Is Michael Bates #23 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1998 Topps Chrome Season's Best · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Michael Bates #23 sell for $11.00, only $10.01 above the $0.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.29) 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)
- $0.99
- Grade 9.5
- $11.00
- PSA 9
- $10.29
- Gem premium
- 11×
- 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 | $11.00 | −$14.99 | −$39.99 | −$140 |
| PSA 9 | $10.29 | −$15.70 | −$40.70 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $10.47 | −$40.52 |
| 50% | $10.64 | −$40.34 |
| 75% | $10.82 | −$40.17 |
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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Grading Michael Bates #23 — FAQ
Is Michael Bates #23 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Michael Bates #23 sell for $11.00, only $10.01 above the $0.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.29) 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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