![Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 (Baseball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9i4AAeSwFd5p~Ppl/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 brings $2,025 versus $1,577 raw — a $448 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($1000) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $1,577
- PSA 10
- $2,025
- PSA 9
- $1000
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $2,025 | +$423 | +$398 | +$298 |
| PSA 9 | $1000 | −$602 | −$627 | −$727 |
Net = sale price − $1,577 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% | $1,256 | −$370 |
| 50% | $1,513 | −$114 |
| 75% | $1,769 | +$142 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 61%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $2,633 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,025 | −$608 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,215 | −$1,418 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,215 | −$1,418 | 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 2009 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Nolan Reimold [Autograph Refractor] #231 2009 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Gv8AAeSwbk5owON0/s-l500.jpg)
![Barack Obama [Red Refractor] #44 2009 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/208AAOSwwN5mB4q3/s-l500.jpg)
![Barack Obama [Blue Refractor] #44 2009 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9i4AAeSwFd5p~Ppl/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 — FAQ
Is Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 brings $2,025 versus $1,577 raw — a $448 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($1000) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 (Baseball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome) sells for about $2,025 versus $1,577 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.3× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Barack Obama [Refractor] #44?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,633, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,025. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 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.
What gem rate makes grading Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Barack Obama [Refractor] #44 breaks even when it gems about 61% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $1000).
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.
