Is Michael Ballack #53 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2002 Panini World Cup Korea Japan · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Ballack #53 sells for $37.00 against $4.84 raw: a $32.16 spread, 7.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.33) 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)
- $4.84
- Grade 9.5
- $37.00
- PSA 9
- $33.33
- Gem premium
- 7.6×
- 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 | $37.00 | +$7.16 | −$17.84 | −$118 |
| PSA 9 | $33.33 | +$3.49 | −$21.51 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $21.93 | −$7.91 | −$32.91 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $4.84 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% | $34.25 | −$20.59 |
| 50% | $35.16 | −$19.68 |
| 75% | $36.08 | −$18.76 |
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 Michael Ballack #53 — FAQ
Is Michael Ballack #53 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Ballack #53 sells for $37.00 against $4.84 raw: a $32.16 spread, 7.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.33) 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.
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