Is Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1970 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 sells for $50,400 against $11.48 raw: a $50,389 spread, 4390× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($11,100) 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)
- $11.48
- PSA 10
- $50,400
- PSA 9
- $11,100
- Gem premium
- 4390×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $50,400 | +$50,364 | +$50,339 | +$50,239 |
| PSA 9 | $11,100 | +$11,064 | +$11,039 | +$10,939 |
| PSA 8 | $430 | +$394 | +$369 | +$269 |
Net = sale price − $11.48 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% | $20,925 | +$20,864 |
| 50% | $30,750 | +$30,689 |
| 75% | $40,575 | +$40,514 |
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 | $65,520 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $50,400 | −$15,120 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $30,240 | −$35,280 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $30,240 | −$35,280 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $50,400 | $30,240 | $65,520 | $30,240 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $12,210 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $11,100 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $430 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $135 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1970 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 — FAQ
Is Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 sells for $50,400 against $11.48 raw: a $50,389 spread, 4390× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($11,100) 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 Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 (Basketball Cards 1970 Topps) sells for about $50,400 versus $11.48 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4390× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $65,520, ahead of PSA 10 at $50,400. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Scoring Leaders: Lew Alcindor / Jerry West / Elvin Hayes #1 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.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free