Is Brendan Shanahan [Refractor] #52 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1998 Bowman's Best · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Brendan Shanahan [Refractor] #52 sells for $44.00 against $7.94 raw: a $36.06 spread, 5.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.95) 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)
- $7.94
- Grade 9.5
- $44.00
- PSA 9
- $39.95
- Gem premium
- 5.5×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $44.00 | +$11.06 | −$13.94 | −$114 |
| PSA 9 | $39.95 | +$7.01 | −$17.99 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $7.94 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% | $40.96 | −$16.98 |
| 50% | $41.98 | −$15.96 |
| 75% | $42.99 | −$14.95 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Brendan Shanahan [Refractor] #52 — FAQ
Is Brendan Shanahan [Refractor] #52 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Brendan Shanahan [Refractor] #52 sells for $44.00 against $7.94 raw: a $36.06 spread, 5.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.95) 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.
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