![Bill Ripken [Scribbled Out in White] #616 (Baseball Cards 1989 Fleer) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fxsAAeSwfE5qT98r/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Bill Ripken [Scribbled Out in White] #616 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Bill Ripken [Scribbled Out in White] #616 sells for $1,877 against $538 raw: a $1,339 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,706) 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)
- $538
- Grade 9.5
- $1,877
- PSA 9
- $1,706
- Gem premium
- 3.5×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $1,877 | +$1,314 | +$1,289 | +$1,189 |
| PSA 9 | $1,706 | +$1,143 | +$1,118 | +$1,018 |
| PSA 8 | $850 | +$287 | +$262 | +$162 |
Net = sale price − $538 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% | $1,749 | +$1,161 |
| 50% | $1,792 | +$1,204 |
| 75% | $1,834 | +$1,247 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $1,877 |
| 9 | $1,706 |
| 8 | $850 |
| 7 | $742 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1989 Fleer cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Randy Johnson [Marlboro Ad on Scoreboard] #381 1989 Fleer card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eWMAAeSw0ZZqVapP/s-l500.jpg)
![Bill Ripken [Black Scribble Over Error] #616 1989 Fleer card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PpsAAeSw24RqVh2T/s-l500.jpg)
![Bill Ripken [Black Scribble on Knob] #616 1989 Fleer card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~0AAAeSwrFJqUzkq/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Bill Ripken [Scribbled Out in White] #616 — FAQ
Is Bill Ripken [Scribbled Out in White] #616 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Bill Ripken [Scribbled Out in White] #616 sells for $1,877 against $538 raw: a $1,339 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,706) 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.
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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