![Hines Ward [Gold] #198 (Football Cards 1998 Playoff Prestige) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/P98AAeSw9adoR~G1/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Hines Ward [Gold] #198 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1998 Playoff Prestige · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Hines Ward [Gold] #198 sells for $363 against $42.75 raw: a $320 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($330) 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)
- $42.75
- Grade 9.5
- $363
- PSA 9
- $330
- Gem premium
- 8.5×
- 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 | $363 | +$295 | +$270 | +$170 |
| PSA 9 | $330 | +$262 | +$237 | +$137 |
| PSA 8 | $300 | +$232 | +$207 | +$107 |
Net = sale price − $42.75 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% | $338 | +$246 |
| 50% | $347 | +$254 |
| 75% | $355 | +$262 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Hines Ward [Gold] #198 — FAQ
Is Hines Ward [Gold] #198 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Hines Ward [Gold] #198 sells for $363 against $42.75 raw: a $320 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($330) 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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