Is Patrick Ewing worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1988 Kenner Starting LineUp · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Patrick Ewing sells for $182 against $2.98 raw: a $179 spread, 61× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.04) 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)
- $2.98
- PSA 10
- $182
- PSA 9
- $38.04
- Gem premium
- 61×
- 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 | $182 | +$154 | +$129 | +$29.33 |
| PSA 9 | $38.04 | +$10.06 | −$14.94 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $28.05 | +$0.07 | −$24.93 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $2.98 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% | $74.11 | +$21.13 |
| 50% | $110 | +$57.19 |
| 75% | $146 | +$93.26 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 10%. 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 | $237 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $182 | −$54.69 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $109 | −$128 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $109 | −$128 | 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 Patrick Ewing — FAQ
Is Patrick Ewing worth grading?
A PSA 10 Patrick Ewing sells for $182 against $2.98 raw: a $179 spread, 61× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.04) 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 Patrick Ewing worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Patrick Ewing (Basketball Cards 1988 Kenner Starting LineUp) sells for about $182 versus $2.98 for a raw near-mint copy — a 61× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Patrick Ewing?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $237, ahead of PSA 10 at $182. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Patrick Ewing 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 Patrick Ewing break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Patrick Ewing breaks even when it gems about 10% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.04).
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