Is ADAM Ball [Red Refractor] #209a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 2022 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 ADAM Ball [Red Refractor] #209a sells for $5,500 against $1,500 raw: a $4,000 spread, 3.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,000) 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)
- $1,500
- Grade 9.5
- $5,500
- PSA 9
- $5,000
- Gem premium
- 3.7×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $5,500 | +$3,975 | +$3,950 | +$3,850 |
| PSA 9 | $5,000 | +$3,475 | +$3,450 | +$3,350 |
Net = sale price − $1,500 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% | $5,125 | +$3,575 |
| 50% | $5,250 | +$3,700 |
| 75% | $5,375 | +$3,825 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $5,500 |
| 9 | $5,000 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Full set checklist →Grading ADAM Ball [Red Refractor] #209a — FAQ
Is ADAM Ball [Red Refractor] #209a worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 ADAM Ball [Red Refractor] #209a sells for $5,500 against $1,500 raw: a $4,000 spread, 3.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,000) 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.
Is your Garbage Pail Kids card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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