Is Bob Lemon #238 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1949 Bowman · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Bob Lemon #238 sells for $57,111 against $217 raw: a $56,894 spread, 263× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,536) 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)
- $217
- PSA 10
- $57,111
- PSA 9
- $8,536
- Gem premium
- 263×
- 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 | $57,111 | +$56,869 | +$56,844 | +$56,744 |
| PSA 9 | $8,536 | +$8,294 | +$8,269 | +$8,169 |
| PSA 8 | $1,956 | +$1,714 | +$1,689 | +$1,589 |
Net = sale price − $217 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% | $20,680 | +$20,413 |
| 50% | $32,823 | +$32,556 |
| 75% | $44,967 | +$44,700 |
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 | $74,244 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $57,111 | −$17,133 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $34,266 | −$39,978 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $34,266 | −$39,978 | 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.
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Grading Bob Lemon #238 — FAQ
Is Bob Lemon #238 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Bob Lemon #238 sells for $57,111 against $217 raw: a $56,894 spread, 263× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,536) 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 Bob Lemon #238 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Bob Lemon #238 (Baseball Cards 1949 Bowman) sells for about $57,111 versus $217 for a raw near-mint copy — a 263× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Bob Lemon #238?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $74,244, ahead of PSA 10 at $57,111. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Bob Lemon #238 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.
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