Is Alek Thomas #87BA-AT worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2022 Topps Update 1987 Autographs · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Alek Thomas #87BA-AT sell for $19.00, only $4.31 above the $14.69 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.53) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $14.69
- Grade 9.5
- $19.00
- PSA 9
- $17.53
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- 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 | $19.00 | −$20.69 | −$45.69 | −$146 |
| PSA 9 | $17.53 | −$22.16 | −$47.16 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $14.69 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% | $17.90 | −$46.79 |
| 50% | $18.27 | −$46.42 |
| 75% | $18.63 | −$46.06 |
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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Other 2022 Topps Update 1987 Autographs cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Bobby Witt Jr. [Black] #87BA-BW 2022 Topps Update 1987 Autographs card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BVEAAeSwM9xp1BUB/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Alek Thomas #87BA-AT — FAQ
Is Alek Thomas #87BA-AT worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Alek Thomas #87BA-AT sell for $19.00, only $4.31 above the $14.69 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.53) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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