![Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 (Baseball Cards 2011 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Y0IAAOSwa3VdXrEV/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2011 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 brings $42.72 versus $3.39 raw — a $39.33 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.46) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.39
- PSA 10
- $42.72
- PSA 9
- $14.46
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $42.72 | +$14.33 | −$10.67 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $14.46 | −$13.93 | −$38.93 | −$139 |
| PSA 8 | $8.17 | −$20.22 | −$45.22 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $3.39 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% | $21.52 | −$31.87 |
| 50% | $28.59 | −$24.80 |
| 75% | $35.66 | −$17.73 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $56.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $42.72 | −$13.28 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26.00 | −$30.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $26.00 | −$30.00 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $42.72 | $26.00 | $56.00 | $26.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $25.81 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $14.46 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.17 |
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 Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 — FAQ
Is Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 brings $42.72 versus $3.39 raw — a $39.33 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.46) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 (Baseball Cards 2011 Topps Chrome) sells for about $42.72 versus $3.39 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $56.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $42.72. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jon Lester [Purple Refractor] #55 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.
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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