Is Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2023 Topps Update 1988 Autographs · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM brings $216 versus $74.95 raw — a $141 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($58.43) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $74.95
- PSA 10
- $216
- PSA 9
- $58.43
- Gem premium
- 2.9×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $216 | +$116 | +$91.42 | −$8.58 |
| PSA 9 | $58.43 | −$41.52 | −$66.52 | −$167 |
| PSA 8 | $41.00 | −$58.95 | −$83.95 | −$184 |
Net = sale price − $74.95 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% | $97.91 | −$27.04 |
| 50% | $137 | +$12.45 |
| 75% | $177 | +$51.93 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 42%. 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 | $281 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $216 | −$64.63 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $130 | −$151 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $130 | −$151 | 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 2023 Topps Update 1988 Autographs cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM — FAQ
Is Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM worth grading?
A PSA 10 Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM brings $216 versus $74.95 raw — a $141 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($58.43) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM (Baseball Cards 2023 Topps Update 1988 Autographs) sells for about $216 versus $74.95 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.9× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $281, ahead of PSA 10 at $216. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM 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 Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Matt McLain [Black] #88BA-MM breaks even when it gems about 42% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $58.43).
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.
