Is Tom Heinsohn #19 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1957 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tom Heinsohn #19 sells for $21,444 against $100 raw: a $21,344 spread, 213× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,220) 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)
- $100
- PSA 10
- $21,444
- PSA 9
- $3,220
- Gem premium
- 213×
- 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 | $21,444 | +$21,319 | +$21,294 | +$21,194 |
| PSA 9 | $3,220 | +$3,095 | +$3,070 | +$2,970 |
| PSA 8 | $506 | +$380 | +$355 | +$255 |
Net = sale price − $100 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% | $7,776 | +$7,626 |
| 50% | $12,332 | +$12,182 |
| 75% | $16,888 | +$16,738 |
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 | $27,878 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $21,444 | −$6,434 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $12,867 | −$15,011 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $12,867 | −$15,011 | 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 Tom Heinsohn #19 — FAQ
Is Tom Heinsohn #19 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tom Heinsohn #19 sells for $21,444 against $100 raw: a $21,344 spread, 213× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,220) 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 Tom Heinsohn #19 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tom Heinsohn #19 (Basketball Cards 1957 Topps) sells for about $21,444 versus $100 for a raw near-mint copy — a 213× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tom Heinsohn #19?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $27,878, ahead of PSA 10 at $21,444. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tom Heinsohn #19 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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