Cards › 1991 Topps Desert Shield Cal Ripken Jr. #5
Is the 1991 Topps Desert Shield Cal Ripken Jr. #5 worth grading?
Live market numbers as of 2026-10-21 — raw vs. graded value, PSA 10 gem rate, and the breakeven math.
Raw value
$58.50
PSA 9 value
$1,323.86
PSA 10 value
$2,483.80
PSA 10 gem rate
0.5%
Based on the numbers below, this card is potentially worth grading — a PSA 10 nets an estimated $1,963, but the 0.5% gem rate means the 10 is far from guaranteed. Weigh the PSA 9 outcome below.
The breakeven math
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Raw purchase | $58.50 |
| Sales tax (8%) | $4.68 |
| Grading fee (priority tier) | $80.00 |
| Shipping | $5.00 |
| Total cost basis | $148.18 |
| Net at PSA 10 (85% payout) | +$1,963.05 (+1325%) |
| Net at PSA 9 (the downside case) | +$977.10 |
Assumptions: $80 grading, $5 shipping, 8% tax on the raw purchase, and keeping 85% of the sale after marketplace fees. Your numbers will differ — run them below.
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Start free trialCard pricing data provided by SportsCardsPro, a service of PriceCharting. Gem rates reflect recent PSA population data (377 graded submissions). Not investment advice — grading outcomes are probabilistic and markets move. © Summit Sports Cards · About · Pricing