Is Kirk Gibson #40T worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kirk Gibson #40T sells for $133 against $3.14 raw: a $130 spread, 42× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.74) 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)
- $3.14
- PSA 10
- $133
- PSA 9
- $29.74
- Gem premium
- 42×
- 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 | $133 | +$105 | +$80.04 | −$19.96 |
| PSA 9 | $29.74 | +$1.60 | −$23.40 | −$123 |
| PSA 8 | $11.80 | −$16.34 | −$41.34 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $3.14 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% | $55.60 | +$2.46 |
| 50% | $81.46 | +$28.32 |
| 75% | $107 | +$54.18 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 23%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $173 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $133 | −$39.82 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $80.00 | −$93.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $80.00 | −$93.00 | 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 Kirk Gibson #40T — FAQ
Is Kirk Gibson #40T worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kirk Gibson #40T sells for $133 against $3.14 raw: a $130 spread, 42× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.74) 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 Kirk Gibson #40T worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kirk Gibson #40T (Baseball Cards 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany) sells for about $133 versus $3.14 for a raw near-mint copy — a 42× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kirk Gibson #40T?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $173, ahead of PSA 10 at $133. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kirk Gibson #40T 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.
What gem rate makes grading Kirk Gibson #40T break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kirk Gibson #40T breaks even when it gems about 23% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $29.74).
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