Is Gary Sheffield #20 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Topps Glossy Rookies · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Gary Sheffield #20 sells for $39.00 against $1.50 raw: a $37.50 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.75) 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)
- $1.50
- Grade 9.5
- $39.00
- PSA 9
- $35.75
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $39.00 | +$12.50 | −$12.50 | −$113 |
| PSA 9 | $35.75 | +$9.25 | −$15.75 | −$116 |
| PSA 8 | $2.25 | −$24.25 | −$49.25 | −$149 |
Net = sale price − $1.50 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% | $36.56 | −$14.94 |
| 50% | $37.38 | −$14.13 |
| 75% | $38.19 | −$13.31 |
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 Gary Sheffield #20 — FAQ
Is Gary Sheffield #20 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Gary Sheffield #20 sells for $39.00 against $1.50 raw: a $37.50 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.75) 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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