Is Ernie Banks worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1998 Donruss Significant Signatures · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Ernie Banks sells for $167 against $79.84 raw: a $87.16 spread, 2.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($152) 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)
- $79.84
- Grade 9.5
- $167
- PSA 9
- $152
- Gem premium
- 2.1×
- 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 | $167 | +$62.16 | +$37.16 | −$62.84 |
| PSA 9 | $152 | +$47.16 | +$22.16 | −$77.84 |
| PSA 8 | $125 | +$19.96 | −$5.04 | −$105 |
Net = sale price − $79.84 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% | $156 | +$25.91 |
| 50% | $160 | +$29.66 |
| 75% | $163 | +$33.41 |
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 1998 Donruss Significant Signatures cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Nolan Ryan [Redemption] #R1 1998 Donruss Significant Signatures card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JxgAAeSwl89qn4hy/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Ernie Banks — FAQ
Is Ernie Banks worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Ernie Banks sells for $167 against $79.84 raw: a $87.16 spread, 2.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($152) 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.
