Is Zelmo Beaty #220 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zelmo Beaty #220 sells for $1,635 against $2.06 raw: a $1,633 spread, 794× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($132) 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)
- $2.06
- PSA 10
- $1,635
- PSA 9
- $132
- Gem premium
- 794×
- 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 | $1,635 | +$1,608 | +$1,583 | +$1,483 |
| PSA 9 | $132 | +$104 | +$79.48 | −$20.52 |
| PSA 8 | $53.36 | +$26.30 | +$1.30 | −$98.70 |
Net = sale price − $2.06 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% | $507 | +$455 |
| 50% | $883 | +$831 |
| 75% | $1,259 | +$1,207 |
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 | $2,126 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,635 | −$491 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $981 | −$1,145 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $981 | −$1,145 | 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 Zelmo Beaty #220 — FAQ
Is Zelmo Beaty #220 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zelmo Beaty #220 sells for $1,635 against $2.06 raw: a $1,633 spread, 794× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($132) 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 Zelmo Beaty #220 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zelmo Beaty #220 (Basketball Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $1,635 versus $2.06 for a raw near-mint copy — a 794× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zelmo Beaty #220?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,126, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,635. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zelmo Beaty #220 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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