![Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 (Baseball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zZgAAeSwQ7dqYRzm/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 sells for $180 against $14.97 raw: a $165 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.96) 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)
- $14.97
- PSA 10
- $180
- PSA 9
- $53.96
- Gem premium
- 12×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $180 | +$140 | +$115 | +$15.03 |
| PSA 9 | $53.96 | +$13.99 | −$11.01 | −$111 |
| PSA 8 | $28.82 | −$11.15 | −$36.15 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $14.97 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% | $85.47 | +$20.50 |
| 50% | $117 | +$52.01 |
| 75% | $148 | +$83.52 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 9%. 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 | $234 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $180 | −$54.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $108 | −$126 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $108 | −$126 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $180 | $108 | $234 | $108 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $85.46 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $53.96 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $28.82 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2002 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Billy Wagner [Gold Refractor] #172 2002 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UdEAAeSw24RqYjC0/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 — FAQ
Is Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 sells for $180 against $14.97 raw: a $165 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.96) 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 Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 (Baseball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome) sells for about $180 versus $14.97 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $234, ahead of PSA 10 at $180. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 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 Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jorge Posada [Gold Refractor] #253 breaks even when it gems about 9% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $53.96).
Is your baseball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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