Is Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2022 Topps Update · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 brings $418 versus $345 raw — a $72.90 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($51.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $345
- PSA 10
- $418
- PSA 9
- $51.00
- Gem premium
- 1.2×
- 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 | $418 | +$47.90 | +$22.90 | −$77.10 |
| PSA 9 | $51.00 | −$319 | −$344 | −$444 |
Net = sale price − $345 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% | $143 | −$253 |
| 50% | $235 | −$161 |
| 75% | $327 | −$68.94 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 94%. 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 | $544 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $418 | −$126 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $251 | −$293 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $251 | −$293 | 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 2022 Topps Update cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Julio Rodriguez [Black] #US97 2022 Topps Update card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5t4AAeSwU69plnFD/s-l500.jpg)
![Bobby Witt Jr. [SP Variation] #US100 2022 Topps Update card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/yZAAAeSwl85qUm8z/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 — FAQ
Is Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 brings $418 versus $345 raw — a $72.90 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($51.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 (Baseball Cards 2022 Topps Update) sells for about $418 versus $345 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.2× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $544, ahead of PSA 10 at $418. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 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 Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jeremy Pena [Black] #US253 breaks even when it gems about 94% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.00).
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.