![Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 (Baseball Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Update) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MpEAAeSweXxqV4Iq/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Update · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 sells for $451 against $113 raw: a $338 spread, 4.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($138) 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)
- $113
- PSA 10
- $451
- PSA 9
- $138
- Gem premium
- 4.0×
- 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 | $451 | +$313 | +$288 | +$188 |
| PSA 9 | $138 | +$0.31 | −$24.69 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $85.37 | −$52.38 | −$77.38 | −$177 |
Net = sale price − $113 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% | $216 | +$53.45 |
| 50% | $294 | +$132 |
| 75% | $372 | +$210 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 | $586 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $451 | −$135 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $270 | −$316 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $185 | −$401 | 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 2024 Topps Chrome Update cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Paul Skenes [Black Refractor] #USC88 2024 Topps Chrome Update card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mhwAAeSw0zlqk1tD/s-l500.jpg)
![Paul Skenes [Green Speckle Refractor Image Variation] #USC88 2024 Topps Chrome Update card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FcgAAeSw-8lql6Xi/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 — FAQ
Is Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 sells for $451 against $113 raw: a $338 spread, 4.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($138) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 (Baseball Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Update) sells for about $451 versus $113 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.0× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $586, ahead of PSA 10 at $451. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 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 Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Paul Skenes [Image Variation] #USC88 breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $138).
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.
