Is Kirk Gibson #5 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Fleer World Series · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kirk Gibson #5 sells for $31.30 against $1.77 raw: a $29.53 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.50) 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)
- $1.77
- PSA 10
- $31.30
- PSA 9
- $27.50
- Gem premium
- 18×
- 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 | $31.30 | +$4.53 | −$20.47 | −$120 |
| PSA 9 | $27.50 | +$0.73 | −$24.27 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $8.00 | −$18.77 | −$43.77 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $1.77 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% | $28.45 | −$23.32 |
| 50% | $29.40 | −$22.37 |
| 75% | $30.35 | −$21.42 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $41.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $31.30 | −$9.70 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $19.00 | −$22.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $19.00 | −$22.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $31.30 | $19.00 | $41.00 | $19.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $31.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $27.50 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1989 Fleer World Series cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Kirk Gibson [Glossy] #5 1989 Fleer World Series card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/h6cAAOSwaANnUffL/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kirk Gibson #5 — FAQ
Is Kirk Gibson #5 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kirk Gibson #5 sells for $31.30 against $1.77 raw: a $29.53 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.50) 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 #5 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kirk Gibson #5 (Baseball Cards 1989 Fleer World Series) sells for about $31.30 versus $1.77 for a raw near-mint copy — a 18× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kirk Gibson #5?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $41.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $31.30. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kirk Gibson #5 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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