Is Al Lopez #281 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1938 Goudey · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Al Lopez #281 sells for $53,924 against $152 raw: a $53,772 spread, 354× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,034) 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)
- $152
- PSA 10
- $53,924
- PSA 9
- $8,034
- Gem premium
- 354×
- 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 | $53,924 | +$53,747 | +$53,722 | +$53,622 |
| PSA 9 | $8,034 | +$7,857 | +$7,832 | +$7,732 |
| PSA 8 | $3,012 | +$2,834 | +$2,809 | +$2,709 |
Net = sale price − $152 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% | $19,507 | +$19,305 |
| 50% | $30,979 | +$30,777 |
| 75% | $42,452 | +$42,250 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $70,102 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $53,924 | −$16,178 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $32,355 | −$37,747 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $32,355 | −$37,747 | 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 | $53,924 | $32,355 | $70,102 | $32,355 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $14,864 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $8,034 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $3,012 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Grading Al Lopez #281 — FAQ
Is Al Lopez #281 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Al Lopez #281 sells for $53,924 against $152 raw: a $53,772 spread, 354× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,034) 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 Al Lopez #281 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Al Lopez #281 (Baseball Cards 1938 Goudey) sells for about $53,924 versus $152 for a raw near-mint copy — a 354× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Al Lopez #281?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $70,102, ahead of PSA 10 at $53,924. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Al Lopez #281 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.
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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