Is Larry Bird worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1988 Kenner Starting LineUp · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Larry Bird sells for $296 against $5.05 raw: a $291 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($69.66) 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)
- $5.05
- PSA 10
- $296
- PSA 9
- $69.66
- Gem premium
- 59×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $296 | +$266 | +$241 | +$141 |
| PSA 9 | $69.66 | +$39.61 | +$14.61 | −$85.39 |
| PSA 8 | $31.45 | +$1.40 | −$23.60 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $5.05 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% | $126 | +$71.10 |
| 50% | $183 | +$128 |
| 75% | $239 | +$184 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $384 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $296 | −$88.39 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $177 | −$207 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $177 | −$207 | 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 — FAQ
Is Larry Bird worth grading?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird sells for $296 against $5.05 raw: a $291 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($69.66) 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 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird (Basketball Cards 1988 Kenner Starting LineUp) sells for about $296 versus $5.05 for a raw near-mint copy — a 59× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Larry Bird?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $384, ahead of PSA 10 at $296. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Larry Bird 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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