![Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 (Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Stars) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gNUAAeSwOPZqVaqj/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Stars · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 sells for $4,764 against $275 raw: a $4,490 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($473) 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)
- $275
- PSA 10
- $4,764
- PSA 9
- $473
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 | $4,764 | +$4,465 | +$4,440 | +$4,340 |
| PSA 9 | $473 | +$174 | +$149 | +$48.50 |
| PSA 8 | $430 | +$131 | +$106 | +$5.50 |
Net = sale price − $275 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% | $1,546 | +$1,221 |
| 50% | $2,619 | +$2,294 |
| 75% | $3,691 | +$3,367 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $6,193 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $4,764 | −$1,429 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,858 | −$3,335 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,858 | −$3,335 | 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.
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Grading Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 — FAQ
Is Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 sells for $4,764 against $275 raw: a $4,490 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($473) 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 Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 (Baseball Cards 2001 Topps Stars) sells for about $4,764 versus $275 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Albert Pujols [Gold] #198?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $6,193, ahead of PSA 10 at $4,764. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Albert Pujols [Gold] #198 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.
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