Is Hal Rice #398 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Hal Rice #398 sells for $52,158 against $214 raw: a $51,944 spread, 244× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,805) 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)
- $214
- PSA 10
- $52,158
- PSA 9
- $7,805
- Gem premium
- 244×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $52,158 | +$51,919 | +$51,894 | +$51,794 |
| PSA 9 | $7,805 | +$7,566 | +$7,541 | +$7,441 |
| PSA 8 | $7,107 | +$6,868 | +$6,843 | +$6,743 |
Net = sale price − $214 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% | $18,894 | +$18,630 |
| 50% | $29,982 | +$29,718 |
| 75% | $41,070 | +$40,806 |
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 | $67,806 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $52,158 | −$15,648 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $31,295 | −$36,511 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $31,295 | −$36,511 | 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 Hal Rice #398 — FAQ
Is Hal Rice #398 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Hal Rice #398 sells for $52,158 against $214 raw: a $51,944 spread, 244× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,805) 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 Hal Rice #398 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Hal Rice #398 (Baseball Cards 1952 Topps) sells for about $52,158 versus $214 for a raw near-mint copy — a 244× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Hal Rice #398?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $67,806, ahead of PSA 10 at $52,158. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Hal Rice #398 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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