Is Mike Trout #88CA-MT worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2023 Topps Chrome Update 1988 Autographs · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mike Trout #88CA-MT sells for $473 against $342 raw: a $131 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($430) 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)
- $342
- Grade 9.5
- $473
- PSA 9
- $430
- Gem premium
- 1.4×
- 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 | $473 | +$106 | +$81.45 | −$18.55 |
| PSA 9 | $430 | +$63.45 | +$38.45 | −$61.55 |
Net = sale price − $342 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% | $441 | +$49.20 |
| 50% | $452 | +$59.95 |
| 75% | $462 | +$70.70 |
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 Mike Trout #88CA-MT — FAQ
Is Mike Trout #88CA-MT worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mike Trout #88CA-MT sells for $473 against $342 raw: a $131 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($430) 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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