Is Alton Lister #126 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1985 Star · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Alton Lister #126 sells for $269 against $3.86 raw: a $265 spread, 70× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.51) 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)
- $3.86
- PSA 10
- $269
- PSA 9
- $47.51
- Gem premium
- 70×
- 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 | $269 | +$240 | +$215 | +$115 |
| PSA 9 | $47.51 | +$18.65 | −$6.35 | −$106 |
| PSA 8 | $20.98 | −$7.88 | −$32.88 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $3.86 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% | $103 | +$48.92 |
| 50% | $158 | +$104 |
| 75% | $213 | +$159 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $349 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $269 | −$80.43 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $161 | −$188 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $161 | −$188 | 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 Alton Lister #126 — FAQ
Is Alton Lister #126 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alton Lister #126 sells for $269 against $3.86 raw: a $265 spread, 70× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.51) 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 Alton Lister #126 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alton Lister #126 (Basketball Cards 1985 Star) sells for about $269 versus $3.86 for a raw near-mint copy — a 70× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alton Lister #126?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $349, ahead of PSA 10 at $269. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alton Lister #126 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 Alton Lister #126 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Alton Lister #126 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $47.51).
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