Is Willie Naulls #29 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1957 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Willie Naulls #29 sells for $4,691 against $19.93 raw: a $4,671 spread, 235× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($857) 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)
- $19.93
- PSA 10
- $4,691
- PSA 9
- $857
- Gem premium
- 235×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $4,691 | +$4,646 | +$4,621 | +$4,521 |
| PSA 9 | $857 | +$812 | +$787 | +$687 |
| PSA 8 | $779 | +$735 | +$710 | +$610 |
Net = sale price − $19.93 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% | $1,815 | +$1,745 |
| 50% | $2,774 | +$2,704 |
| 75% | $3,732 | +$3,662 |
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 | $6,098 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $4,691 | −$1,407 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,814 | −$3,284 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,814 | −$3,284 | 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 Willie Naulls #29 — FAQ
Is Willie Naulls #29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Willie Naulls #29 sells for $4,691 against $19.93 raw: a $4,671 spread, 235× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($857) 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 Willie Naulls #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Willie Naulls #29 (Basketball Cards 1957 Topps) sells for about $4,691 versus $19.93 for a raw near-mint copy — a 235× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Willie Naulls #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $6,098, ahead of PSA 10 at $4,691. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Willie Naulls #29 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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