Is Alex Rodriguez #1 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2008 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Alex Rodriguez #1 brings $36.00 versus $2.99 raw — a $33.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.48) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.99
- PSA 10
- $36.00
- PSA 9
- $21.48
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $36.00 | +$8.01 | −$16.99 | −$117 |
| PSA 9 | $21.48 | −$6.51 | −$31.51 | −$132 |
| PSA 8 | $8.44 | −$19.55 | −$44.55 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $2.99 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% | $25.11 | −$27.88 |
| 50% | $28.74 | −$24.25 |
| 75% | $32.37 | −$20.62 |
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 | $47.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $36.00 | −$11.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $22.00 | −$25.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $16.99 | −$30.01 | 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 | $36.00 | $22.00 | $47.00 | $16.99 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $26.96 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $21.48 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.44 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2008 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Alex Rodriguez [Gold] #1 2008 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dSwAAeSwnlxqRWRc/s-l500.jpg)
![David Ortiz [Gold] #360 2008 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4-AAAeSwZl5qXn1r/s-l500.jpg)
![Joey Votto [Gold] #319 2008 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8y8AAeSw9h5qMreg/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Alex Rodriguez #1 — FAQ
Is Alex Rodriguez #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alex Rodriguez #1 brings $36.00 versus $2.99 raw — a $33.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.48) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Alex Rodriguez #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alex Rodriguez #1 (Baseball Cards 2008 Topps) sells for about $36.00 versus $2.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alex Rodriguez #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $47.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $36.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alex Rodriguez #1 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.
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
