![Scott May [White Back] #36 (Basketball Cards 1977 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bwkAAeSwibFpUDji/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Scott May [White Back] #36 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1977 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Scott May [White Back] #36 sells for $247 against $2.31 raw: a $244 spread, 107× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($43.24) 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)
- $2.31
- PSA 10
- $247
- PSA 9
- $43.24
- Gem premium
- 107×
- 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 | $247 | +$219 | +$194 | +$94.21 |
| PSA 9 | $43.24 | +$15.93 | −$9.07 | −$109 |
| PSA 8 | $18.53 | −$8.78 | −$33.78 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $2.31 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% | $94.06 | +$41.75 |
| 50% | $145 | +$92.57 |
| 75% | $196 | +$143 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $320 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $247 | −$73.48 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $148 | −$172 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $148 | −$172 | 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 | $247 | $148 | $320 | $148 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $78.35 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $43.24 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $18.53 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1977 Topps cards worth checking
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Grading Scott May [White Back] #36 — FAQ
Is Scott May [White Back] #36 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Scott May [White Back] #36 sells for $247 against $2.31 raw: a $244 spread, 107× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($43.24) 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 Scott May [White Back] #36 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Scott May [White Back] #36 (Basketball Cards 1977 Topps) sells for about $247 versus $2.31 for a raw near-mint copy — a 107× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Scott May [White Back] #36?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $320, ahead of PSA 10 at $247. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Scott May [White Back] #36 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.
What gem rate makes grading Scott May [White Back] #36 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Scott May [White Back] #36 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $43.24).
Is your basketball 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.
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