Is Babe Ruth #5 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2004 SP Legendary Cuts · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Babe Ruth #5 brings $28.94 versus $2.25 raw — a $26.69 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.25
- PSA 10
- $28.94
- PSA 9
- $11.99
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 | $28.94 | +$1.69 | −$23.31 | −$123 |
| PSA 9 | $11.99 | −$15.26 | −$40.26 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $8.82 | −$18.43 | −$43.43 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $16.23 | −$36.02 |
| 50% | $20.46 | −$31.79 |
| 75% | $24.70 | −$27.55 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $38.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $28.94 | −$9.06 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $17.00 | −$21.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $17.00 | −$21.00 | 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.
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Other 2004 SP Legendary Cuts cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Babe Ruth #5 — FAQ
Is Babe Ruth #5 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Babe Ruth #5 brings $28.94 versus $2.25 raw — a $26.69 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Babe Ruth #5 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Babe Ruth #5 (Baseball Cards 2004 SP Legendary Cuts) sells for about $28.94 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Babe Ruth #5?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $38.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $28.94. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Babe Ruth #5 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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