![Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 (Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/M4AAAeSwvqJqaZsB/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 sells for $51.00 against $2.38 raw: a $48.62 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.89) 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)
- $2.38
- PSA 10
- $51.00
- PSA 9
- $42.89
- Gem premium
- 21×
- 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 | $51.00 | +$23.62 | −$1.38 | −$101 |
| PSA 9 | $42.89 | +$15.51 | −$9.49 | −$109 |
| PSA 8 | $7.14 | −$20.24 | −$45.24 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $2.38 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% | $44.92 | −$7.46 |
| 50% | $46.95 | −$5.44 |
| 75% | $48.97 | −$3.41 |
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 | $66.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $51.00 | −$15.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $31.00 | −$35.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $31.00 | −$35.00 | 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 Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 — FAQ
Is Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 sells for $51.00 against $2.38 raw: a $48.62 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.89) 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 Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 (Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome) sells for about $51.00 versus $2.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 21× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $66.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $51.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Larry Bird [Basketball Refractor] #243 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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