Is Theo Ratliff #34 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Molten Metal · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Theo Ratliff #34 sells for $59.00 against $0.26 raw: a $58.74 spread, 227× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.00) 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)
- $0.26
- PSA 10
- $59.00
- PSA 9
- $49.00
- Gem premium
- 227×
- 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 | $59.00 | +$33.74 | +$8.74 | −$91.26 |
| PSA 9 | $49.00 | +$23.74 | −$1.26 | −$101 |
Net = sale price − $0.26 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% | $51.50 | +$1.24 |
| 50% | $54.00 | +$3.74 |
| 75% | $56.50 | +$6.24 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. 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 | $77.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $59.00 | −$18.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $35.00 | −$42.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $35.00 | −$42.00 | 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 Theo Ratliff #34 — FAQ
Is Theo Ratliff #34 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Theo Ratliff #34 sells for $59.00 against $0.26 raw: a $58.74 spread, 227× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.00) 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 Theo Ratliff #34 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Theo Ratliff #34 (Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Molten Metal) sells for about $59.00 versus $0.26 for a raw near-mint copy — a 227× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Theo Ratliff #34?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $77.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $59.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Theo Ratliff #34 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 Theo Ratliff #34 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Theo Ratliff #34 breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.00).
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