Is Mel Davis #35 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1971 Globetrotters 84 · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Mel Davis #35 sell for $21.00, only $17.00 above the $4.00 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $4.00
- Grade 9.5
- $21.00
- PSA 9
- $18.99
- Gem premium
- 5.3×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $21.00 | −$8.00 | −$33.00 | −$133 |
| PSA 9 | $18.99 | −$10.01 | −$35.01 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $4.00 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% | $19.49 | −$34.51 |
| 50% | $19.99 | −$34.01 |
| 75% | $20.50 | −$33.50 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Other 1971 Globetrotters 84 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Mel Davis #35 — FAQ
Is Mel Davis #35 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Mel Davis #35 sell for $21.00, only $17.00 above the $4.00 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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