![Vladimir Guerrero [Refractor] #5 (Baseball Cards 1998 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rScAAeSwvHJqHR~G/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Vladimir Guerrero [Refractor] #5 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1998 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Vladimir Guerrero [Refractor] #5 sells for $284 against $106 raw: a $178 spread, 2.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($258) 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)
- $106
- Grade 9.5
- $284
- PSA 9
- $258
- Gem premium
- 2.7×
- 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 | $284 | +$153 | +$128 | +$28.15 |
| PSA 9 | $258 | +$127 | +$102 | +$2.16 |
| PSA 8 | $69.00 | −$61.85 | −$86.85 | −$187 |
Net = sale price − $106 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% | $265 | +$109 |
| 50% | $271 | +$115 |
| 75% | $278 | +$122 |
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 | $284 |
| 9 | $258 |
| 8 | $69.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
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Grading Vladimir Guerrero [Refractor] #5 — FAQ
Is Vladimir Guerrero [Refractor] #5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Vladimir Guerrero [Refractor] #5 sells for $284 against $106 raw: a $178 spread, 2.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($258) 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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