Is Ryan Howard [Chrome Black Refractor] #53 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2006 Topps Heritage Chrome · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Ryan Howard [Chrome Black Refractor] #53 sell for $84.00, only $15.03 above the $68.97 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($76.01) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $68.97
- Grade 9.5
- $84.00
- PSA 9
- $76.01
- Gem premium
- 1.2×
- 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 | $84.00 | −$9.97 | −$34.97 | −$135 |
| PSA 9 | $76.01 | −$17.96 | −$42.96 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $68.97 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% | $78.01 | −$40.96 |
| 50% | $80.00 | −$38.97 |
| 75% | $82.00 | −$36.97 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Ryan Howard [Chrome Black Refractor] #53 — FAQ
Is Ryan Howard [Chrome Black Refractor] #53 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Ryan Howard [Chrome Black Refractor] #53 sell for $84.00, only $15.03 above the $68.97 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($76.01) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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