Is Billy Wagner #3 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1998 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Billy Wagner #3 sells for $44.98 against $1.51 raw: a $43.47 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.95) 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)
- $1.51
- PSA 10
- $44.98
- PSA 9
- $34.95
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 | $44.98 | +$18.47 | −$6.53 | −$107 |
| PSA 9 | $34.95 | +$8.44 | −$16.56 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $19.00 | −$7.51 | −$32.51 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $1.51 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% | $37.46 | −$14.05 |
| 50% | $39.97 | −$11.54 |
| 75% | $42.47 | −$9.04 |
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 | $58.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $44.98 | −$13.02 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27.00 | −$31.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $27.00 | −$31.00 | 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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Grading Billy Wagner #3 — FAQ
Is Billy Wagner #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Billy Wagner #3 sells for $44.98 against $1.51 raw: a $43.47 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.95) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Billy Wagner #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Billy Wagner #3 (Baseball Cards 1998 Topps) sells for about $44.98 versus $1.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Billy Wagner #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $58.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $44.98. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Billy Wagner #3 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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