Is STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2020 Topps Update Decades' Best · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 brings $29.95 versus $1.21 raw — a $28.74 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.27) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.21
- PSA 10
- $29.95
- PSA 9
- $11.27
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $29.95 | +$3.74 | −$21.26 | −$121 |
| PSA 9 | $11.27 | −$14.94 | −$39.94 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $5.93 | −$20.28 | −$45.28 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $1.21 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% | $15.94 | −$35.27 |
| 50% | $20.61 | −$30.60 |
| 75% | $25.28 | −$25.93 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $39.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $29.95 | −$9.05 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $18.00 | −$21.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18.00 | −$21.00 | 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.
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Other 2020 Topps Update Decades' Best cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 — FAQ
Is STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 worth grading?
A PSA 10 STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 brings $29.95 versus $1.21 raw — a $28.74 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.27) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 (Baseball Cards 2020 Topps Update Decades' Best) sells for about $29.95 versus $1.21 for a raw near-mint copy — a 25× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for STEVE CARLTON #DB-39?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $39.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $29.95. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does STEVE CARLTON #DB-39 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.
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