Is Matt Cain #48 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2012 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Matt Cain #48 brings $28.00 versus $1.03 raw — a $26.97 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.03
- Grade 9.5
- $28.00
- PSA 9
- $25.00
- Gem premium
- 27×
- 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 | $28.00 | +$1.97 | −$23.03 | −$123 |
| PSA 9 | $25.00 | −$1.03 | −$26.03 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $1.03 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% | $25.75 | −$25.28 |
| 50% | $26.50 | −$24.53 |
| 75% | $27.25 | −$23.78 |
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 Matt Cain #48 — FAQ
Is Matt Cain #48 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Matt Cain #48 brings $28.00 versus $1.03 raw — a $26.97 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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