Is Sam Lacey #63 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Sam Lacey #63 sells for $252 against $2.74 raw: a $249 spread, 92× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.74) 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)
- $2.74
- PSA 10
- $252
- PSA 9
- $32.74
- Gem premium
- 92×
- 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 | $252 | +$224 | +$199 | +$99.19 |
| PSA 9 | $32.74 | +$5.00 | −$20.00 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $12.00 | −$15.74 | −$40.74 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $2.74 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% | $87.54 | +$34.80 |
| 50% | $142 | +$89.59 |
| 75% | $197 | +$144 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 9%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $328 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $252 | −$76.07 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $151 | −$177 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $151 | −$177 | 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 Sam Lacey #63 — FAQ
Is Sam Lacey #63 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sam Lacey #63 sells for $252 against $2.74 raw: a $249 spread, 92× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.74) 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 Sam Lacey #63 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sam Lacey #63 (Basketball Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $252 versus $2.74 for a raw near-mint copy — a 92× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sam Lacey #63?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $328, ahead of PSA 10 at $252. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sam Lacey #63 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.
What gem rate makes grading Sam Lacey #63 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Sam Lacey #63 breaks even when it gems about 9% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $32.74).
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