Is Alex Rodriguez #AR worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1998 SP Authentic Chirography · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Alex Rodriguez #AR sells for $735 against $133 raw: a $602 spread, 5.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($166) 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)
- $133
- PSA 10
- $735
- PSA 9
- $166
- Gem premium
- 5.5×
- 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 | $735 | +$577 | +$552 | +$452 |
| PSA 9 | $166 | +$8.48 | −$16.52 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $85.00 | −$72.77 | −$97.77 | −$198 |
Net = sale price − $133 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% | $308 | +$126 |
| 50% | $451 | +$268 |
| 75% | $593 | +$410 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $956 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $735 | −$221 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $441 | −$515 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $441 | −$515 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 SP Authentic Chirography cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Alex Rodriguez #AR — FAQ
Is Alex Rodriguez #AR worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alex Rodriguez #AR sells for $735 against $133 raw: a $602 spread, 5.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($166) 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 Alex Rodriguez #AR worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alex Rodriguez #AR (Baseball Cards 1998 SP Authentic Chirography) sells for about $735 versus $133 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.5× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alex Rodriguez #AR?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $956, ahead of PSA 10 at $735. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alex Rodriguez #AR 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 Alex Rodriguez #AR break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Alex Rodriguez #AR breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $166).
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.
