Is Cal Ripken Jr. #617 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Cal Ripken Jr. #617 brings $38.20 versus $1.52 raw — a $36.68 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.52
- PSA 10
- $38.20
- PSA 9
- $16.95
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $38.20 | +$11.68 | −$13.32 | −$113 |
| PSA 9 | $16.95 | −$9.57 | −$34.57 | −$135 |
| PSA 8 | $7.36 | −$19.16 | −$44.16 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $1.52 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% | $22.26 | −$29.26 |
| 50% | $27.58 | −$23.94 |
| 75% | $32.89 | −$18.63 |
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 | $50.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $38.20 | −$11.80 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $23.00 | −$27.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $17.50 | −$32.50 | 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 | $38.20 | $17.50 | $50.00 | $23.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $18.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $16.95 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $7.36 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $4.89 |
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 Cal Ripken Jr. #617 — FAQ
Is Cal Ripken Jr. #617 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Cal Ripken Jr. #617 brings $38.20 versus $1.52 raw — a $36.68 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Cal Ripken Jr. #617 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Cal Ripken Jr. #617 (Baseball Cards 1989 Fleer) sells for about $38.20 versus $1.52 for a raw near-mint copy — a 25× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Cal Ripken Jr. #617?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $50.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $38.20. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Cal Ripken Jr. #617 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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