Is Jerry West #43 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1961 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jerry West #43 sells for $145,418 against $793 raw: a $144,625 spread, 183× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($11,055) 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)
- $793
- PSA 10
- $145,418
- PSA 9
- $11,055
- 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 | $145,418 | +$144,600 | +$144,575 | +$144,475 |
| PSA 9 | $11,055 | +$10,237 | +$10,212 | +$10,112 |
| PSA 8 | $10,050 | +$9,232 | +$9,207 | +$9,107 |
Net = sale price − $793 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% | $44,646 | +$43,803 |
| 50% | $78,236 | +$77,393 |
| 75% | $111,827 | +$110,984 |
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 | $189,043 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $145,418 | −$43,625 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $87,251 | −$101,792 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $87,251 | −$101,792 | 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 Jerry West #43 — FAQ
Is Jerry West #43 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jerry West #43 sells for $145,418 against $793 raw: a $144,625 spread, 183× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($11,055) 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 Jerry West #43 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jerry West #43 (Basketball Cards 1961 Fleer) sells for about $145,418 versus $793 for a raw near-mint copy — a 183× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jerry West #43?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $189,043, ahead of PSA 10 at $145,418. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jerry West #43 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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