Grade 9.5
- $44,000
- PSA 9
- $40,000
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $44,000 | +$40,313 | +$40,288 | +$40,188 |
| PSA 9 | $40,000 | +$36,313 | +$36,288 | +$36,188 |
| PSA 8 | $4,873 | +$1,185 | +$1,160 | +$1,060 |
Net = sale price − $3,662 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% | $41,000 | +$37,288 |
| 50% | $42,000 | +$38,288 |
| 75% | $43,000 | +$39,288 |
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 | $44,000 |
| 9 | $40,000 |
| 8 | $4,873 |
| 7 | $4,000 |
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 Albert Pujols [Retrofractor] #596 — FAQ
Is Albert Pujols [Retrofractor] #596 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Albert Pujols [Retrofractor] #596 sells for $44,000 against $3,662 raw: a $40,338 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40,000) 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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