Is Larry Bird #84 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2021 Panini Contenders Optic 1984 Tribute Autographs · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Larry Bird #84 brings $450 versus $258 raw — a $192 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($246) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $258
- PSA 10
- $450
- PSA 9
- $246
- Gem premium
- 1.7×
- 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 | $450 | +$167 | +$142 | +$41.83 |
| PSA 9 | $246 | −$36.92 | −$61.92 | −$162 |
| PSA 8 | $163 | −$120 | −$145 | −$245 |
Net = sale price − $258 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% | $297 | −$10.98 |
| 50% | $348 | +$39.95 |
| 75% | $399 | +$90.89 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 30%. 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 | $585 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $450 | −$135 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $270 | −$315 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $270 | −$315 | 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 #84 — FAQ
Is Larry Bird #84 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird #84 brings $450 versus $258 raw — a $192 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($246) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Larry Bird #84 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird #84 (Basketball Cards 2021 Panini Contenders Optic 1984 Tribute Autographs) sells for about $450 versus $258 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.7× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Larry Bird #84?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $585, ahead of PSA 10 at $450. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Larry Bird #84 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 #84 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Larry Bird #84 breaks even when it gems about 30% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $246).
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