Is Elgin Baylor #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1961 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Elgin Baylor #3 sells for $40,189 against $219 raw: a $39,970 spread, 183× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($20,801) 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)
- $219
- PSA 10
- $40,189
- PSA 9
- $20,801
- Gem premium
- 183×
- 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 | $40,189 | +$39,945 | +$39,920 | +$39,820 |
| PSA 9 | $20,801 | +$20,557 | +$20,532 | +$20,432 |
| PSA 8 | $18,910 | +$18,666 | +$18,641 | +$18,541 |
Net = sale price − $219 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% | $25,648 | +$25,379 |
| 50% | $30,495 | +$30,226 |
| 75% | $35,342 | +$35,073 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $52,245 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $40,189 | −$12,056 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $24,113 | −$28,132 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $24,113 | −$28,132 | 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 Elgin Baylor #3 — FAQ
Is Elgin Baylor #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Elgin Baylor #3 sells for $40,189 against $219 raw: a $39,970 spread, 183× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($20,801) 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 Elgin Baylor #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Elgin Baylor #3 (Basketball Cards 1961 Fleer) sells for about $40,189 versus $219 for a raw near-mint copy — a 183× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Elgin Baylor #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $52,245, ahead of PSA 10 at $40,189. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Elgin Baylor #3 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.
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