![Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 (Baseball Cards 1998 Topps Mystery Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Kg8AAeSwcM9qAoJt/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1998 Topps Mystery Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 sells for $114 against $3.62 raw: a $110 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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)
- $3.62
- PSA 10
- $114
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 31×
- 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 | $114 | +$85.05 | +$60.05 | −$39.95 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | +$21.37 | −$3.63 | −$104 |
| PSA 8 | $12.36 | −$16.26 | −$41.26 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $3.62 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% | $65.91 | +$12.29 |
| 50% | $81.83 | +$28.21 |
| 75% | $97.75 | +$44.13 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. 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 | $148 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $114 | −$34.33 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $68.00 | −$80.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $68.00 | −$80.00 | 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 | $114 | $68.00 | $148 | $68.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $55.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $49.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $12.36 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Topps Mystery Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Chipper Jones [Bordered Refractor] #M2 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lvoAAeSwkuZp-6VX/s-l500.jpg)
![Ken Griffey Jr. [Bordered] #M20 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/masAAeSwxLNqYrhR/s-l500.jpg)
![Frank Thomas [Bordered Refractor] #M10 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/r4YAAeSwNKlqVZ9w/s-l500.jpg)
![Cal Ripken Jr. [Bordered Refractor] #M16 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JjAAAeSwgblqYU~B/s-l500.jpg)
![Ken Griffey Jr. [Bordered Refractor] #M20 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GHQAAeSwKA1qSCdY/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 — FAQ
Is Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 sells for $114 against $3.62 raw: a $110 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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 Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 (Baseball Cards 1998 Topps Mystery Finest) sells for about $114 versus $3.62 for a raw near-mint copy — a 31× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $148, ahead of PSA 10 at $114. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 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 Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jeff Bagwell [Bordered Refractor] #M17 breaks even when it gems about 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.99).
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.
Check my card free