Is Bobby Darwin [Hand Cut] #98 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1975 Hostess · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Bobby Darwin [Hand Cut] #98 sells for $88.00 against $1.99 raw: a $86.01 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.99) 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)
- $1.99
- Grade 9.5
- $88.00
- PSA 9
- $79.99
- Gem premium
- 44×
- 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 | $88.00 | +$61.01 | +$36.01 | −$63.99 |
| PSA 9 | $79.99 | +$53.00 | +$28.00 | −$72.00 |
| PSA 8 | $18.50 | −$8.49 | −$33.49 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $1.99 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% | $81.99 | +$30.00 |
| 50% | $84.00 | +$32.01 |
| 75% | $86.00 | +$34.01 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1975 Hostess cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Joe Coleman, Nolan Ryan, Reggie Smith [Complete Box] 1975 Hostess card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gsYAAeSwtwVql7Jp/s-l500.jpg)
![Reggie Jackson [Hand Cut] #88 1975 Hostess card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/v04AAeSw6FlqRH0l/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Bobby Darwin [Hand Cut] #98 — FAQ
Is Bobby Darwin [Hand Cut] #98 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Bobby Darwin [Hand Cut] #98 sells for $88.00 against $1.99 raw: a $86.01 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.99) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
