![Ron Lee [White Back] #117 (Basketball Cards 1977 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JaUAAeSw9h1qUIiK/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Ron Lee [White Back] #117 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1977 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ron Lee [White Back] #117 sells for $137 against $1.12 raw: a $135 spread, 122× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.35) 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)
- $1.12
- PSA 10
- $137
- PSA 9
- $26.35
- Gem premium
- 122×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $137 | +$110 | +$85.44 | −$14.56 |
| PSA 9 | $26.35 | +$0.23 | −$24.77 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $11.66 | −$14.46 | −$39.46 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $1.12 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% | $53.90 | +$2.78 |
| 50% | $81.45 | +$30.33 |
| 75% | $109 | +$57.89 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 22%. 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 | $178 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $137 | −$41.44 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $82.00 | −$96.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $82.00 | −$96.00 | 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 Ron Lee [White Back] #117 — FAQ
Is Ron Lee [White Back] #117 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ron Lee [White Back] #117 sells for $137 against $1.12 raw: a $135 spread, 122× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.35) 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 Ron Lee [White Back] #117 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ron Lee [White Back] #117 (Basketball Cards 1977 Topps) sells for about $137 versus $1.12 for a raw near-mint copy — a 122× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ron Lee [White Back] #117?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $178, ahead of PSA 10 at $137. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ron Lee [White Back] #117 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 Ron Lee [White Back] #117 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Ron Lee [White Back] #117 breaks even when it gems about 22% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $26.35).
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