![Julio Rodriguez [Black] #SMLB-87 (Baseball Cards 2022 Topps Update Stars of MLB) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KQ4AAeSwWl5qRv-7/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Julio Rodriguez [Black] #SMLB-87 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2022 Topps Update Stars of MLB · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Julio Rodriguez [Black] #SMLB-87 sells for $472 against $135 raw: a $338 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($429) 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)
- $135
- Grade 9.5
- $472
- PSA 9
- $429
- Gem premium
- 3.5×
- 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 | $472 | +$313 | +$288 | +$188 |
| PSA 9 | $429 | +$270 | +$245 | +$145 |
| PSA 8 | $28.44 | −$131 | −$156 | −$256 |
Net = sale price − $135 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% | $440 | +$255 |
| 50% | $451 | +$266 |
| 75% | $461 | +$277 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Julio Rodriguez [Black] #SMLB-87 — FAQ
Is Julio Rodriguez [Black] #SMLB-87 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Julio Rodriguez [Black] #SMLB-87 sells for $472 against $135 raw: a $338 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($429) 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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