Is Bailey Howell #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1969 Topps Rulers · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Bailey Howell #3 sells for $3,147 against $39.52 raw: a $3,107 spread, 80× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,652) 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)
- $39.52
- PSA 10
- $3,147
- PSA 9
- $2,652
- Gem premium
- 80×
- 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 | $3,147 | +$3,082 | +$3,057 | +$2,957 |
| PSA 9 | $2,652 | +$2,587 | +$2,562 | +$2,462 |
| PSA 8 | $119 | +$54.67 | +$29.67 | −$70.33 |
Net = sale price − $39.52 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% | $2,776 | +$2,686 |
| 50% | $2,899 | +$2,810 |
| 75% | $3,023 | +$2,934 |
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 | $4,091 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,147 | −$944 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,888 | −$2,203 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,888 | −$2,203 | 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 Bailey Howell #3 — FAQ
Is Bailey Howell #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Bailey Howell #3 sells for $3,147 against $39.52 raw: a $3,107 spread, 80× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,652) 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 Bailey Howell #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Bailey Howell #3 (Basketball Cards 1969 Topps Rulers) sells for about $3,147 versus $39.52 for a raw near-mint copy — a 80× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Bailey Howell #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,091, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,147. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Bailey Howell #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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