Is Larry Bird worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1990 Panini Sticker · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Larry Bird brings $174 versus $63.05 raw — a $110 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $63.05
- PSA 10
- $174
- PSA 9
- $15.00
- Gem premium
- 2.8×
- 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 | $174 | +$85.45 | +$60.45 | −$39.55 |
| PSA 9 | $15.00 | −$73.05 | −$98.05 | −$198 |
| PSA 8 | $13.26 | −$74.79 | −$99.79 | −$200 |
Net = sale price − $63.05 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% | $54.63 | −$58.42 |
| 50% | $94.25 | −$18.80 |
| 75% | $134 | +$20.83 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 62%. 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 | $226 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $174 | −$52.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $104 | −$122 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $104 | −$122 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1990 Panini Sticker cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Hand Cut] #91 1990 Panini Sticker card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8dEAAeSw1~lqd~Ub/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Larry Bird — FAQ
Is Larry Bird worth grading?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird brings $174 versus $63.05 raw — a $110 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Larry Bird worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird (Basketball Cards 1990 Panini Sticker) sells for about $174 versus $63.05 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.8× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Larry Bird?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $226, ahead of PSA 10 at $174. 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.
What gem rate makes grading Larry Bird break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Larry Bird breaks even when it gems about 62% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $15.00).
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